Ask Andy has always got a full mail box. One area that we get a lot of emails from is concerning brick slip cladding for self builders. Most of the questions are similar and cover the same topics. One question emailed over to us recently….
Do we have a guide to brick slip cladding for self builders?
Ask Andy says!
Yes!
Although as a general rule of thumb advice for self builders can differ depending on construction methods, for this reason we always give the best advice tailored to the specific customer.
Please always give us a call if you are unsure about anything, we are here to help. Our technical team can probably answer your question in 5 seconds that would take you 5 hours to research yourself.
Our quick guide to brick slip cladding for self builders!
Although every installation is project specific we are going to help get some of the myths, questions and queries that apply across the board answered.
By dissecting these key points hopefully we can cover most of the answers that apply to any self builder.
Do I need planning permission for brick slips?
If as a self builder you are building fully from scratch then obviously you will need to approach planning and get all materials and methods passed.
We do get self builders who have decided to build their own extension or have decided to turn their tired looking home into a new looking masterpiece, for this scenario planning may not be required.
We would always recommend that you contact your local planning authority regardless of any advice given as a standard course of action.
When renovating or rejuvenating you do not need to apply for planning permission. If you live in a listed building or building of significance then you will need consent for any significant changes to the outside of the building.
You will need to apply for planning permission if you live in any of the following:
- Conservation Area
- National Park
- Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
- Broads
Outside these areas, cladding may be carried out without having to first apply for planning permission, this is provided the materials are similar in appearance to the ones used to build the house.
Do I need to use a brick slip tracking system?
This one all depends on what your method of construction is and what materials have been specified during planning. It is not usually mentioned that a tracking system is needed as all the tracking system does if provide the mortar spaces and line guide for installation.
Most self build projects would not need this as brick slips can be installed just like any other tile product using the adhesive and spacers.
In our experience on projects that are 1-2 levels in height ( ground floor, first floor, second floor ) do not need a tracking system. Applying the adhesive directly between the brick slips and the substrate makes for a much more solid construction. The reasoning for this is that the adhesive is only performing one grab rather than two.
When using specific and new building methods we would always advise that you follow the guidance of the substrate manufacturer as this is the structural part of your build.
I need a specific brick, can you get these and cut them for me?
Having to have a certain brick can be stressful especially with demand for bricks being at an all time high and availability scarce. We have some of the most talented and knowledgeable brick specialists here at Brickslips.co.uk and we always do our best to accommodate.
One of the largest areas of our business is offering cutting services for other products, provided the brick is available we are able to offer bespoke cutting services for customer self build projects.
Plan in advance!
Most of our products are available in stock and can be delivered within 3-4 working days. This is based on our standard portfolio of products. If you have a bespoke product and a special cutting order then you would need to plan in advance. Sometimes lead times can be effected by brick availability and this is something you would need to take into account. Especially when brick slip cladding for self builders.
We would always advise where possible to use a stock item of ours, that way we can guarantee that your products will be available for quick delivery.
Allow for cuts and breakages
As with any tiling product breakages will happen, these can happen in transit or when cutting the product. We would always advise self builders to order 5% more than required to allow for these instances. Most competent tradesmen can use broken brick slips for cuts and for areas that don’t use a full slip. Always try to use up broken brick slips where you can.
We are able to send out free replacements. Replacements are for breakages that go over 5% providing they are reported to us at point of delivery.
Builder or tiler?
A question that gets asked often is, who installs brick slips?
As the process is exactly the same as tiling then we would recommend using any reputable tiler to install the brick slips. Builders and brick layer can be difficult to obtain as demand for their services is very high. High demand also means that they can be a times more expensive than their tiling counterparts.
Just ask us!
There you go, brick slip cladding for self builders, a few of the most asked questions from self builders answered.
No two projects are the same and as we said before self build can be very specific and bespoke.
We are always here to offer help and advice to self builder and enjoy helping out wherever we can. It is impossible to cover everything but hopefully we have cleared up some of the most frequent self build questions.
If you would like further technical help you can email us at technical@brickslips.co.uk
Also, be sure to check back in here for future additions to our popular “Ask Andy” column.
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