Ballpark cost for single skin reclaimed bricks

[divorcingjack]

Morning all, 

 

Finally, we can see the light at the end of the tunnel with the zinc portion of our cladding nearly complete, so we can now think seriously about the brick portion. Our architect has specified a painted, bag rubbed finish, using reclaimed bricks - so it doesn't look "too perfect". The approx 120 sqm cladding is going on the outside of an MBC frame, just single skin, nothing too complicated. Zinc infill panels above windows. 

 

So, two questions: 

 

- What should I expect to be paying (scotland) either for the whole job or on an daily rate? We are supplying the bricks - probably reclaimed Victorian

- Do I need to think about thermally efficient wall ties/fixings? If so, what should I be looking at? 

 

Cheers for any help, 

dj 

 

[Ian]

32 minutes ago, divorcingjack said:

- Do I need to think about thermally efficient wall ties/fixings? If so, what should I be looking at? 

 

 

Normally the cavity between the timber frame and any external weather skin such as your brickwork should be ventilated top & bottom of the wall so I don't see the point in paying for thermally efficient wall ties. The standard SS ones will do.

[Brickie]

If their to be painted then why the need for reclaims? 

There’s an imitation London Stock down here (brand new & much cheaper) that I’ve had the misfortune to have supplied to me by builders. If it’s imperfections you’re after...Jeez,the back of a brick on edge capping I did looked like a piano keyboard,that much variation in length. 

So Id guess your merchants up your way would do a cheap imitation of the local bricks too. 

If it were me,I’d be tempted to get brand new common flettons & give them a spin in the mixer for a minute before use,to rough them up a bit. Not really practical if you’ve got a big volume to lay though. 

[divorcingjack]

Just an update on this post for all those sourcing bricks at the minute (although it may apply only to Scotland). I spoke to a few reps and the "reclaimed style" of new bricks are horrifically expensive (approaching £1/brick or more), have to be specially ordered from outside the country and because we're not taking a full load - none of the merchants will order them for us anyway!

 

I was also warned that because so many social housing projects are ordering millions of bricks at a time, lead times at the moment are STARTING at 26 weeks. So, I drove 10 minutes up the road to a demolition guy and picked up some sample reclaims. They weigh a ton, but the contractor says they're solid and shouldn't give us any problems. We'll see what the guy who has to lay them has to say ... 

[divorcingjack]

On 1/31/2018 at 13:51, Brickie said:

If it were me,I’d be tempted to get brand new common flettons & give them a spin in the mixer for a minute before use,to rough them up a bit. Not really practical if you’ve got a big volume to lay though. 

 

Sounds a great idea, but we've got 7000 to lay. Reckon we'd go through a few mixers by the end of that! The reclaims I've found are coming out cheaper than new anyway, hopefully the brickie will agree to lay them. 

 

[PeterW]

I did the same - got Cottage reclaim blend from TP at £465/Thou and got my bricky on them at £500/thou laid. They were a bit of a mare as it was +/-15mm on pretty much every dimension but they look good now they are done. 

 

We reckon we nearly broke the hiab on the wagon as they could barely pick them up - guessing they were 3lb each on some of them !

[divorcingjack]

Just to update on this with a frankly ambitious quote from one brickie - we managed to source reclaims and have had half delivered already. The other half are another story - the guy is a bit dodgy to say the least, so we may have to get a threatening gang together to get the rest  

 

They weigh an absolute ton, but will look great once laid. So we had a brickie round yesterday who offered to have 2 gangs on site, and said they could lay 2000 bricks/day. All looked good while he was on site, but then he has sent us a labour only quote of £60/sqm for single skin. No lintels (zinc panels above windows), no decorative anything or fiddly details. The bricks are to be painted, so we don't require an absolutely perfect finish. We have a total area of 120 sqm with potential for additional work for a large garden wall as well. Am I right in thinking this is a little toppy, to say the least? 

 

Could anyone with SPONS give me an idea of recommended prices either /1000 bricks laid or psqm for single skin, facing reclaimed bricks? We are supplying the bricks, ties and all materials. 

