Location: Dee Why NSW  Developer/Architect: Denis Leech and Associates Construction: New Fort Constructions Bricklaying: Cemat Austral Bricks products: • Colourbrick Seagrass   NOVEMBER 2006

Seeking a colourful, low maintenance alternative to a rendered finish led designer/developer Denis Leech to Colourbrick, Austral Bricks’ revolutionary brick colouring system, for this 20-unit apartment building on Sydney’s northern beaches.

Ongoing maintenance and repairs have been a recurring problem with rendered finishes. “Unavoidable surface cracks in cement rendering from brick growth and settlement of the foundation structure may not be significant structurally, but are unacceptable to owners,” Denis Leech contends.

Colourbrick walling can accommodate minor cracking and allow selective recolouring without the need to repaint the entire facade.

The brickwork was laid by Leech’s contractors and the Colourbrick emulsion applied by Austral Bricks. Unlike paint systems, this unique emulsion is absorbed into the pore structure of the specially-designed clay bricks and mortar. Colourbrick walling is guaranteed not to weather, fade or wash out.

Colourbrick allowed Denis Leech to achieve his goal of achieving a clean, contemporary look without the maintenance issues. “Austral Bricks Colourbrick met the requirements and expectations of everyone working on the project. We couldn’t be happier with the results achieved.”