The Difference Between Reclaimed Brick and Recycled Brick

There are lots of little design tricks you can use to add detail to your home. One of the most popular ways is introducing reclaimed materials into your styling. Reclaimed timber and stone look fantastic, and they match up with a range of styles, but recycled bricks take the crown as our favourite design touch. Featuring beautiful variation and weathering, reclaimed bricks can instantly transform a building with rustic charm that you can only get through age. When it comes to bricks there are plenty of options available, so we’re going to look at reclaimed and recycled bricks and the differences between the two.

What Are Reclaimed Bricks?

Australia is a nation of home builders. Every year thousands of old buildings get torn down to make way for new ones. That’s an exciting project for the new homeowner, but the old building materials usually can’t be used again, ending up in landfill instead.

That doesn’t have to be the case for bricks. Bricks are tough and long-lasting, and if the building is dismantled carefully, old bricks can be reclaimed for use on a brand new project. Reclaiming bricks is a simple process. First, used bricks are taken from demolition sites. They’re cleaned up and any big chunks of mortar, concrete or other construction materials are removed. Then, after a quick wash, they’re ready to be used again in a brand new build. This unique process saves old bricks from landfill and uses their stunning texture and character to bring a new project to life!

What Are Recycled Bricks?

While the term ‘recycled bricks’ often gets used to refer to reclaimed bricks, the two are actually quite different. While reclaimed bricks get picked up from demolition sites to be reused, recycled bricks are totally new products created from a variety of recycled materials.

One of the most common ways of producing recycled bricks is to grind old bricks to a sand-like consistency. The sand made from old bricks can then be mixed with clay and water and used to make brand new bricks. Not only does this save on the need to mine new sand deposits for brick making, it also saves the old bricks from going to landfill where the breakdown process creates harmful greenhouse gases.

The Benefits of Recycled and Reclaimed Bricks

Reclaimed bricks don’t just look fantastic, they’re also helping us cut back on our carbon emissions! Standard bricks are made from a clay and sand mixture. That mixture is non-toxic, simple to make, and the result is bricks that can last for hundreds of years.

The downside is that each brick represents a big chunk of carbon emissions that went into its creation. Most bricks are still fired in kilns powered by natural gas. Burning natural gas is more environmentally-friendly than some other types of fossil fuels, but it still creates harmful emissions. Every time you recycle and reuse an old brick for a new project, you’re helping reduce your building’s carbon footprint.

Using Recycled and Reclaimed Bricks Around the Home

Recycled and reclaimed bricks can be used anywhere you’d use a brand new batch of bricks! That means they’re great for everything from cladding the outside of your home to creating simple but stunning feature walls. Here are some of our favourite ideas for what you can do with reclaimed bricks:

• Build a brick feature wall to bring texture and depth to your interior design

• Clad your new build with reclaimed bricks for instant character and patina

• Line a footpath, patio or other outdoor area

• Unique flooring option for industrial and cottage style homes

• Food-safe edging for your vegetable gardens, planter boxes and landscaping

Whatever you want to do with them, the variation and patina on reclaimed bricks makes them an easy way to add character to indoor and outdoor spaces!

Thinking About Reclaimed Bricks For Your Project? Find Inspiration at Stone3!

Making use of recycled or reclaimed bricks is a great way to cut back on costs and have a positive impact on the environment. Plus, reclaimed bricks ooze character that can only be built through decades of weathering. Whether you’re a lover of industrial-chic or just looking to inject a bit of texture into your home, recycled and reclaimed bricks are the way to go. If you need bricks or other cladding for your next project, let the team at Stone3 help! We carry a range of recycled bricks, stone look and timber look cladding options that can suit any build you have in mind. Contact us today and let our tile experts help plan your project!