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Baggeridge have been working closely with housebuilders for many years and during that time we have seen the demand for different types of products change.
Mark Morris, Sales Director of Baggeridge says, "In the last few years we have seen a trend developing amongst large and small housebuilders for homes with more of an individual look about them.
Product development
There has been a move away from wirecut bricks to bricks with more character such as stock bricks. As a result Baggeridge has diversified into producing more stocks - we have introduced a Gilt range from our Waresley factory as well as a range of water-struck stocks at Kingsbury and Hartlebury.
In addition we have introduced new bricks at our Sedgley factory in the form of the Wyndham range and the Oriel Yellow. Baggeridge's acquisition of the Rudgwick factory was also motivated by a desire to broaden our range of high quality stock bricks. Rudgwicks are a different style of brick because they are manufactured using the traditional clamp-fired method.
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Building techniques
The majority of housebuilders still prefer to build using traditional methods with brick, and the market looks set to continue to prefer it for several years to come. However, there is increasing interest in the possibilities opened up by cladding systems, particularly from builders in the social housing sector. Although they are predominately building in brick at present, Housing Associations tend to lead the way in terms of innovative building techniques, often as a result of the need for these organisations to build homes along the guidelines set out by the Egan report.
As a result of this drive for innovation in housing design,
Housing Associations are turning towards cladding systems, such
as Corium,
which are versatile, innovative, efficient and offer cost saving
benefits.
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Trends
Bricks
In terms of trends in traditional bricks, we have seen a move away from the hard-edged wirecut products which were favoured ten years ago. This has been due in part to technological breakthroughs and innovations, which has meant that it is easier to produce a wide range of stock bricks on a larger scale and consequently the price of these products has come down.
Developments
We have also seen housebuilders moving towards creating developments where each of the homes has a more individual feel, with a much greater sense of character. Stock bricks which have a softer, more traditional appeal and a greater spectrum of colour, lend themselves perfectly to this type of application and so have become much more widely used. This trend looks set to continue and we expect to see it accelerate over the next few years as government planning guidance favours developments with much more individual and diverse looking homes.
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Innovations
Between its Hartlebury and Waresley factories Baggeridge produces
over 30 different types of bricks suitable for housing and on
many developments, designers are now choosing to mix two or
more products on the same site. If we are involved early enough
in the project we are able to guarantee size compatibility and
even batch production.
Innovations in the techniques used to produce wirecut bricks
has led to it becoming possible to manufacture these products
with the softer look of stock bricks, so it is likely that these
products will continue to remain popular with housebuilders.
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Feedback
We are always keen to obtain more feedback from housebuilders
regarding product development. As a supplier, we get to know
our customers and work closely with them to help them select
the brick that will meet their objectives both visually and
technically. If you have any ideas or questions please e-mail
marketing@baggeridge.co.uk
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