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Although bricks undergo industrial processes including raw materials mining and kiln firing, they do have some sustainability features, including:
Main components are natural raw materials
Bricks are mostly made from clay and shale – some of the most abundant, natural materials on earth – and then fired through a kiln at up to 1,000 degrees. Brick is such a durable material because the raw materials go through a vitrification process in the kiln, which enable the material particles to fuse together. Clay and shale are also found in most areas of the world, meaning that the materials can usually be sourced locally, thus minimising the distance travelled between raw materials and production.
Bricks are great insulators
Brick has exceptional thermal mass properties, which is the ability of a heavy, dense material to store heat and then slowly release it.
These natural insulating factors ensure that bricks may keep homes warmer on cooler days and keep houses cooler during warmer days.
Cavity brick walls can provide greater thermal properties, by creating an insulating layer of air between two walls of bricks. Therefore, this may reduce your requirements for home heating and cooling and in turn may lead to lower energy usage and bills.
Bricks can be reused and recycled
Because of their strength and robustness, bricks can be reused. Demolition sites often resell bricks to builders or architects for use on renovations, to match existing brick materials or to create an authentic, rustic appearance.
Home builders also reuse leftover bricks in garden edging, exterior entertaining spaces and pathways. Bricks can even be crushed up for driveways, or to be remade into new products.
Bricks don’t need chemicals to maintain their good looks
Bricks are largely maintenance-free. They don’t need to be painted, waterproofed or treated with chemicals to make them weather-proof. All they need is the occasional clean (with just water) or a brush down.
They are also pest-resistant, which means you don’t need chemical treatments to protect them. Bricks are stable products and inert, so handling them is safe for tradespeople and homeowners and special equipment is not necessary.
Once used in a building they might just need the occasional re-mortaring to look as good as the day they are built. Need proof? Take a look at some of the buildings in Rome that were built more than 2,000 years ago and are still being used today.
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