The
Full Brick
Advantage
T h e G o l d S t a n d a rd i n H o u s i n g
Yo u r n e x t h o m e d e s e r v e s f u l l b r i c k . N o t h i n g l e s s . Welcome to the world of full brick, the
gold
standard
in
residential
construction. What is a full brick house? Simply, the external walls are constructed with two layers (‘leaves’) of bricks, separated by an air gap (‘cavity’). Many people also choose to build the walls between rooms in brickwork, a solid,
sound-resistant
alternative
to
lightweight timber stud walls. Inside and out, a full brick house looks like any other. The exterior can be face brickwork, or rendered and painted. Internally, most people choose to plaster and paint. But it is how a full brick house performs that sets it apart. Over the coming pages you will learn the eight advantages of full brick. Full brick. Nothing less.
Contents Advantage 1: Full brick houses are cooler in summer
7
Advantage 2: Full brick houses are warmer in winter
9
Advantage 3: Full brick houses are a haven of quiet
11
Advantage 4: Full brick houses are solid, safe and secure
13
Advantage 5: Full brick houses are low maintenance
15
Advantage 6: Full brick houses are termite resistant
17
Advantage 7: Full brick houses are timeless
19
Advantage 8: Full brick houses are a unique investment
21
The Austral Bricks Full Brick Advantage
23
Where can I talk to a full brick builder?
25
“People say ‘gee it’s hot outside but it’s lovely inside’.” Yasir Gorgees
1
A d v a n t a g e 1 : F u l l b r i c k h o u s e s a re c o o l e r i n s u m m e r Cool relief. That’s the feeling you get
In other words, by the time heat striking
entering a full brick house on a hot
the wall penetrates inside, the peak of
summer day.
the
Why is it so? Dense materials such as bricks have what engineers call ‘thermal
day
has
passed
hours
earlier,
allowing you to ventilate and cool the house naturally.
multi-housing projects, Yasir
mass.’ Put simply, heavyweight building
Tests at The University of Newcastle
materials can absorb and store heat
have shown that a cavity brick wall is
energy, releasing it slowly.
more effective than a lightweight wall
This
is
a
very
different
quality
to
insulation (measured by the ‘R-value’),
‘
As a developer and builder of
(with the same R-value) at smoothing temperatures, even on the hottest day.
Gorgees is well aware of the benefits of full brick. And having lived previously in a full brick house, Yasir and
his
wife
Esta
knew
Unlike
their spectacular three-level
insulating materials that have little or no
contemporary home just had
capacity to store heat energy, the mass
to be full brick.
which
is
a
barrier
to
heat.
of brickwork helps stabilise internal
“My parents, who now live in
temperatures by delaying the passage of
the home, love the full brick
heat through the wall.
benefits,” Yasir tells us. “The This delay is called the ‘lag time.’ The
full brick walls together with
higher the level of thermal mass, the
the concrete slabs are really
longer the lag time. A full brick wall will have a lag time of up to eight hours.
effective
it’s
lovely
degrees, the temperature inside this full brick test building was relatively stable and far more comfortable than its neighbouring insulated lightweight building. Chart detail courtesy The University of Newcastle.
and cool in summer. Even
What
you?
People
Air-conditioner use will be reduced (or
outside
even eliminated). Your energy bills will
inside’.”
drop
does
and
the
this
mean
environment
for
will
say
thank-you. Your full brick home will feel naturally cool and inviting. What a relief! A full brick wall (top) delays the passage of heat through the wall for up to eight hours, well after the peak has passed.
so
Although the outside temperature soared to over 45
though the house has air conditioning, it’s rarely used. say but
‘gee it’s
it’s
hot
lovely
’ 7
In winter the Braggs run a gas heater in the family area and do not rely on the ducted system until close to bedtime.
2
A d v a n t a g e 2 : F u l l b r i c k h o u s e s a re w a r m e r i n w i n t e r We saw in Advantage 1 how the dense mass of a full brick wall slows the penetration of summer heat through the
What is passive design?
wall. But what happens in winter? Passive design is a package of four
This is where the inner layer of brickwork
simple, well-established design principles
comes into its own, absorbing, storing
that allow the maintenance of a high level
and
of personal comfort without having to
slowly
releasing
heat
that
is
generated inside the house.
constantly resort to artificial heating and
In
cooling:
a
house
principles
using
(see
passive
What
is
design passive
• Orientation
‘
Ted and Tulin Bragg installed ducted heating and cooling in their new full brick home – their second – but like so many happy full brick owners, they report that it is rarely
The placement of large
used.
design?), the internal brickwork mass
north-facing windows to capture the low
In winter the Braggs run a
can also absorb the warmth of the low
winter sun, but shaded against the
gas heater in the family area
winter sun as it enters through large
higher summer sun.
and
• Insulation Insulation acts as a barrier
ducted system until close to
to heat flow.
bedtime.
north-facing
windows.
