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A study by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) has proven that brick is more cost-effective than any of its rivals.

The findings are especially valuable at the present time, given that contractors are experiencing soaring costs and longer lead times for many competing cladding materials.

Brick has long been a favourite amongst architects, developers and the public. It’s warm and humanising character brings buildings to life. An external brick wall adds scale, colour and texture then there’s the choice – 1200 different varieties of brick are produced in the uk alone – and it blends so easily and naturally with its surroundings.

What the RICS investigation showed is that you can have such qualities, without paying over-the-top prices. It analysed a wide range of data, from major price books to bills of quantities for live projects submitted to them in 2007. The projects, which covered a selection from across the UK, ranged in value from £356,000 to £10.5 million.

The study compared the installed cost per square metre for brickwork against a string of rival external finishes. These included simple fibre cement sheets, different types of rendered blockwork, timber weatherboard, pvc cladding, plain tile cladding, ashlar stonework, and, at the top end of the price range, curtain walling and patent glazing.

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