Carl Finnell · Case Study
Reclaimed Brick Slips
When a client orders a full or part brick chamber, all they initially see is a beautiful picture or showroom display showing what the finished fireplace could look like. Once the order is placed, however, that is when our hard work really begins.
Creating a convincing brick chamber is about far more than simply sticking brick slips onto a wall. The brick, colour, texture, bond, corners and detailing all need to be considered carefully to achieve a natural and balanced finished result. Every chamber is different, and we take the time to plan the layout and detailing before installation, so the finished fireplace looks as though it was always meant to be there.
Why Reclaimed?
Reclaimed bricks are typically salvaged from buildings with history and character that are being demolished or carefully dismantled. They may have originally formed part of an old cotton mill, Victorian town hall, railway building or even a stately home.
By choosing reclaimed brick, you are not simply adding a traditional finish to your fireplace — you are bringing a genuine piece of architectural history into your home.
Every brick has its own character, with variations in colour, texture, weathering and marks from its previous life. These natural imperfections are what give a reclaimed brick chamber its authentic appearance and make every installation completely unique.
It is more than a brick chamber. It is a small piece of history, given a new home.
We carefully select every individual piece for each installation
Reclaimed isn’t for everyone, and we also offer a separate range of new brick slips that can be aged or finished to create the appearance of handmade brick.
But for those looking for something truly individual, reclaimed brick offers something that simply cannot be replicated. Every brick carries its own history, with subtle variations in colour, texture, markings and imperfections built up over decades.
It is these imperfections that give a reclaimed brick chamber its character. You are not simply choosing a finish; you are bringing a genuine piece of history into your home.
For clients who appreciate authenticity, individuality and materials with a story to tell, there really is no other choice.
Preparing the Brick
Once the reclaimed brick arrives at our yard, the preparation process begins. Each brick is carefully cut at both ends to create a thin brick fascia, ready to be used as a brick slip.
For each external corner, the brick is specially cut into an L-shaped pistol corner. This allows the brick to wrap around the corner naturally, creating the seamless finish you would expect from a professionally crafted fireplace.
Once prepared, the brick slips are carefully stacked in batches, keeping the individual bricks together. This helps us maintain the original character, colour variation and natural weathering of the reclaimed brick when the chamber is eventually constructed.
Setting Out
Every client’s brick chamber is carefully set out before we arrive at your home. This allows us to plan the brickwork in advance and ensure the finished chamber has the perfect balance of colour, texture, brick size and character.
This process takes considerable time. We spend many hours in our yard carefully selecting and arranging reclaimed bricks, often working in challenging weather where we can set out up to 1,000 bricks every week in the busy period.
It is this preparation that helps us achieve the natural, balanced appearance you would expect from a professionally crafted reclaimed brick chamber.
The photograph below shows the beginning of the setting-out process, with the bricks being carefully selected and arranged before they are taken to site.
For a Perfect Blend
