Not just another brick in the wall!

The Brick Development Association (BDA), one of the construction industries’ most highly respected trade associations, continues to increase the recognition of brick and why it should be the material of choice for all key decision makers in the UK construction industry, with a hard hitting marketing campaign.

Fire Proof, Rot Proof and Future Proof; the message is loud and clear as the campaign focuses on the benefits of brick compared to competing cladding materials. Sarah Huelin, Marketing and Design Manager for the BDA explains: “Brick is one of the most successful building materials ever devised. It’s been used to shape the built environment since the beginning of civilisation and has proven itself time and time again – just take a look at the brickwork at St Pancras Station. Brick is made locally by the community and for the local area with natural resources, minimising impact on the environment. It can be crushed and recycled on site – and old lime mortar bricks can be cleaned up and used again as bricks. Disused brick quarries are often returned to areas of natural beauty, encouraging wildlife”.

As architects and designers strive to source modern and contemporary materials to enhance their design critique, brick has perhaps been seen as “traditional and uninspiring”, allowing competing cladding materials to emerge into the market place. But the BDA is determined is to set the record straight once and for all.

Brick offers a sense of stability. With changing weather patterns bringing such weather extremes as floods and high temperatures, brick is much more robust than many man-made materials and won’t rot, rust, erode or decay.

Brick walls are impact resistant and create buildings that will be around for generations to come. An inert material, brick is not affected by the ravages of water, wind or fire and with inherent sound insulation properties brick shuts out road noises and the howling of winter storms.

Brick is a solid, permanent and low maintenance material that provides lasting beauty and appreciating value – brick offers true longevity. With many elements of past brick buildings still standing today, brick is one of the only truly tried and tested materials known to man.

Sarah concludes: “Quite simply, we all love brick and it’s a favourite with architects and developers too. After all, there is a great deal of choice with around 1200 brick types produced in the UK alone. On versatility and pure aesthetics, few rivals come even close. Not only are brick buildings warm and secure, they are versatile and can be extended and adapted easily, cost little to maintain and offer long term building performance”.

The website, www.brick.org.uk, is the main call to action for people wanting more information and how to make brick the UK’s first choice building material.