News of a UK house brick shortage: ET Bricks have the answer

Britain could be facing a brick shortage as more homes are built

It has been claimed recently in the media that Britain is currently facing a shortage of house bricks! The sudden flurry of house building activity following the recession has been blamed for the severe lack of house bricks available.

At present, the availability of Best Quality Wirecut Facing bricks is on a very extended delivery time. ET Bricks have sourced the Lambourne Red Multi Wirecut Facing Brick and the Takeley Blend Wirecut Facing Brick, which compliment each other, with a view to fill the gap in the marketplace. These bricks are exclusive to us and are readily available for immediate delivery to your building sites. Remember, there is no time delay on the Lambourne or the Takeley wirecut facing bricks delivery.

So what is behind the alleged shortage of bricks?

The Federation of Master Builders have said that the reason for the brick shortage is because manufacturers mothballed kilns during a drop in sales during the recession. They also stated that a lack of materials risked �scuppering� the ability of many construction firms to keep pace with new house building projects. This is mainly because it has taken quite a lot of time to resume production at previous levels following the uplift in demand for house bricks.

Clearly the sudden increase in demand is good news for brick manufacturers and distributors, as well as building firms and there has been an increase in work and employment in the construction industry for the fourth successive quarter.

One serious issue has arisen from this shortage, and that is rising building and material costs. Fortunately, ET Bricks are always on hand to supply our clients with a good supply of Lambourne Red Multi Wirecut Facing Brick and the Takeley Blend Wirecut Facing Brick.

We have been made aware that orders placed by some of the larger building firms were being prioritised by certain brick manufacturers over those from small to medium building firms. Although we are more than able to keep up with demand for the large building groups, we always ensure we can cater for smaller ones and even the domestic DIY buyer too.

Delivery times for certain types of bricks is bound to be extended

The estimated cost of many building materials are likely to be about 10 per cent higher, and some construction firms are saying that certain timber products as well as bricks are particularly expensive at present. The severe storms that the United Kingdom experienced recently is the main reason for the increase in the cost of timber.

When you add the inflated cost of materials such as bricks to this, it’s easy to see why some of the smaller building companies are struggling to keep their heads above water. In fact, some of the smaller house building firms are claiming that some brick manufacturers and distributors are even making them wait until the beginning of 2015 for any new orders of bricks.

Concrete bricks to fill the gap!

Should the situation continue where larger building firms are able to snap up all the available bricks, smaller house builders could be forced to build with other materials such as concrete bricks and blocks orrender or risk their building sites grinding to a halt for the rest of the year.

Some small house building firms have been waiting for over eight months for a new order of house bricks to be delivered. This is why some builders have turned to the alternative building materials just so they can finish building projects on time and within budget. Some have suggested that concrete bricks and blocks are the way forward for the majority of building projects as they are cheaper and quicker to produce. Concrete doesn’t need to be fired after all. Although the concrete can be textured and coloured to resemble a clay brick, the latter is still the preferred choice of building material for the majority of house builders.

The current situation was something that was bound to happen when some brick manufacturers turned off their kilns for a protracted period of time. We knew it would take a fair amount of time to get production back up to speed and this is why we have ensured a good supply of Lambourne Red Multi Wirecut Facing Brick and the Takeley Blend Wirecut Facing Brick.

The less than ideal availability of house bricks, is bringing about higher prices in many cases, it’s a simple case of supply and demand. Delivery times for bricks from many other suppliers has gone into the next year in some cases, this is worrying when the order is placed in the January of the previous year.

It’s not all doom and gloom in the brick world though!

Some brick manufacturers have recently argued that bricks have always been available and production is running well ahead of any new housebuilding projects. Some have even spoken of figures showing housing startup projects were up an annual 10 per cent between January and May 2014 while for the same period, the United Kingdom domestic brick production was up by a quarter.

There are approximately 1,500 different types of brick manufactured in the United Kingdom, some of these may well have been in short supply in recent months, but the more expensive or specialist bricks have always been readily available. It has also been claimed that many brick manufacturers are now working at a speed that was no different to the way they worked prior to the recession.

All we would suggest is that any building firm should make a firm plan to think in advance about any up and coming building projects and not expect the brick of their choice to be available at very short notice.

Keep Calm and Carry On!

The government has been rather swift to jump on the fact that the construction industry is bouncing back, after the housing crash led to the loss of a quarter of a million construction jobs. They have claimed that thanks to the help to buy scheme, almost 40,000 households have now achieved their dream of becoming homeowners and helped housebuilding increase to its highest level since 2007.

Housebuilding was a pretty big driver for construction in July 2014 as activity rose at the fastest pace since 2003 on the back of strong demand for new housing and rather favourable funding conditions.

So should you have a building project planned, remember that ET Bricks have a good supply of bricks available, but please ensure you place your order for bricks in plenty of time to avoid any disappointment.

Brick Articles

At ET Clay Products we have years of experience relating to all aspects of brick supply and usage. We have created a list of articles which we hope will be of use to our clients and the general public.

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Brick built barbecues last a lifetime

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Brick built property extensions

Most people would like some extra room at home, whether it be for an extra bedroom, a bigger lounge or kitchen or even a hobby room. However, fewer people can afford to move house these days so they look for ways to improve their existing property.

