Why are bricks so expensive? 40p a brick...2 and a bit for a pound!?

Question

I want to put a brick edge around my lawn but it is going to cost a fortune! The small decking area I had in mind will cost over £60...why is creativity so expensive!

I know it's not really a question but I just want to vent my frustration!

Answer 1

Many bricks are priced very differently and types of bricks are very different, depends on whatstyle you are looking for!

such as life unfortunatly! try the free ads you might find someone is trying to get shot of a load!!

might get them cheap!! or cheaper!!

Answer 2

Bricks aren't really suitable for this purpose unless you are happy that they will age quite quickly. We put down a herringbone brick patio area when we lived in Dorset (which isn't known for being cold) and the surface of a quite a few bricks blew after water settled on them and then frost got into the surface.

Paviours are designed for this purpose and you can use the sort that drives are made of or more expensive ones designed for edging and patios. Clay are the most expensive - and gorgeous - whereas block paving is much cheaper.

If you are happy with the weathered look then you may find buying reclaimed bricks cheaper. Bricks that are reclaimed in large quantities are expensive because there's enough to build another building and rare bricks are expensive because there's a premium for those in conservation areas who have to have a 100% match but those in the middle range can be bought for around £200 + VAT for a 1000 (working out at around 24p) if you collect.

Check out your local reclamation yard or www.salvo.co.uk. If you need quite a small quantity also check out your local paper for self-builders who have overstocks.

Answer 3

It sounds as though you are buying engineering bricks which are fired at a much higher temperature to made them waterproof. These are used for footings below the damp proof course so they do not degrade. I have a collection of bricks which I picked up from demolition sites over the years. They have rotted a bit and have lichen and moss all over them creating a pleasing soft appearance.

Answer 4

use a blue brick ..they will stand the test of time ..look in yellow pages under reclamation.... if you buy new get a block pavior type brick ..these are made of coloured concrete and will all so last ..but not look as good ..bricks are a wonderful investment ..when i worked in the brickyards 45years ago ..new bricks were 11 pounds a thousand .. second hand now they are worth 500 pounds a thousand ..sound investment..if only i had somewhere to store them

Answer 5

If you are creative, call local landscape companies that do brick pavers, they will have left overs from jobs. you may be able to get them for free. Also, brick manufactures like Unilock has a big seconds sale, check the phone book. good luck

Answer 6

If you think bricks are expensive go into their manufacture, make yourself a fortune eh? Try it,...........you'll soon be thinking they're cheap enough to buy. Suppose you wouldn't complain if you payed 40p for a Mars bar? Hope my comments help to put things in perspective :-)

Answer 7

If you know someone who makes terra cotta, you could probably get some fake brick tiles. Assuming nobody smashes them intentionally, and that yoy set them in concrete, nobody is going to know the difference for a long time anyway.

Answer 8

for a project like this I'd use a class b brick.its slightly imperfect,but I've seen a lot of houses built in them,and got away with it.for an edging they would be ideal and much cheaper

Answer 9

Depends what bricks you are using and where you buy them from.