As
the
temperature falls at the end of the day, the brickwork slowly releases the stored
The result is a natural level of comfort without having to constantly resort to artificial heating. Dense materials such as bricks are essential for this process to occur. Insulation has a role to play but it has no effective capacity to store and slowly release heat energy. A
concrete
slab
also
adds
to
the
potential thermal mass. However the ability of a slab to absorb solar energy is
on
the
“Even in extreme summer heat we do not use the
heat loss on warm or hot days.
cooling system during the
• Thermal mass Dense materials such
day
as bricks help stabilise temperatures by
ventilation and the thermal
slowing the entry of external heat and
qualities of the brick walls to
absorbing and releasing internal heat in
keep
winter.
comfortable,” says Ted. “If
Like the wheels of a car, all four
the bedrooms get too warm
principles are essential for a passive
we
design to work. Take away any one and
system for half an hour and it
the wheels fall off the design!
will
Ask Austral Bricks or your builder for
Ceramic tiles bonded to the slab in the
more information about passive design.
solar efficiency.
rely
Natural air movement
reduced if covered by carpet or timber.
areas struck by the sun will preserve its
not
helps minimise heat gain and facilitates
• Ventilation
heat into the house.
do
but
rely
the
will
run
remain
on
cross-
temperature
the
cooling
comfortable
during the night.”
’ 9
“It is so quiet we have installed an intercom system so we can hear the children in their bedrooms upstairs.� Carolyn Judge
3
A d v a n t a g e 3 : F u l l b r i c k h o u s e s a re a h a v e n o f q u i e t It’s true. The world is getting faster, more chaotic and NOISIER. Your new full brick home will be a haven of quiet. It can even do the impossible and reduce noisy intrusion by teenagers. Read on.
Stop the spread Our homes are getting noisier, too. Teens and tweens have always been noisy but now we all have more noise-makers: bedroom TVs, stereos and computers,
Shut out the world
home cinemas, cordless and mobile
The double layers of a full brick wall
phones … the list is endless.
form a very effective sound barrier.
The answer to reducing the spread of
Thanks
to
their
mass,
bricks
are
especially
effective
in
sound within a house is to use brick
reducing
the
intrusion
of
partition walls between rooms. Unlike
low
lightweight, timber-framed stud walls, the
frequency sounds, such as traffic and
mass of a brick partition wall helps
the neighbour’s boom box.
contain sounds. Brick partition walls are
those
annoying
The cavity between the layers of bricks also
plays
a
part,
disrupting
the
transmission of sound through the wall. In contrast, lightweight materials tend to vibrate in response to the sound source in much the same way that a drum vibrates when struck.
a single brick slim and usually given a plaster finish. A brick partition wall can also be used to isolate one section of the house from another, say the sleeping areas from the living areas, or around a home cinema.
‘
When Gary and Carolyn Judge extended their previous house, located under one of Sydney’s flight paths, they soon discovered that they could only escape the noise in their new full brick addition. “We realised immediately just how effective full brick can be at blocking noise,” Gary tells us. But even they were unprepared for the quiet of their new full brick house. “It is so quiet we have installed an intercom system so we can hear the children – Sarah, five, and the twins Alexander and Chloe, three – in their bedrooms upstairs,” says Carolyn. Gary and Carolyn Judge couldn’t be happier in their decision to build in full brick. “We know the house is solid and well constructed, thanks to the special qualities of bricks. There are many additional benefits such as the need for less insulation and better climate control, as the bricks manage the heat and cold of the Australian weather.”
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“When you walk in to a full brick home you can feel the inherent strength of the bricks� Marie Graves
4
A d v a n t a g e 4 : F u l l b r i c k h o u s e s a re s o l i d , s a f e a n d s e c u re Safe and secure. It’s a feeling, almost a
Breathe easy In a world of chemical
sense of being protected, and one that is
scares, it is comforting to know that
hard to define. But this feeling is one that
bricks are made entirely from naturally-
rates very high with the happy owners of
occurring minerals. No chemicals or
full brick houses.
binders are used, and bricks don’t give
Solid
construction
feeling
of
For
security
some
comes
that from
off any gases or chemicals, including volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
confidence in the solid construction of
Fire safety Bricks are naturally fire
their full brick home. Knowing that their
resistant,
brick home is all but impregnable to
eliminates the use of a timber frame.
the elements and intrusions from the
Steel frames, while fire resistant, are
outside world.
vulnerable to twisting in a fire, causing
Natural
comfort
As
we
saw
in
Advantages 1 and 2, a well-designed full brick home will stabilise temperatures, ironing out the highs and lows, and reducing our dependence on artificial heating
and
cooling.