Brick matching for all building projects

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Brick Matching Service from ET Bricks

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Bricks have been used for building countless structures over many thousands of years because of they last for so long and are very durable. This and a number of other factors make them a sought after building material and contribute to their inherent sustainability.

Bricks and their different applications

There are many thousands of different types of bricks, they cover an ever increasing range of coulours and finishes but they can be broken down into a handful of basic types. The majority of these bricks are made from clay and are fired in a kiln.

Bricks around the world

Bricks of one kind or another have been manufactured from many different materials throughout the ages. Whether they be for the construction of a simple dwelling hut to a grand cathedral, bricks have been the staple building material for many centuries. The manufacturing process may change from location to location, but the overall use of bricks has remained pretty constant.

Bricks in so many different colours

Depending on where you live, you may be restricted to a particular colour of brick for your property. The Olde Welwyn brick is a good example. A mellow red that is mixed with 25% grey tones to provide a mature weathered look, textured to give a traditional handcrafted appearance. These bicks form the bulk of properties in the Welwyn village and its larger neighbouring town of Welwyn Garden City, with very few exceptions.

Bricks inside as well as out

We all know that bricks are used extensively around the world to make dwelling houses and office buildings. We are also well aware that there are many different styles and colours of brick for such building projects. What many seem to be unaware of is just how good bricks can be when used as an interior building material.

Bricks: More than just a building block!

Rarely do we walk down the street and pay any particular attention to bricks. Bricks are everywhere and we generally take them for granted, why? Probably the reason we ignore bricks is because we are so used to looking at them on our own house when in the garden, or the view through the front or rear windows of our property may look directly at a very similar, if not the same type of build. Many people would think that a brick is just a brick, maybe different colours exist, but that's about as far as the changes go. In fact, the humble brick has more diversity and heritage than most would give it credit for.

Bricks: The best house building material

When it comes to choosing the right sort of building material for your house renovation or building project, what is the best material to go for? Brick and wood are practical choices as building materials for homes. They also come in a massive variety of colours, finishes, treatments and styles. Brick and wood are natural to look at and very durable and they insulate well too. You can build a house from all bricks, one from wood panelling or a mixture of both. What factors should affect your decision though when deciding what building material to use?

Dampening bricks before laying versus using dry bricks

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Decorative bricks in and around the home

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Different uses for house bricks

Should someone ask you to think of the most obvious use for a brick, your mind would most probably start to focus on house building and the construction industry in general. Bricks are without a doubt used for building more than any other use, but just what else could the humble brick be used for?

Efflorescence on bricks: The causes, prevention and cure

We have probably all seen it! That nasty white powdery coating that spoils the look of brick buildings. A recent development of luxury home in Hertfordshire looked amazing when they were finished, but within a short space of time, the majority of these attractive red brick dwellings were white with efflorescence. So what is the cause of this phenomenon and what can be done to prevent or cure it?

ET Bricks and other brick manufacturers

ET Bricks can source virtually any brick you want. We have been leading the way as a brick merchant for many years and not only manufacture superior quality bricks, we supply them from other renowned brick manufacturers too, so our customers can be certain of getting the bricks they want.

ET Clay Products and Wienerberger: The perfect partnership

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Facade and Cladding Information

A facade is the front or face of anything,  but the term is mainly reserved to refer to a building. Facade is a pretty common word that is used for anything that changes the face of anything. The exterior face of a building which is the architectural front, is sometimes distinguished from the other faces by more elaborate architectural or ornamental details.

Glazed bricks for that extra splash of colour

Glazed bricks have been used to great effect in many building projects over the years. They can really stamp the property with its own unique look and feel when incorporated into a period restoration project.

News of a UK house brick shortage: ET Bricks have the answer

It has been claimed recently in the media that Britain is currently facing a shortage of house bricks! The sudden flurry of house building activity following the recession has been blamed for the severe lack of house bricks available.

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Reconstructed, Reconstituted, Artificial and Synthetic Stone

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Special shape bricks for all your building projects from ET Bricks

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Special shaped bricks

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The history of bricks and brickmaking

Bricks are without doubt, one of the oldest known building materials. They date back to 7000 BC where they were first found in southern Turkey and around the city of Jericho. The first bricks were sun dried and made from mud. Fired bricks were found to be more resistant to the harsher weather conditions, which made them a far more reliable brick to be used in the construction of permanent buildings, where mud bricks would not have been sufficient. Fired bricks were also very useful for absorbing any heat generated throughout the day, and releasing it at night.

What type of bricks are available from ET Clay Products

If there's one thing we really know about at ET Clay Products, it's bricks! We stock literally thousands of bricks in every conceivable size, shape, colour and texture. Choosing the right brick for your building project can be pretty daunting when you are faced with such a massive assortment of bricks, but then that's why we have friendly and experienced staff always on hand to help that process go smoothly.

Wienerberger Dartmoor Heather Brick

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Wienerberger Peak Bordeaux Brick

The Wienerberger Peak Bordeaux brick is a glorious red multi brick that is ideal for so many building projects that require a naturally rustic looking red brick.

Why build with bricks

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Why use weathered bricks?

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