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Sad about what's happening to bricks

56 replies

IwishIcouldski · 16/11/2025 15:23

So many of the renovations round areas where I live seem to cover up the nice red bricks by k-rending the hell out of the houses. I think the traditional full or part brick facias of British homes is so beautiful and that there is just something about them. The bricks convey some sort of interesting status to the house.

I am not from Britain so maybe its nostalgia about what I think makes Britain, Britain.

AIBU to think this trend of smooth k-rendering the whole house, covering up the traditional red bricks, is unfortunate? I hope the trend stops and that we don't end up with more k-rendered homes than brick-facia homes.

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HeadDeskHeadDesk · 16/11/2025 16:00

Depends on the brick, really. Some of the cheap post-war bricks used are ugly and poor quality, and especially if they've been poorly laid, it's no great loss to cover them up. But the beautiful, hand cut bricks that speak of the local vernacular style of a specific geographic area, they are part of our history and our culture and I agree it's a shame to cover them.

But like so many things that short-sighted people do in the name of 'modernising' or 'improvements' (UPVC picture windows where there should be wooden sashes, pebble dashing, ripping out coving or period fireplaces, changin front door styles) those things themselves will date pretty quickly and someone else will come along and spend money restoring the place to how it was intended to look.

HeadyLamarr · 16/11/2025 15:53

HeadyLamarr · 16/11/2025 15:51

I don't know what K render is, but I do like the look of bricks or stone.

Oh, it's just regular render.
No, I don't mind it and most of the inter-war semi-detatched houses around here are half brick, half render.

Allseeingallknowing · 16/11/2025 15:52

Plus those houses are going to need painting at some point. Bricks are easy are

ShamrockShenanigans · 16/11/2025 15:52

I quite like both 🤷‍♂️

HeadyLamarr · 16/11/2025 15:51

I don't know what K render is, but I do like the look of bricks or stone.

IwishIcouldski · 16/11/2025 15:50

Anyone?

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