But
more
and
a
full
brick
house
even more damage. Of course, your full brick home is not fireproof – no house can claim that – but the solid, fire-
‘
Peter and Marie Graves were considering building their new two-storey,
three-bedroom
home at Banksia in brick veneer
…
discovered
until the
Full
they Brick
Advantage. Their conversion came after a discussion with an Austral Bricks visiting
representative several
full
and brick
houses. “Straight away the quality, strength and versatility
resistant structure will remain intact for
of full brick homes became
longer, allowing your family to make
apparent,” Marie recalls.
their escape.
A few simple words summed
importantly it provides a natural level
Bushfire resistant If you live in a
up the benefits of full brick for
of comfort that enhances our sense
bushfire-prone area – and that applies to
Marie: “Strength and superior
of wellbeing.
many outer suburbs of Sydney as well
quality. When you walk in to a
as regional areas – brickwork provides
full brick home you can feel
the perfect fire-resistant envelope, in
the inherent strength of the
conjunction with other measures such as
bricks.
protecting against the entry of embers.
It
makes
you
feel
secure. “We also have two children, Samantha, 18 and Phillip, 12. The internal brick walls help to reduce the noise coming from their rooms” she adds.
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“The house requires only minimal maintenance to keep it looking at its best.� Ian Rushton
5
A d v a n t a g e 5 : F u l l b r i c k h o u s e s a re l o w m a i n t e n a n c e It’s a given that brick is a solid form of
What
construction, that lasts a lifetime and
The secret to successful rendering is
longer. Full brick takes this legendary
what’s underneath the render coat.
durability to another level.
Brickwork provides a solid foundation for
A solid framework Houses evolve over time,
undergoing
extensions
and
renovations to meet the demands of another
generation.
The
substantial
about
rendered
finishes?
render, and the brick surface helps ‘key’ the render, increasing adhesion and reducing the likelihood of render bubbles or peeling.
‘
Ian and Lydia Rushton built their full brick home in an idyllic spot, near the base of the Blue Mountains, but with the
ever-present
danger
construction of your full brick house will
Resisting the bumps and scrapes of
provide a solid basis for future alterations
everyday life Life can be pretty tough
construction won’t make their
and additions.
on any building, what with kids using
house fireproof but it does
Looking
for
exterior
finish?
a
low Face
maintenance brickwork
–
displaying the natural brick finish – is one of the few building systems that never requires painting to preserve its good looks and durability. This is even more important
with
today’s
multi-storey
houses on small blocks with narrow boundaries. Repainting upper levels will
a convenient wall for cricket or soccer practice and Dad bumping the mower into the wall. And that’s just on the outside. Brick can take it all. W ith minimal maintenance your full brick walling will look great for decades to come.
of
bushfire.
Full
brick
provide a solid framework for fire resistance strategies. The strength of full brick had a wider
appeal
Rushtons.
“Our
to
the
full
brick
home gives us a feeling of being safe and secure, and there is the added benefit of not worrying as much about
often require the expense of scaffolding, and
may
even
need
neighbouring properties.
access
from
pest invasions or bushfires,” says Ian Rushton. “The house requires
only
maintenance
to
minimal keep
it
looking at its best,” he adds. “I will never have to spend another summer painting the outside!”
’ 15
6
A d v a n t a g e 6 : F u l l b r i c k h o u s e s a re t e r m i t e re s i s t a n t Termites are a fact of life in all of
Did you know? Despite being called
Australia, but especially in New South
‘white ants’ termites are actually related
Wales. Most of the state receives a ‘high’
to cockroaches. The queen termite can
rating on the CSIRO Termite Hazard Map.
lay up to 2000 eggs a day and live for up
What attracts termites? The answer is
to 50 years.
cellulose, the fibrous component of
A New South Wales’ survey showed that
timber and plant material such as leaves.
one in five houses had a termite problem,
Termites don’t bother to blunt their teeth
either currently or in the past. Their
on bricks and mortar.
destructive work often goes unnoticed,
Every house has some timber, but the key to reducing the likelihood of termite attack is to minimise the amount of structural timber. Skirting boards that have been damaged by termites are easily replaced. The same can’t be said for a timber frame.
