KEY POINTS:
Brick houses are on the rise as builders and homeowners try to stay clear of the leaky building crisis.
Building Research Association data shows a 20 per cent rise in brick homes in the past six years - from 40 to 50 per cent of all claddings on the market.
One large manufacturer is increasing its kiln capacity to run around the clock to meet the increased demand.
MonierBrick general manager Hamish Aitken said he hoped to begin 24-hour production at the New Lynn plant before the end of the year.
Capacity has been stretched by rising demand. Monier cannot meet all its orders, so has been importing bricks manufactured in Australia to New Zealand specifications.
Mr Aitken said a push by homeowners to dodge weathertightness issues was one of the reasons for the rising demand.
"This is in response to the leaky building crisis because brick houses are built with a cavity system to control the air flow and water content."
The increase in brick houses has been dramatic. In 2001, just under 20,000 were being built and 40 million bricks were being used.
At the peak of the building boom in late 2004/early 2005, demand doubled to 80 million bricks.
Mr Aitken said new house starts had slowed, but builders still needed 70 million bricks annually.
Bricks were also cheaper than other cladding types, he said, citing figures from Rawlinsons Construction Handbook which showed MonierBrick was $112 a square metre, Palliside plastic PVC weatherboards $135, Insulclad polystyrene $140, James Hardie weatherboard $164, exterior grade plywood $167, cedar weatherboard at $198, Hardie compressed sheets $258, and South Island schist the most expensive cladding at $350.
Ian Page, a building economist for the Building Research Association, charted the rise of brick in the June/July issue of Build and said a survey of claddings on new housing consents last year showed brick was king.
"Brick is New Zealand's top cladding choice."
Solid growth
Bricks used to build New Zealand houses each year
* 2001: 40 million
* 2006: 70 million
