Turning your house into a home...one brick at a time

Building your dream home may seem like a daunting task as you realise that every decision is yours to make. But at the same time, it is very exciting! One of the most important decisions you will have to make is the choice of materials but more importantly, what brick is most suitable for your home. It is a decision that impacts the aesthetics, maintenance and overall look of the building.

A brick is a just brick, right? Not really! Not when the integrity of your building lies in the strength of the material used. If you choose an inferior quality brick, the end result could look aesthetically pleasing, but over time the brick will begin degrading and you will need to cough up more money to fix what could have been avoided to begin with.

It is therefore important to examine and familiarise yourself with the building material that you use before diving straight into a project. Stock and maxi bricks have been tried and tested for many years and have been suitable for building homes, offices, museums etc.

Stock vs Maxi

Stock bricks are made by being formed in a mould or more recently, through mass production by extruding clay through a die then wire-cutting them into the desired size. The shaped clay is then dried or burnt in kiln. This gives you the strength of the clay. Stock bricks are a wise investment and the most popular choice of brick in the building industry. The most popular use for these bricks is constructing walls and features that have to be plastered. Stock bricks have a reputation for being strong and durable. They last much longer than any other building material types and require less maintenance than any other brick. It is not an exaggeration to say that a house made of clay bricks can last for 500 years! This is a great selling point if you wish to sell your house in the future.

Another popular brick used for building is the maxi brick. It has been recognised as the most durable brick in the South African building industry. In addition to being the most durable brick, the maxi brick is also fire resistant, making it suitable for any home. Maxi bricks have excellent insulation and acoustic properties and can be used for single wall construction. They reduce labour costs because they are larger than stock bricks but they still produce structurally strong walls. All walls are structurally sound when using the maxi brick and also, the maxi brick meets the construction standards that are set.

Everyone loves a place they can call home, a place they are proud to welcome anybody, anytime. This begins with choosing the best suitable brick for your home - whether you are building a double storey or single storey house.

So, which will it be: stock brick or maxi brick?