If there’s one thing humans are good at, it’s making things with clay. From the simplest earthenware jars to the most intricate of sculptures, from sun-dried bricks to kiln-fired ceramics, clay goods have played an important role in shaping human history and civilization as we know it, especially when it comes to the built environment.
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METROBRICK® thin brick is a leading TBX Grade Architectural Thin Brick designed and manufactured by Ironrock to be used in the following systems:
High pressure laminate (HPL) cladding is a type of exterior siding solution manufactured by layering kraft paper, wood, or other bio-based fibers impregnated with resins and bonding them together using extreme heat and pressure to create dense, homogeneous panels.
Often marketed as an alternative to vinyl, fiber cement, and timber siding, HPL is known for its high durability and impressive capacity to withstand the elements, while also delivering extreme design flexibility and aesthetic appeal.
As more and more clients become aware of potential damages to residences and commercial buildings from wildfires, winds and fading colors due to scorching sunlight, architects are looking for solutions to mitigate these risks in new construction and renovations. One promising solution involves using the power of steel siding for exterior walls.
Siding for homes and commercial structures has had an interesting history.
Marketing lore is replete with brand names that were so popular they became generic terms. Brands like Kleenex (facial tissue), Coke (soft drinks), Frigidaire (refrigerators) all benefited from this brand recognition in the marketplace. Interestingly, this process also works in reverse, where a generic term can become a popular brand. Want an example?
Lead image: Self-cleaning and aesthetic Raiffeisen Forum, Mödling, Austria /Architects: X42 Team, Vienna, Austria / Photos: Rich Hiebl
Photo credit (left to right): David Brossard, CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons, Joe Mabel, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons, davidvives90/Pixabay,
Physicists Bo Adamson from Lund University in Sweden and Wolfgang Feist from the Institut für Wohnen und Umwelt in Germany had read the research, dating back to the 1970s, that suggested it was possible to construct a low-energy building that was designed to exploit passive solar technologies and establish a comfortable indoor temperature with a low-energy requirement for heating or cooling. In 1988 the two professors coined a German term to describe this process. It was “Passivhaus.”
While architects and contractors have recognized the benefits of rainscreen cladding for energy conservation for many years, savvy building owners are now asking about this product because it looks so great. In response, Acme Brick has added a premier rainscreen cladding line to its suite of products.
Many home buyers love the natural look of stone but wince a little at the cost of this classic building material. This has led to an increase in the popularity of stone veneer, and one of the best is Coronado Stone, available from Acme Brick.
Coronado architectural stone veneer can be used to greatly enhance the look and feel of a wide range of projects, from exterior walls to interior accent walls, kitchen backsplashes to outdoor entertainment spaces, and any other spot that can benefit from the timeless character of stone.
There was a time in the not-so-distant past when the word “sustainability” almost never came up in conversations between potential home buyers and their builders. We live in a different world now.
Consumer surveys have shown renewed interest on the part of home buyers in sustainability. Why? A sustainable home respects not only the planet but also the homeowner’s pocketbook. Here’s a checklist for discussing sustainability with your clients.
Residential and commercial builders have first-hand experience with the durability, low maintenance, and safety of brick construction. Plus, the consensus among fire fighters is that a home or commercial building constructed of brick retards fire better than any other material. Even in the most destructive fires, the lives of residents and the people who must fight these fires can be saved, and the damage to the building can often be mitigated.
Many of those FOR SALE signs that were once everywhere in suburban neighborhoods have been replaced by signs offering the property FOR RENT. Whether homes are in recently completed communities or more mature neighborhoods, homes that are built to be rental properties are on the radar screens of builders and investors.
This presents both challenges and opportunities for homebuilders.
According to census data, there were 6 million multigenerational households in the U.S. in 2020, up from 5.1 million in 2010. These are households that include two or more adult generations, or grandparents and grandchildren younger than 25. While many cultures and ethnic groups (e.g., Hispanic, Asian) have always embraced this extended family living arrangement, they are now being joined by all other groups.
Based on this trend, homebuilders are taking a closer look at offering floor plans that allow for greater flexibility.
With so many new products being added to Acme Brick’s inventory, architects and builders needed a convenient way to access their specifications, colors, and styles. Digital product brochures, catalogs, case studies, and other building and design resources have now been added to the site, dramatically increasing the accessibility of all product offerings.
Outdoor entertaining has never been hotter, even when it turns colder.
Fresh air with a few friends and family is certainly conducive to a great time, and nothing tastes better than grilled meat and vegetables. However, what about those times in the fall and winter when “baby, it’s cold outside?”
Since ancient times, wrought iron has been a popular addition to homes and public buildings. When this metal is used for doors, the designs and colors of this material make a design statement that suggests richness and timelessness. For builders who want to add an elegant component to brick construction, wrought iron is an excellent choice.
Builders who specify Acme Brick have another ally at the company in the new General Sales Manager for Texas. It’s John Brewer, a man who started his career as a residential home builder. Acme announced this promotion recently, and Brewer joins a long list of talented construction experts to hold this position in the company's more than 130 year history.
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When they designed the ENT building in Fort Worth, Texas, the architects from the highly regarded firm of 97w did what great designers do: They spent weeks researching construction materials for the exterior facade of the building with the idea that it would make it stand out among the other buildings in the rapidly growing Clearfork area.
One of the most magnificent examples of commercial buildings designed in the “Art Deco” style was constructed of brick manufactured by Acme Brick. The Gulf Building is still a “show stopper” almost 100 years after it was built.
As with many trends in residential construction, the term “sustainability” has gone from a buzzword used by a small number of people to the mainstream of new homebuyers. Why? One word: economics.
When clients find a lovely piece of coastal property and decide they want to build a vacation home, a red flag often goes up for builders. To be specific, two red flags with a black square in the middle of each is the warning for a hurricane!
On April 17, 1891, businessman George E. Bennett chartered a company known as the Acme Pressed Brick Company. But not even a visionary like Bennet could image what was to come. By the mid-20th century, his company --- since renamed Acme Brick --- would become the largest American-owned brick manufacturer.
Whether it's the heat of the blazing sun in the Southwest or the humidity and moisture in the Southeast, weather can wreak havoc on the exterior of any building — residential or commercial. This is why architects across the United States are rethinking their old decisions about cladding and choosing MAC Metal Architectural Siding.
Art Deco, a design trend that first gained popularity in the 1920s, has regained popularity, and we’ve noticed that our customers, who are architects, builders, and interior designers, are thinking outside the glass box. Glass block and brick are hot again, and this trend is being driven by the consumer’s appreciation of the natural radiance of light.
The “loft look” got its start when manufacturers moved their operations from urban city centers to less expensive suburban areas starting in the 1950s. This left warehouse space available for redevelopment into living and working spaces for artists, writers, and other knowledge workers who loved the large rooms, exposed brick, low rent, and high-energy lifestyle these spaces provided.
In the past 50 years, the economics of home construction have changed dramatically. When vinyl siding and synthetic insulation materials were introduced in the 1960s, as a substitute for traditional brick and wood, home builders found their costs were reduced dramatically. In recent years, it is estimated by trade associations that homes wrapped in vinyl siding and synthetic insulation are purchased by 33 percent of new home buyers.
