Reintroducing PGH Sandstock collections

This month PGH™ reintroduces their Sandstock collections, Classic and Timeless. These collections are part of the traditional range unique for renovating, expanding and extending older style homes.

PGH Bricks™ are proud to hold onto to an important part of our history – the time honoured brick making technique associated with producing our Sandstock bricks. For many years, our Brickmaster has evolved and perfected the manufacturing process to keep this tradition alive.

As niche material, Sandstocks have a unique look and feel. Unlike the mass produced extruded bricks with their solid composition and core pattern, Sandstocks have a frog (an indent) providing a special finish for those advocate of life who choose to build with the Sandstock.

A Classic, Timeless Tradition…

Sandstocks are made by wet clay being dropped into sawdust-lined moulds, a process which became automated in 1982. Prior to this, the bricks were manually removed from an individual mould onto a drying tray. With this new technology, PGH were conscious not to compromise the bricks’ unique texture and irregular arises – after all, this is the defining feature of the Sandstock. Like loaves of bread, our green (unfired) bricks are then placed into drying chambers. This is to remove excess moisture and prevent cracking in the kiln.

On removal from the dryers the Sandstocks are then placed into a Hoffman kiln, which is the last of its kind in Australia. Rather than the product moving through the kiln by mechanical process, the stacks are put into the chambers and the fire is moved with temperatures soaring over 1,000 degrees in the days required to cook the bricks.

After around a week of being made, the products are then hand blended and sorted to pallets. Each product is touched by the hand of man – no other bricks have this unique feature.

“Sandstock is the perfect choice for those who enjoy the unique comfort and warmth of a traditional family home, by building with sandstock you are recapturing a home with classic and timeless beauty” Will Caswell, Product Marketing Manager at PGH™ Bricks & Pavers.

Classic Sandstocks

These thrown products are naturally beautiful with a texture that captures the essence of the earth. Today’s PGHTM Sandstock’s still reflect the traditional brick making methods, with products being cast in saw-dust-lined moulds to produce their individual texture. This process results in unrivalled, individual hand made character. Bricks in the collection include:

• Castlemaine
• Cadman
• Lawson Blend
• Blackett
• Chisholm
• Endeavour
• Homestead Blend
• Northbridge
• Mitchell Blend
• Greenway

Timeless Sandstocks

The rough texture and natural irregularity of our sandstocks make them bricks of great character. PGHTM sandstocks have a quality look and appeal to a wide variety of building designs, ranging from contemporary prestige homes, to those requiring an authentic colonial period look. Bricks in the collection include:

• Seaforth
• Balmoral
• Cremorne
• Chatswood
• Mosman
• Balmain
• Jackson