(that is, walls between rooms), built on properly
eliminates
designed structural
the inside, leaving just a thin shell. The first sign of a termite infestation may be when this collapses. Across Australia, the annual bill for termite damage is estimated at $200 million.
Sam Yehia of Sydney’s Best Pest Control with Barney the termite-sniffing beagle. Full brick construction on a concrete slab minimises the amount of vulnerable structural timber. Termite control measures are also required for non-structural timber such as skirting boards.
World-wide, termites are thought to be
A full brick house with internal brick walls
a
as the termites chew through timber from
concrete timbers
at
slab the
critical ground level. Of course it is still
responsible for about 40 per cent of methane, a greenhouse gas. It’s this distinct odour that termite hunters such as
Barney
the
beagle
(see
photo)
can detect.
necessary to take precautions to protect non-structural timber (such as skirtings and architraves) and high-level structural timber such as roof trusses. Sleep soundly in your full brick home. That chewing sound in the middle of the night is just one of the kids raiding the fridge.
17
7
A d v a n t a g e 7 : F u l l b r i c k h o u s e s a re t i m e l e s s When does a house become a home? Some say that you build a house but it takes time, experiences and memory to create that special environment that truly says ‘home.’
Choosing bricks for a timeless look Consider how the bricks you choose for your next house will look in a variety of lighting conditions, advises Domenico Fimmano of Fimmano
The solidity and comfort of a full brick
Design Studio. “How materials react – not only to weather and wear,
house will linger in the memory of you
but also to light at different times of the day – is one of our most
and your family. What do we mean by
important considerations.” Consider how the brickwork will look at a
comfort? It’s the quietness of a full brick
range of times over the day, as well as under artificial light.
house, especially one that features brick partition walls (instead of lightweight stud
By comparison to face brickwork, rendered walling has a high initial
walls) to limit the spread of sound
cost, as well as significant ongoing costs. “After five to 10 years, a
between rooms.
rendered building needs to be repainted because of rain and wear,”
It’s
also
natural
thermal
comfort.
A well-designed full brick house will
Domenico considers. Repainting the exterior of a multi-storey house may also require scaffolding at considerable expense.
iron out the peaks and troughs of
Choosing bricks with an earthy appearance reduces the potential
temperature swings without having to
for a building to age prematurely, Domenico advises. Rendered or
resort to almost constant artificial heating
painted surfaces in ‘aggressive’ colours – light reds and blues, for
and cooling.
example –will date very quickly.
It’s that indefinable air of quality that a premium product such as a full brick house exudes. Full brick houses resist the bumps and
Designer, Domenico Fimmano
scrapes of everyday life because they are built to last … and isn’t that the ultimate compliment to our environment? Built right, built to last. A full brick home is all of these … and much more. That’s why in years to come your full brick house will stand out in your family’s collective memory as ‘home.’
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8
A d v a n t a g e 8 : F u l l b r i c k h o u s e s a re a u n i q u e i n v e s t m e n t Once you settle into your new full brick
And when that sad day arrives and you
home, selling it will be the furthest thing
place your full brick house on the market,
from your mind. After all, you can’t place
you will be able take comfort in the
a price on comfort, family heritage and a
knowledge that it will attract a price
sense of wellbeing.
premium over a “comparable” brick
But you won’t have to wait to resell to reap
financial
benefits
from
your
investment in a full brick home:
arrival of every energy bill will confirm wisdom
of
your
choice.
Don’t take our word for it. We asked Rowen Kelly, immediate past president of
• Lower heating and cooling bills The
the
veneer.
the Real Estate Institute of NSW for his assessment:
Your
“There is no question that a full brick
bank account (and the environment) will
home is more marketable to home buyers
thank you.
than a brick veneer home of comparable
• No repainting If you choose a natural
quality in a similar location.
brick finish externally, you won’t have to
“Families appreciate the many benefits
shell out thousands of dollars repainting
of a full brick home which is warmer in
the outside of the house every 10 years
winter and cooler in summer. Reduced
(not to mention the disruption).
external and internal noise in a full brick
• Low maintenance The inevitable bumps, scrapes and cricket balls of
home
improves
family
life
in
busy
suburbs.
everyday life won’t lead to damage or
“A full brick home is normally more
cracking. An annual wash down is all that
valuable for resale, bringing a premium of
is required to keep your face brickwork
at least ten to fifteen per cent.”
looking as good as new.
That’s why we contend that a full brick house is a unique investment that pays dividends throughout its long life.
