Brick slip extensions offer an alternative to conventional brick-built construction, combining the appearance of traditional brickwork with a modern approach to building the external wall.
For trade installers, the attraction is straightforward: a brick finish can be achieved without constructing the entire external skin of an extension from full-size bricks and mortar.
But what exactly is a brick slip extension, how does the system work, and how does it compare with traditional brickwork?
What Is a Brick Slip Extension?
A brick slip extension uses thin sections of brick to create the appearance of conventional brickwork without the depth and weight of a traditional masonry wall.
Rather than relying on full-size bricks to form the external wall, brick slips are installed onto a suitable backing system. The structure behind the slips provides the required structural, thermal and weatherproofing performance, while the brick slips provide the external finish.
This makes brick slips particularly relevant to modern extension construction, where engineered timber structures, insulation systems and lightweight building components can be combined with a traditional-looking exterior.
How Do Brick Slip Extensions Work?
The principle is relatively simple. The extension’s structural wall system is designed to provide the building’s structural and thermal requirements, while the external brick slip system is fixed to the appropriate backing.
The slips are then positioned to replicate the appearance of traditional brickwork, including brick courses, joints and detailing.
The exact fixing method depends on the brick slip system being used, so installation should always follow the manufacturer’s specification.
The important distinction is that the brick finish and structural wall are separate parts of the overall construction.
Brick Slips vs Traditional Brickwork
Traditional masonry construction uses full-size bricks laid on site with mortar. The masonry forms a substantial part of the external wall construction and is progressively built as the extension takes shape.
Brick slip construction takes a different approach.
| Traditional Brickwork | Brick Slip Construction |
|---|---|
| Full-size bricks | Thin brick slips |
| Conventional masonry construction | Engineered backing and fixing system |
| Brickwork forms part of the wall build-up | Structural wall sits behind the external finish |
| Significant on-site bricklaying | Brick finish installed onto prepared backing |
| Heavier masonry construction | Lightweight external finish |
The finished appearance can still replicate traditional brickwork, but the way the external wall is constructed is fundamentally different.
What Are the Advantages of Brick Slip Construction?
Brick slips can provide several practical advantages where a traditional brick appearance is required without using conventional masonry throughout the external wall.
Traditional Brick Appearance
Brick slips can recreate the appearance of traditional brickwork, making them suitable for projects where the extension needs to complement an existing property.
A Lightweight External Finish
Because the external finish uses thin brick sections rather than full masonry construction, it can form part of a lighter engineered wall system.
Consistent Installation
Using a defined brick slip system can provide a more controlled method of achieving the required external finish, particularly when combined with pre-engineered wall components.
Greater Design Flexibility
Brick slip finishes can be incorporated into different extension designs, allowing the external appearance to work alongside modern glazing, roof windows, roof lanterns and different roof configurations.
Can Brick Slips Match an Existing House?
One of the main reasons for choosing a brick slip finish is the ability to create a brick appearance that works with the existing property.
The choice of brick slip can influence the overall appearance through:
- Brick colour
- Texture
- Profile
- Size
- Joint colour
- Brick bond
- Corner and opening details
For an extension to sit naturally against an existing brick property, these details need to be considered alongside the proportions and design of the extension itself.
The aim is not simply to add a brick finish, but to create an external appearance that works with the original building.
Are Brick Slip Extensions Suitable for Modern Properties?
Brick slips are not limited to traditional properties.
A brick slip extension can combine a traditional external finish with contemporary elements such as large areas of glazing, aluminium bifold doors, roof lanterns, roof windows and low-profile roofing.
This makes the approach useful where the structural construction needs to be modern and efficient, but the finished extension still needs to relate visually to the existing property.
Brick Slips and Extension Design
The external finish is only one part of an extension’s overall design.
The proportions of the extension, position of windows and doors, roofline, junction with the existing property and choice of materials all affect how the finished project looks.
This is where brick slip construction can provide flexibility. The structural wall system can be engineered around the requirements of the extension, while the external brick slip finish provides the architectural appearance.
The two elements can therefore work together without requiring the entire extension to be constructed as conventional masonry.
What Is Behind the Brick Slips?
Brick slips are an external finish rather than a replacement for the structural wall.
The construction behind them needs to provide the appropriate structural support and form part of the building envelope, including the required thermal and weatherproofing performance.
This is an important distinction between a brick slip extension and traditional masonry construction.
With conventional brickwork, full-size bricks and mortar form a substantial part of the external wall construction. With a brick slip system, the structural wall and external brick finish are designed as separate but compatible components.
Brick Slip Extensions for Trade Installers
For installers, the construction method behind the brick finish is just as important as the appearance.
A brick slip system can work particularly well alongside pre-engineered extension components, where structural wall panels are manufactured to defined specifications before arriving on site.
This allows the installer to work with an engineered structural system while still offering a familiar brick-finished appearance.
It also means the external finish can be considered as part of the wider extension specification rather than treating brickwork as an entirely separate construction process.
For installers comparing different extension systems, it is therefore worth looking at how the structural system and external finish are designed to work together.
Brick Slip Extensions vs Prefabricated Extension Kits
These two terms describe different aspects of extension construction.
A prefabricated extension kit refers primarily to how the structural components are manufactured and supplied.
A brick slip extension refers to the external finish.
The two are not mutually exclusive. A prefabricated extension can incorporate a brick slip exterior where the structural system has been designed to accept it.
This distinction is useful when comparing extension systems. One system may supply the structural components while leaving the installer to provide the external finish, while another may integrate the brick slip finish into the supplied package.
Example Brick Slip Extension Prices
The cost of an extension will depend on its size, configuration and specification. As a guide, current Warmer Roof system prices include:
- Edwardian Extension – 4000mm × 4000mm: £9,558 + VAT
- Flat Roof Extension – 6000mm × 3000mm: £8,275 + VAT
These examples show how the system can be specified across different extension sizes and designs.
The final price will depend on the individual specification, including the layout, roof design, glazing and other options required.
For trade installers, the system price is only one part of the calculation. Installation time, labour requirements, specification and the overall project margin also need to be considered when selecting an extension construction method.
Where Does BrickUP Fit In?
BrickUP takes the brick slip principle and incorporates it into a wider engineered extension system.
Rather than treating the brick finish as a separate conventional masonry build, the system combines the structural extension construction with an external brick slip finish.
For installers looking for a complete house extension system, this provides a way to deliver a brick-finished extension while working with a pre-engineered structural system.
The BrickUP system brings the structural construction and external brick slip finish together, allowing the finished extension to achieve a traditional brick appearance without relying on conventional masonry construction throughout.
Choosing the Right Approach for a Brick-Finished Extension
Traditional masonry remains one option for achieving a brick-built appearance, but it is not the only approach available to installers.
Brick slip construction can be worth considering where a project requires:
- A traditional brick appearance
- A lightweight external finish
- An engineered structural system
- Compatibility with modern insulation and building components
- Integration with large areas of glazing
- A defined installation method
The right approach will depend on the individual project, including the existing property, required appearance, structural design, thermal performance, fixing method and interfaces around windows, doors and roofing.
A Different Way to Achieve a Brick-Built Appearance
Brick slip extensions provide a way to combine the familiar appearance of brickwork with modern engineered construction.
By separating the structural wall from the external brick finish, installers can use contemporary extension construction methods without necessarily moving away from the traditional appearance many projects require.
For trade professionals looking at alternative ways to deliver brick-finished extensions, BrickUP provides an integrated approach that brings the brick slip exterior together with the wider Warmer Roof extension system.