Reclaimed Brick tiles are a beautiful addition to any property. They can be laid in any room in the house including hallways, kitchens, utility and boot rooms though many people have laid in living areas as well as bedrooms and bathrooms. This can all be seen in the photos provided.
Advantages to a brick floor
Very durable
The main advantages of reclaimed brick tiles are that it is very hard-wearing, withstanding heavy foot traffic over many years.
Authentic look and feel
The look of reclaimed brick tiles cannot be replicated by modern engineered products and they have a very authentic look and feel to them. The way in which the brick tiles improve with age as it settles into the environment of the property over time is something quite beautiful. It is literally a floor that improves with age. reclaimed brick tiles also have a timeless quality and unlike some other types of flooring is not affected by fashion, similar to a way in which antique furniture maintains its desirability.
Easy to maintain
15-20 years ago, brick tiles had to be sealed every year or two with boiled linseed oil, which gave a protective layer to them. Today, modern sealers have developed a lot! Water-based sealers protect the brick floors while allowing water vapour to pass through. This means, once sealed, the tiles are protected for 15 years.
Disadvantages to a brick floor
Hard underfoot
There aren’t too many disadvantages to a Reclaimed Brick Tile Floor. The most obvious is that it’s hard. This means that dropped objects get broken and exuberant children can become bruised.
A difficult task to lay
laying a brick floor is hard work. Especially when using reclaimed bricks, you want to make sure you have a builder who understands brick and that these are not engineered products.
Designs and versatility
One of the great things about a brick floor is its versatility when it comes to colours, pattern and styles. Firstly reclaimed brick tiles are predominantly clay and porous. This means that they can be impregnated and therefore deepened in colour. So whether you choose a light or warm brick tile, there is still the option to tone the colour to your requirement.
As for patterns, these are almost endless but a few of the most popular are a brick bond, basket weave and a herringbone that can be either a 90 or 45-degree style.
Another thing that should be borne in mind when buying Reclaimed Brick tiles is how well it works with underfloor heating. The Romans realised these centuries ago and laid clay tiles over hot water systems in their bath-houses. Often, Reclaimed Brick Floors have a very good TOG rating and therefore they take the heat and slowly release it over time, unlike a stone floor.
Sealing
Finally, Reclaimed Brick tiles need to be sealed before and after grouting. If a good sealant is used then this only needs doing during installation and not repeated year on year. Cleaning is also a simple process. Mopping and sweeping suffice.
Conclusion
All in all a Reclaimed Brick Floor is a beautiful thing and will be admired for years and years.
