Brick has long been one of New Zealand's most trusted exterior finishes. It's timeless, durable, low maintenance and adds instant street appeal to a home. But as sections become smaller and architectural designs more ambitious, builders and homeowners are looking for new ways to achieve the look of brick without some of the limitations that come with traditional masonry.
That's exactly what Generation Homes is discovering on a current build in St Heliers, Auckland.
The 260sqm multi-storey home is being constructed on a tight cross-lease site on West Tamaki Road, where every square metre matters. Once the scaffolding was erected, there was very little room to move, making it the perfect project to trial a new brick cladding system called Thin Tech Plus.
This new brick cladding system provides the timeless appeal of brick while helping maximise usable floor space on the compact site.
"Our St Heliers project highlights where this type of system really comes into its own. It's ideally suited to smaller sections, city infill sites and higher-end architectural homes where maximising usable space is important. Traditional brick can reduce your available floor area, whereas this system gives you the timeless look of brick in a much slimmer profile," says Pete Suckling, Managing Director, Generation Homes Auckland North
Project Snapshot: St Heliers, Auckland
Location: West Tamaki Road, St Heliers
Site: Cross-lease section
Total site area: 480sqm usable land (595sqm including the right of way)
Home size: 260sqm multi-storey home
Challenge: Tight access site with limited working space once scaffolding was installed
Solution: Thin Tech Plus® brick cladding system to maximise usable space while achieving a premium brick finish
What is Thin Tech Plus?
At first glance, you'd be hard-pressed to tell the difference between Thin Tech Plus and traditional brick.
The system uses real clay brick slips fixed to a lightweight steel panel system, creating the same rich texture and visual appeal that homeowners love about brick.
The key difference lies beneath the surface. At just 43mm thick compared with approximately 120mm for traditional brick, Thin Tech Plus offers a much slimmer profile while retaining the authentic appearance and durability of real brick.
The result is a genuine brick finish that can be incorporated into projects where traditional brick may not always be practical.
When is Thin Tech Plus a good fit?
Traditional brick remains an excellent and cost-effective option for many homes. However, there are certain situations where Thin Tech Plus can offer advantages:
"Traditional brick remains the right choice for many homes, particularly straightforward single-storey designs where it's often the most economical option,” shares Steph Adding, NZ Business Manager for Brickworks. “However, on multi-storey homes, tighter sites or projects where weight is a consideration, our Thin Tech Plus system is ideal.”
For architects and designers, it creates opportunities to incorporate brick into projects that may otherwise have ruled it out.
The best of both worlds
Pete believes the appeal lies in its ability to bridge the gap between traditional masonry and modern lightweight cladding systems.
"You've got the best of both worlds – the flexibility of a lightweight cladding system and the timeless, low-maintenance benefits of real brick," he says.
Unlike some lightweight cladding options, homeowners still enjoy the durability, texture and character that have made brick a favourite for generations. There is no need for ongoing painting or staining, helping keep maintenance requirements low over the life of the home.
The new cladding system comes with market-leading warranties. “Thin Tech Plus is backed by a 100-year warranty on the brick slips and a 50-year warranty on the panel and accessories – unseen warranties in our market,” says Steph Adding.
Key Benefits
A fresh take on a classic material
Design trends may come and go, but brick continues to stand the test of time.
Generation Homes has long appreciated brick for its durability and extensive range of colours, textures and finishes. Products such as Thin Tech Plus simply offer homeowners another option and allow brick to be incorporated into homes and sites where traditional masonry may not be the ideal solution.
Thinking about building? Talk to your local Generation Homes team about the cladding options available for your new home.