2 years ago I had my house extended and specified 'matching brickwork'. The
builder supplied some lighter bricks and said they were the best match.
Subsequently I found a much better match (almost indistinguishable - thanks
very much FNA Special projects - so much for your 40 years 'experience' in
the building trade!!) from an extension that was done down the road that was
not done by a cowboy. So despite Franks assurances that the bricks would
darken with age I am left with an extension that looks like an extension not
part of the house. I found that applying waterproof woodstain and
preservative to the surface of a few 'test' bricks worked well in darkening
the bricks so i wondered if there was on the market any special stain that
could be used? its a bit of an arse having to stain each individual brick
but worth doing to rectify the poor performance from a less than
professional builder. I did find the stain worked extremely well on the cut
edges of the bricks where a new window had been installed but I don't want
any problems with 'running' when it rains.

On Tue, 20 Sep 2005 18:19:42 GMT, "SS"  wrote:


>2 years ago I had my house extended and specified 'matching brickwork'. The
>builder supplied some lighter bricks and said they were the best match.
>Subsequently I found a much better match (almost indistinguishable - thanks
>very much FNA Special projects - so much for your 40 years 'experience' in
>the building trade!!) from an extension that was done down the road that was
>not done by a cowboy. So despite Franks assurances that the bricks would
>darken with age I am left with an extension that looks like an extension not
>part of the house. I found that applying waterproof woodstain and
>preservative to the surface of a few 'test' bricks worked well in darkening
>the bricks so i wondered if there was on the market any special stain that
>could be used? its a bit of an arse having to stain each individual brick
>but worth doing to rectify the poor performance from a less than
>professional builder. I did find the stain worked extremely well on the cut
>edges of the bricks where a new window had been installed but I don't want
>any problems with 'running' when it rains.
>

Have you looked at combining the colour with a silicon DPC fluid?

That is designed to remain in brickwork and resist water. perhaps a
stained version might last?

Of course this is just an idea and might be bollocks.

Good idea I can try a test - better if there is a proper product.

"Ericp"  wrote in message
news:m0l0j1dbk8vbsporef37o7nnki9hv9m47v@4ax.com...

> On Tue, 20 Sep 2005 18:19:42 GMT, "SS"  wrote:
>
> >2 years ago I had my house extended and specified 'matching brickwork'.
The
> >builder supplied some lighter bricks and said they were the best match.
> >Subsequently I found a much better match (almost indistinguishable -
thanks
> >very much FNA Special projects - so much for your 40 years 'experience'
in
> >the building trade!!) from an extension that was done down the road that
was
> >not done by a cowboy. So despite Franks assurances that the bricks would
> >darken with age I am left with an extension that looks like an extension
not
> >part of the house. I found that applying waterproof woodstain and
> >preservative to the surface of a few 'test' bricks worked well in
darkening
> >the bricks so i wondered if there was on the market any special stain
that
> >could be used? its a bit of an arse having to stain each individual brick
> >but worth doing to rectify the poor performance from a less than
> >professional builder. I did find the stain worked extremely well on the
cut
> >edges of the bricks where a new window had been installed but I don't
want
> >any problems with 'running' when it rains.
> >
> Have you looked at combining the colour with a silicon DPC fluid?
>
> That is designed to remain in brickwork and resist water. perhaps a
> stained version might last?
>
> Of course this is just an idea and might be bollocks.
>