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Managed to arrive 30mins early to the physio due to a diary cock up on my part, so spent 30mins wandering around various new buildings nr Cambridge Station.
They're all modern steel / concrete things with a brick / stone facia stuck on the outside. Normally it's standard brickies just building a wall in front of the thing, but came across this:
A metal track you just slide bricks into.
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52100745173_fce976fc14.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52100745173_fce976fc14.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2nnXWnT ]No need for brickies[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/brf/ ]Ben Freeman[/url], on Flickr
Narrow bricks with a groove in them
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52100953204_f9f5803edb.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52100953204_f9f5803edb.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2nnZ1dC ]Bricks with grooves[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/brf/ ]Ben Freeman[/url], on Flickr
Quite a neat solution, I assume it saves on labour as they don't need proper brickies and just use a thin mastic rather than mortar etc.
They look like brick slips that are only about 15mm to 20mm thick usually, which are a lightweight alternative that can be attached to the internal bit of the wall rather than needing to be supported off the floor. It's used a reasonable amount in high rise buildings and modular buildings.
Standard brick cavity wall can only be built about 3 storeys high before it needs another support off the frame for the next two or three storeys.
There must be a more efficient and sustainable way to form the weatherproof skin of the building; they seem to be preserving the look of bricks when bricks aren't really the solution. Bricks aren't 100% waterproof, and mastic doesn't last as long as mortar, so the life is down to how well galvanised the supports are.
Next big blow, don't leave your car close to that. Those systems invariably have some loose one that detach under a decent wind loading/unloading cycle in a big gusty storm.
There must be a more efficient and sustainable way to form the weatherproof skin of the building; they seem to be preserving the look of bricks when bricks aren’t really the solution
Most of the neighbouring high rises all have 'real' brick facades - just resting on steel RSJs at each floor. It doesn't rain much here, so I doubt they ever get wet through, plus the facades are all air spaced from the actual structure of the building.
Might have to wait till they finish to see if they use mortar etc.
Some of the neighbouring buildings are really badly finished close up, 20mm gaping holes between panels with no sealing etc.
Next big blow, don’t leave your car close to that. Those systems invariably have some loose one that detach under a decent wind loading/unloading cycle in a big gusty storm.
Don't need to wait at all!
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52101294500_67438b8a29.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52101294500_67438b8a29.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2no1KF3 ]Loose bricks[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/brf/ ]Ben Freeman[/url], on Flickr
I guess it makes sense, trying to repoint a high rise building in a few decades would be a nightmare
Nothing is as it seems.
Looks foreign to me.
I wouldn't trust any brick that wasn't a British brick. And a proper 9 imperial inches long.
Probably to cut down the carbon footprint of the building. There's massive pressure on developers to reduce the amount of CO2 embedded in new developments. Halving the weight of facing bricks would be a quick win there. Bits falling off not the developers problem after a couple of years. Buyer beware!
Bits falling off not the developers problem after a couple of years.
As with the whole flammable cladding scheme - the fact they seem able to walk away from problems they created just seems totally wrong.
They should be liable for building defects for decades (10 years minor, 100 years structural) etc.
So should I be looking for a change in career now that brickes maybe a thing of the past?
We've used a similar system on quite a few projects. The one we use is approved for track walls for NR so it's been thoroughly tested in a very aggressive environment. We also used them on some very space limited sfa projects where the reduction in depth and programme have real benefits.
In the end nowadays all external skins of buildings are just cladding.
They should be liable for building defects for decades (10 years minor, 100 years structural) etc.
I totally agree but unfortunately they pay too much to the politicos for that to happen and whinge like mad if anyone suggests building regs. are properly enforced never mind suggesting that more insulation or better standards might be a good thing.
The one we use is approved for track walls for NR so it’s been thoroughly tested in a very aggressive environment.
Some of the buildings in Ipswich use a similar cladding system, the last big blow a large amount fell off. The systems are only as good as the fitters.
ernielynch
Free MemberLooks foreign to me.
I wouldn’t trust any brick that wasn’t a British brick. And a proper 9 imperial inches long.
Irony apart,I have never got over plaster not being in hundredweight bags any more.
We’ve used a similar system on quite a few projects.
What do you fill the gaps with, mortar?
"They should be liable for building defects for decades (10 years minor, 100 years structural) etc"
I'm going to really upset you now but the building structural design codes are only for a design life of 50 years. I'm not saying they won't last for 100 years, most of them probably will with some repairs.
The brick slips I've seen used in factory built modular housing looked like they were pointed with a mortar.
Footfalls,the original thread was so much better 😉 🙂
The UK really does have some crappy building standards for some things, and an odd aesthetic preference too.
My recent experience in Belgium and Switzerland has me very put off from most new buildings in the UK.
So should I be looking for a change in career now that brickes maybe a thing of the past?
NO! good brickies are virtually impossible to find in the industry. there are loads of really crap/mediocre ones. you need to specialise in high end stuff.
I’m going to really upset you now but the building structural design codes are only for a design life of 50 years. I’m not saying they won’t last for 100 years, most of them probably will with some repairs.
Does seem quite short sighted!
Although I guess is you make 50 years, you'll probably manage 100...
Footfalls,the original thread was so much better 😉 🙂
I did wonder if anyone still remembered that....
At 6 bricks a day, who could forget 😉
At 6 bricks a day, who could forget
🤣 Indeed.
I am sure it was on the shortlist for thread of the year 😉
Still makes me smile when the OP posts up photos of the workshop(a superb build BTW).🙃
Because you asked so nicely....
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52102989136_2ae426441b.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52102989136_2ae426441b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2noarqU ]Rate my roses![/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/brf/ ]Ben Freeman[/url], on Flickr
more efficient and sustainable way to form the weatherproof skin of the building
the weatherproof skin is rarely the aesthetic surface finish anyway, its just rainscreen and the waterproofing happens behind all that