Why Choose Natural Stone Bricks?
When considering materials for construction, the choice between natural stone bricks and clay fired bricks is crucial. Natural stone bricks offer numerous advantages over their clay-fired counterparts, making them an increasingly popular choice in sustainable building practices.
Environmental Impact
One of the most significant benefits of natural stone bricks is their dramatically reduced embodied carbon. Unlike clay fired bricks, which require mixing and heating to high temperatures for hours in kilns, natural stone bricks are simply mined and cut to shape. This process involves no chemicals or heating, resulting in a much lower carbon footprint. For example, Heritage Portland Stone® Bricks have been shown to contain 80% less carbon compared to traditional clay fired bricks, based on The Brick Development Association's average EPD figures. Albion Stones EPD has been verified by The EPD Hub, with a reported figure of just 44.7 kgCO2/tonne. This makes Heritage Portland Stone® Bricks the industry leader in lowest embodied carbon among natural stone brick manufacturers worldwide.
Strength and Durability
In addition to their environmental benefits, natural stone bricks also offer superior strength. Heritage Portland Stone® Bricks are notably stronger than typical clay fired bricks and approach the strength of class B engineering bricks. This increased strength can potentially reduce the need for movement joints in construction projects, resulting in more streamlined and durable structures.
Aesthetic Appeal
Aesthetically, natural stone bricks provide a unique and authentic appearance that manufactured products fail to replicate. The natural variations and shell content of Heritage Portland Stone® Bricks add to their visual appeal, offering a distinct and timeless look. This aesthetic quality has been recognized and utilized in iconic buildings such as St Paul’s Cathedral, Buckingham Palace, and the British Museum, which all feature Portland Stone.
Thermal Efficiency
Another advantage of natural stone bricks is their superior thermal mass. This means that stone walls can be thinner while still providing effective insulation. As a result, buildings constructed with natural stone bricks can maintain a comfortable temperature more efficiently, leading to potential ongoing savings on heating and cooling costs.
Availability and Production Capacity
Heritage Portland Stone® Bricks are not only environmentally friendly and robust but also readily available. With over 50,000 bricks in stock and a production capacity of over 4,000 bricks per day, they can meet the demands of large-scale construction projects quickly. This capacity can be increased further if necessary, ensuring a reliable supply for any project.
In conclusion, the advantages of natural stone bricks over clay fired bricks are clear. From their reduced carbon footprint and increased strength to their aesthetic appeal and thermal efficiency, natural stone bricks offer a sustainable and high-performance option for modern construction. Choosing Heritage Portland Stone® Bricks means not only supporting environmentally responsible building practices but also investing in a product with proven durability and timeless beauty.
Albion Stone, a fourth generation family business pride ourselves on having a helpful and skilled workforce as well as modern and traditional manufacturing process to enable us to produce the highest quality Portland Stone with minimal environmental impact.
