Prized for their timeless beauty and immediate curb appeal, it’s no surprise that homes made of natural clay brick sell for more on average nationally than comparable homes constructed with other materials. From traditional reds, earth tones, and browns, to grays, pastels, and whites, brick offers a home as much beauty and texture as it does strength and durability.
While these traits are all appropriately worth celebrating, it’s also worth noting that brick is a naturally sustainable product. Whether brick is being used to craft traditional appeal or an eye-catching aesthetic, both residential and commercial builders alike can rest assured that they are using ecologically responsible building materials. Here’s one sustainable story that we never get tired of telling!
To start with, bricks are made from only natural raw materials. North Georgia Brick is made from clay and water, that’s it! No chemicals or complex components here. Clay is inherently easy to retrieve from the ground and requires very little processing to be used for producing brick. Not only are clay bricks completely recyclable, but they can also even be returned to earth with no harmful side effects to soil or water.
It’s no wonder that clay brick is one of the oldest, most reliable construction materials in our society. Even after a brick home or building has fulfilled its purpose, the sustainability story continues after demolition. Recovered bricks from demolition sites are cherished for their incredible character and lending a one-of-a-kind appearance to new homes and restoration projects alike.
Recycled bricks can be used for a multitude of products thanks to their mineral structure. In addition to being used as aggregates for concrete, mortar, and calcium silicate bricks, recycled brick can also become gravel on tennis courts and plant substrates.
Keep in mind that a brick structure is rarely ever demolished due to the state of external brick. In fact, the National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST) gives brick masonry a lifespan of one hundred years. Rather, older buildings that no longer meet modern requirements and regulations are demolished when it’s considered more cost-effective to rebuild than to bring the current structure up to code- but the brick lives on!
When you’re ready to explore all of the many sustainable brick options that we have to offer, visit our Cumming, GA showroom or our Cartersville, GA showroom and you’ll receive the best possible customer experience as one of our trusted building partners.