How we clean bricks
At Gamle Mursten we ensure that our bricks are cleaned so that they are ready to be used in a new building, using a cleaning technology for the optimal result.
Gamle Mursten sorts and machine cleans bricks from demolitions so that they can be reused in new construction projects, thereby saving the environment the resources that would otherwise be used to burn new bricks.
We receive bricks from demolition and waste companies to our production facilities in Svendborg where a patented vibration technology is used to clean the bricks without the use of water or chemicals.
Prices and possibilities
The price for cleaning bricks, sorting them onto pallets, storing them in our brick hotel and eventually delivering them as a CE-marked product ready for construction is based on a quote in each individual case, but it is can be a cheaper option than buying new bricks.
Handling bricks for recycling
When you wish to recycle your bricks, the simple rule is that the demolition company must not drive over the bricks.
The bricks should preferably be from buildings contructed before 1960 where lime mortar was used, as we need the bricks to seperate in order to clean the mortar of them.
If cement mortar was used instead of lime mortar in your building, it may mean that the bricks don’t seperate which will make it impossible to clean them.
As a demolition contractor, you can work with the following guidelines to ensure as many whole bricks as possible:
Separate bricks and other materials continuously from the first handling.
Avoid driving into the bricks.
Use a shovel for loading – not a grab. This will result in fewer bricks being destroyed.
The building must be environmentally screened and remediated in accordance with applicable legislation.
We must receive photos of the brickwork by email – mail@gamlemursten.dk.
These types of bricks can be recycled
Bricks built with lime mortar – typically from buildings from before 1960.
Bricks built with cement mortar if the bricks seperate one by one.
The following bricks cannot be recycled:
Bricks from chimneys containing soot
How do you clean the bricks?
Gamle Mursten has developed a patented technology where the bricks are cleaned mechanically using vibration technology that scrapes off the mortar. This means that neither water nor chemicals are used in the process.
After cleaning, we sort and quality check the bricks, CE-mark them and sort them manually by quality, type and color.
The cleaned bricks are then placed on a conveyor belt that leads them to a robot that stacks and packs the bricks according to color and customer wishes.
Are there any restriction on what type of brick can be cleaned?
We offer cleaning of all types of bricks.
Since the 1960s cement mortar has been used for brickwork. Cement is often harder than the brick and works differently to lime mortar, which can cause damage to the bricks during demolision and cleaning.
To ensure the best possible process, we therefore always test the bricks thoroughly before we begin removal and cleaning. At Gamle Mursten, we have extensive knowledge of mortar, bricks and the correct handling that both older and newer building materials require. Therefore, all stones are treated with the greatest possible care and professionalism.
What is the average utilisation rate of brick you receive?
Approximately 65 percent of bricks can be reused directly (if they are not damaged during demolition).
Previously, we had to discard the damaged bricks, but now we cut 25mm bricks slips from any brick that cannot be reused as a whole bricks. This means we achieve a utilisation rate of up to 80 percent of the material we receive at the factory for cleaning.
We also clean and stack the half bricks which are often used in every other shift in previous construction projects. This results in beautiful brickwork with extra colors and shades. Be extra considerate if you deliver bricks for cleaning that you would like to have returned, your design may as well incorporate as large a part of the raw material as possible.
What does the cleaning process mean for the brick's quality?
Both the demolition and the subsequent cleaning process give the bricks a rustic surface. This contributes to the characteristic appearance, and the cleaning process, together with testing, supports the CE-marking process and is an active part of the quality assurance of the bricks.
If you wish to know the quality of your bricks, you can order a test from Gamle Mursten.