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Are you planning to budget your bricks for that new construction? Bricks have existed since ancient times. Though the main raw materials for bricks have remained the same; clay, sand and water, technology has improved the process of brick making and made it easier and faster. Bricks have remained the best choice for construction due to their resistance and longevity. Even without the use of paints, bricks look extremely aesthetic.

Usually, other construction materials are priced per square foot but bricks are priced per thousand. The price of 1000 bricks can vary from £200-1000, depending on the size and type of brick used. Brick prices fluctuate depending on external factors such as the supply and demand of bricks and the availability or cost of raw materials.

Read our article to learn, the different types of bricks available and what affects their cost.

How to buy the right brick

• Plan on about 5 bricks per square foot in a paving project and 7 per square foot for a wall.

• According to the weather conditions of your area; choose from severe weather-resistant to moderate weather-resistant bricks.

• Use antique or face bricks for outer walls and building blocks for the actual construction.

• Use the correct mortar mix for the job, and use the appropriate mortar joint style to make your project weather-tight.

• Matching brick color is not easy, so buy enough to complete your project in one go. Keep some extra for breakage or repairs.

• Do check with your local building codes or construction regulations before selecting your brick and beginning your project.

How to price your construction project

There are a lot of factors that need to be considered when calculating the cost of bricks and your overall construction project. Understanding what type of brick you need is a good place to start – adding and calculating labor costs is also necessary.

Determine the Type of Brick You Need

Firstly, determine what type of brick you will need for your particular project. Bricks have different properties, colors, shapes, and sizes. Depending on the type of masonry project, certain types of brick are more suitable than others. Use a combination of different bricks for the project; load-bearing bricks for the foundations, weather-resistant bricks for the outer walls and facing bricks for any visible exterior wall. You can save money on the aesthetic bricks but do not think of saving money when it comes to foundations and structure.

Consider Design and Aesthetics

Bricks are the main building material used within construction. Therefore, the brick you select must match with the overall look and feel that you are trying to accomplish. If you are adding an extension then your bricks must line up with the already set theme. However, for a new build, you are free to choose the size, color, and texture of your bricks as it will heavily influence the aesthetics of your property. But then again, line up these bricks according to your budget. Aesthetic bricks can cost you a little more than your core construction bricks.

Calculate the Required Number of Bricks

Once you have decided on the types of bricks and design for your project, you will then need to calculate the number of bricks you need. You do not want to order bricks more than necessary nor have too many bricks left after the completion of your project. If you fall short of bricks during the construction, it can lead to delays and thus, additional costs. For better assistance, use an expert to calculate how many bricks you would need. Do keep some extra bricks, In case of wastage or repairs.

Estimate Waiting Times

For any construction project, it is crucial to plan ahead and accurately determine the number of bricks to avoid any delays in your project. Bricks arrive in batches, so proper planning is crucial to ensure everything runs smoothly. Every second spent free on the construction site costs money.

Don't Forget to Add Labor Costs

Finally, add in all labor costs! Individual bricklayers charge somewhere between £500/1000 and £1 per brick, depending on where you are located in the country and the complexity of the job. Usually, for a typical 4-bedroom home that needs approximately 14,000 bricks, labor can be quite expensive! Make sure you get a quote for all these costs and factor them into your budget.

What Impacts the Cost of Bricks?

Supply and Demand

While the type of brick you purchase may have an impact on the price - but, the cost of bricks will be heavily dictated by consumer supply and demand and the rules of economics. For instance, if UK experiences a brick shortage, with some companies waiting for more than 12 months for delivery, then the demand is high. This not only slows down property development but also increases the price of bricks due to the limited supply.

Not only this but if there is a shortage of a certain raw material needed to manufacture bricks, then the cost can go up as well. The supply will be short and not enough bricks will be manufactured to meet the demand.

Cost of raw materials

It is quite clear that if the cost of raw materials goes up so does the price of the final product. Raw materials used in bricks are usually clay, sand and water. While these ingredients may not necessarily be expensive but other secondary ingredients such as iron, aluminum and shale could heavily impact the overall cost of the brick.

Manufacturing Process

Another contributing element to the expense is how bricks are made. Today, bricks are mass-produced in manufacturing plants utilizing machines to automate a large portion of the procedure, including blending/shaping the clay, drying the bricks, and heating in a furnace. These advances in innovation have prompted more productive assembling methods and generously brought down the expense of bricks. Huge brick makers can deliver a number of bricks every day, making them considerably more available and moderate for end clients. Machine-made bricks normally start at £400/1000.

In any case, there is a developing interest in handcrafted bricks. Carefully assembled bricks, in this way, are more costly to make. They can cost up to 4 x times more than machine-made bricks. Utilizing conventional strategies, high-quality bricks require talented experts to set up the clay physically, fill molds, and stack the bricks into a furnace for firing. Handmade bricks have an extraordinary appearance and rich character. They are a decent choice while matching blocks to a particular period.

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