 

Cheers, 

dj

[RichS]

I don't have SPONS so can't help you there but that price relates to £1.00 per brick where as @PeterW paid 0.50p a brick so I'd go with the "bit pricey" analogy.

Edited April 4, 2018 by RichS

[Brickie]

Impossible to say without seeing the design. If there’s loads of ‘meat’ in it,good access all round & standard bucket handle joint then I’d say it’s slightly high,but not that much. Also depends on your area & the demand for brickies locally-this will determine how much he has to pay his people & allow some for his profit. Rates for a timber frame or similar structure are always going to be higher than brick & block construction,as the earning potential of the blockwork,especially party walls,isn’t there. 

[ToughButterCup]

3 hours ago, divorcingjack said:

[...]

Could anyone with SPONS give me an idea of recommended prices either /1000 bricks laid or psqm for single skin, facing reclaimed bricks?

[...]

 

There are many classifications in SPONS ( a few dozen) , among them the following, taken at random.... but none of them mention reclaimed bricks - a brick is a brick is a brick, I suspect.  SPONS is expensive, but has saved it's cost  many  times over. This is from the 2015 edition. 

 

Facing bricks solid walls; handmade facings; bricks PC £700.00/1000
half brick thick; fair face one side	m2	72.00	to	87.00
one brick thick; fair face both sides	m2	160.00	to

 

 

Facing brick walls; sand faced facings; bricks PC £550.00/1000
half brick thick; pointed one side	m2	67.00	to	81.00
one brick thick; pointed both sides	m2	130.00	to	160.00

 

SUPPLY AND LAY PRICES
Common bricks
In gauged mortar (1:1:6); prime cost for bricks	380.00	–	–	–	380.00	1000	380.00
Walls
half brick thick	22.80	0.84	17.02	–	26.50	m2	43.52
half brick thick; building against other work; concrete	22.80	0.92	18.67	–	27.81	m2	46.48
half brick thick; building overhand	22.80	1.04	21.23	–	26.50	m2	47.73
half brick thick; curved; 6.00 m radii	22.80	1.08	21.97	–	26.50	m2	48.47
half brick thick; curved; 1.50 m radii	26.60	1.41	28.73	–	30.59	m2	59.32
one brick thick	45.60	1.41	28.73	–	52.99	m2	81.72
one brick thick; curved; 6.00 m radii	49.40	1.84	37.33	–	57.08	m2	94.41
one brick thick; curved; 1.50 m radii	49.40	2.29	46.48	–	57.74	m2	104.22
one and a half brick thick	68.40	1.92	38.98	–	79.50	m2	118.48
one and a half brick thick; battering	68.40	2.21	44.83	–	79.50	m2	124.33
two brick thick	91.20	2.33	47.40	–	106.00	m2	153.40
two brick thick; battering	91.20	2.75	55.82	–	106.00	m2	161.82
337 mm average thick; tapering, one side	68.40	2.41	49.05	–	79.50	m2	128.55
450 mm average thick; tapering, one side	91.20	3.12	63.50	–	106.00	m2	169.50
337 mm average thick; tapering, both sides	68.40	2.79	56.73	–	79.50	m2	136.23
450 mm average thick; tapering, both sides	91.20	3.50	71.19	–	106.64	m2	177.83
facework one side, half brick thick	22.80	0.92	18.67	–	26.50	m2	45.17

 

PS, the Kindle edition is £30 ish. I use the online version far more than the physical copy.

 

 

[Dreadnaught]

Off topic. I wonder if SPONS goes out-of-date fast? A 2016 copy is available for £3.50 on eBay.

 

I appreciate the some prices may have spiked after the Brexit referendum but would a 2016 copy of SPONS be better than nothing?

[ToughButterCup]

8 minutes ago, Dreadnaught said:

[...]

A 2016 copy is available for £3.50 on eBay.

[...]

 

With the licence for online access? 

You can lose your way or overlook information in the hard copy of SPONS : using a combination of the online version and the physical one is very powerful : and quick.