21
The Austral Brick Full Brick Advantage www.australbricks.com.au As Australia’s largest manufacturer of clay bricks and pavers, Austral Bricks offers a superb range of premium-quality clay bricks including
Governors
Series
crafted
sandstock bricks, Elements Series semiglazed bricks, and Riviera Freedom Series large format clay pavers. Exclusive to Austral Bricks, the Colourbrick brick tinting system and Terraçade terracotta façade system reflect our commitment to continuous
improvement
and
product
innovation. www.bristileroofing.com.au Bristile Roofing is one of Australia’s largest manufacturers of quality terracotta and concrete roof tiles. Bristile supports its unmatched range of colours and profiles with a 10-year Installation Warranty, 50-year Product Warranty for concrete tiles, and our famous Colour for Life warranty on all our terracotta roof tiles. www.eurekatiles.com.au Eureka T iles is Australia's premier tile manufacturer, offering floor and wall tiles for pool-side patios, living areas, kitchens, laundries and bathrooms, to the most demanding commercial applications. ™ Colourbrick, Riviera and Terraçade are trademarks of The Austral Brick Company Pty Ltd. Eureka Tiles is a trademark of Eureka Tiles Australia Pty Ltd. Austral Bricks, Bristile Roofing and Eureka Tiles Australia are members of the Brickworks Building Products Group.
23
Where can I talk to a full brick builder? These are just some of the builders who offer full brick houses. See the full brick website – www.fullbrick.com.au – for the latest additions. Contact Austral Bricks (see back cover) if you can’t find a full brick builder in your area.
Beyond Homes 21-23 Rothwell Circuit, Glenwood NSW 2768 Tel (02) 9836 5297 enquiries@beyondhomes.com.au
Charleston Homes 1840 The Horsley Drive, Horsley Park NSW 2175 Tel (02) 9620 0000 www.charlestonhomes.com.au
Fairlight Developments 20 Barrington Road, Silverdale NSW 2752 Tel (02) 4774 1770 www.fairlightdevelopments.com.au info@fairlightdevelopments.com.au
Felton Constructions The Terrace, 1844 The Horsley Drive, Horsley Park NSW 2175 Tel (02) 9620 2175 www.feltonhomes.com.au sales@feltonhomes.com.au
Full Brick Homes Unit 13, 4A Bachell Avenue, Lidcombe NSW 2141 Tel (02) 9643 8120 www.fullbrickhomes.com.au office@fullbrickhomes.com.au
Kauley Homes 19 Rothwell Circuit, Glenwood NSW 2768 Tel (02) 9629 5057 www.kauleyhomes.com.au construction@kauleyhomes.com.au
Krslovic Homes HomeWorld, Bluebell Circuit, Kellyville NSW 2155 Tel (02) 9629 1750 www.krslovichomes.com.au admin@krslovichomes.com.au
Rawson Homes HomeWorld, River Oak Dr, Kellyville NSW 2155 Tel: (02) 9629 3400 www.rawsonhomes.com.au brimfieldp@rawsongroup.com.au
Westminster Homes Suite 31, 5 Inglewood Place, Baulkham Hills NSW 2153 Tel (02) 8824 7111 www.westminsterhomes.com.au info@westminsterhomes.com.au
Please note: The inclusion of a full brick builder on this list does not imply or infer approval, endorsement or recommendation of that company by Austral Bricks Pty Ltd. Consumers should conduct their own investigations before entering into any arrangement.
25
Full Brick Infoline 1800 670 235 www.fullbrick.com.au Austral Bricks www.australbricks.com.au PO Box 6550, Wetherill Park NSW 1851 Main display centre Wallgrove Road, Horsley Park Austral Bricks is a GreenSmart Leader, a program sponsored by the Housing Industry Association to promote environmental performance in Australia’s building industry.
Other NSW/ACT display centres Bowral 1 Kiama Street Canberra 7 Lithgow Street, Fyshwick Illawarra 45 Princes Hwy, Albion Park Rail Newcastle 1b George Street, Mayfield Punchbowl 62 Belmore Road
This publication is printed on paper produced from 50 percent recycled fibre and 50 percent oxygenbleached virgin pulp from sustainable
Tuggerah 19 Bryant Drive
forest regions, and accredited to ISO 14001, the international standard for environmental management.
All display centres open seven days, except ACT, Bowral and Punchbowl. Hours may vary; please call ahead to confirm, or refer to website.
Woodridge Media March 2007
Agents throughout New South Wales
Other States Tel 13 BRIC (13 2742) Queensland 105 Gardner Road, Rochedale South Australia/NT Greenwith Road, Golden Grove Tasmania Cressy Road, Longford Victoria Stud Road, Scoresby Western Australia Harper Street, Caversham A Brickworks Limited company
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