Choosing the right bricks for a new build

From handmade stocks to reclaimed bricks — selecting materials that complement the local vernacular.

On a new build, few decisions have as much visual impact as the choice of brick. It sets the character of the entire home and, done well, ties the new building into its surroundings as though it has always belonged there.

We always start with the local vernacular. Every region of England has its own brick tradition — the warm reds of the Home Counties, the soft buffs and greys of the Cotswolds, the handmade stocks of the south east. Choosing a brick that echoes the local palette is the single most effective way to make a new home feel rooted rather than imposed.

Beyond colour, there is texture and format. Handmade and reclaimed bricks carry a softness and irregularity that machine-made products struggle to match, and they weather beautifully over time. The mortar choice and pointing style matter just as much — the same brick can look entirely different depending on how it is jointed.

We encourage our clients to build sample panels before committing. Seeing the brick, the mortar and the pointing together, at full scale and in natural light, removes any doubt and ensures the finished home is exactly right.

Get the brick right, and everything else follows.