Reclaimed bricks can be more expensive than new bricks, because excavated sites are in high demand for landfill and so manufacturers can afford to sell new bricks very cheaply. The main reason for choosing reclaimed bricks (other than good recycling practice) is that they are often of better quality, and therefore will last longer, than modern equivalents.

Don’t use old internal brickwork bricks for external walls – they will have been fired differently and will not be suitable: a good supplier will have separated the bricks into internal and external types.

www.salvo.co.uk has a list of brick suppliers.

If buying new bricks, look for a manufacturer with ISO 14000 Environmental Management Standard accreditation.