Cobblestone Series
Cobblestone Small
Cobblestone Medium
Cobblestone Series – Medium Single Skin
Cobblestone Series – Small
Smooth to touch, soft on the eyes. Choose our drop in replacement for clay bricks and select a more energy efficient, cost effective and environmentally friendly product.
Specifications
| Increment or Module Size | 300mm long x 130mm high |
| Actual Size | 285mm long x 118mm high x 100mm wide |
| Mortar joints | 12mm thick |
| Weight | 3.4kg (approximately) |
| Bricks per m2 | 25.6 |
| Construction wall type | Veneer Brick Walls or Full Brick Walls (Double Brick) |
Appearance
The Small Cobblestone Series has a subtle curved face and is the smallest of our Cobblestone Range. Each brick bellies out slightly and this slight variation underscores the fact that each brick is handcrafted. The appearance creates a soft ambience with bricks that are smooth to touch and visually soft on the eye.
Colours
Our standard colour is sandstone yellow, however we are able to vary the colour with almost limitless possibilities. Bricks can be ordered with a monolithic theme or colours can be blended to taste. (Colour ranges vary between manufacturers.)
Construction
Although the Small Cobblestone brick is larger in size then standard clay bricks, the dimensions make it a simple replacement. The Small Cobblestone series is 1½ times as high as standard clay bricks and
at 300mm long fits nicely into standard building increments. Their larger size typically results in savings in relation to brick laying costs per square metre and along with a lower weight these bricks are often a favourite among brick layers. Typically walls will go up faster using half the number of bricks and half the amount of mortar. This saves the bricklayer time and you money.
Ongoing Savings on Energy Bills
Timbercrete’s veneer series Full Brick or Double Brick walls with an insulating cavity provide an ideal energy-saving and thermally efficient wall. Internally Timbercrete acts as an excellent thermal bank because of its ability to store thermal energy, while the cavity with its insulation will act as a thermal break preventing heat or cold transference through the wall. Switching over to a more environmentally friendly and energy efficient product has never been easier.
Environment
Timbercrete is an insulating light weight masonry product that stores many tonnes of carbon gas. The manufacturing process also requires much less energy (lower embodied energy) to produce and is far less pollutant than clay fired bricks. The outcome is a cleaner and healthier environment.
Improved Insulation
Having high insulating properties means that thermally your house will always perform better and be more comfortable in summer and winter, compared with other denser masonry products of the same thickness, such
as fired clay bricks or concrete blocks. Choosing Timbercrete will save you money on your energy bills.
Wall Types
• As a veneer brick it can be used as a typical external veneer wall.
• Alternatively a more energy efficient reverse brick veneer wall.
• Ideally for the most energy efficient wall system we recommend a Timbercrete full brick (double brick) wall construction, with an insulated cavity
Cobblestone Series – Medium
Handcrafted beauty should not cost the earth. Build something uniquely beautiful and environmentally friendly.
Specifications
| Increment or Module Size | 400mm long X 175mm high |
| Actual Size | 388mm long X 160mm high X 100 or 120mm wide |
| Mortar joints | 10mm to 20mm thick |
| Weight | 8kg (approximately) |
| Bricks per m2 | 13.6 |
| Construction wall type | Veneer Brick Walls or Full Brick Walls (Double Brick) |
The 120mm thick Cobblestone Veneer Series is a popular series and its unique appearance represents our signature brick/block style. Each block is individually hand crafted, with slight variations of curved faces and dimensions inherent in the handmade process. This variation is intentional in order to create the unique cobblestone appearance, with the charm and character of the old world. The mortar thickness will also reflect this variation, ranging from 10mm to 20mm.
This medium size (120mm thick) cobblestone veneer block shares the same external surface measurements as its 200mm thick single skin counterpart (see measurements below).
Timbercrete 120mm double brick walls (also called full brick walls), with optional insulation in the cavity provides an ideal thermally efficient wall. Timbercrete acts as an excellent thermal bank because of its ability to be able to store thermal energy, while the cavity with its insulation will act as a thermal break preventing heat or cold transference through the wall. It will also provide better thermal comfort in extreme weather conditions than its 200mm thick single skin counterpart, however there will be extra initial costs for the double brick wall.
All the Timbercrete veneer series can be used as a drop-in replacement for veneer clay or concrete blocks in the do-it-yourself Basix energy assessment programme. This should save money as you will not need an independent expert energy assessment appraisal.
As with all veneer bricks, the cavity will provide a mechanical water proof barrier. It will also provide a space for bulk insulation and a reflective vapour barrier thus increasing the total R value (insulating quality) of your wall.
Environment
Timbercrete is an insulating light weight masonry product that stores many tonnes of carbon di-oxide gas. The manufacturing process also requires much less energy (lower embodied energy) to produce and is far less pollutant than clay fired bricks. The outcome is a cleaner and healthier environment.
Improved Insulation
Having high insulating properties means that thermally your house will always perform better and be more comfortable in summer and winter, compared with other denser masonry products of the same thickness, such as fired clay bricks or concrete blocks.
Choosing Timbercrete will save you money on your energy bills.
Cobblestone Series – Medium Single Skin
Build something beautiful with Timbercrete’s unique, energy efficient signature block, offering features and benefits that will astound you.
Specifications
| Increment or Module Size | 400mm long X 175mm high |
| Actual Size | 388mm long X 163mm high X 200mm wide |
| Mortar joints | 10mm to 20mm thick |
| Weight | 12.5kg (approximately) |
| Bricks per m2 | 13.6 |
| Construction wall type | Single Skin. See also, Veneer Brick Walls or Full Brick Walls (Double Brick) |
The 200mm thick single skin Cobblestone Series Block is our most popular and has become our unique signature block. Each block is individually hand crafted, with slight variations of curved faces and dimensions inherent in the hand-made process. This variation is intentional in order to create the unique cobblestone appearance with the charm and character of the old world. The mortar thickness will also reflect this variation, ranging from 10mm to 20mm.
The 200mm Rustic Cobblestone Series features a range of specialty blocks to accommodate every type of vertical or horizontal service requirement. We also provide a half block and a power point or light switch box, which comes already cast into the block saving time and money on the electrical fit out. There are also specialty blocks to accommodate the window fin on aluminium windows, eliminating the need for timber reveals. In fact there are 11 different types of blocks in this 200mm single skin series.
Once you understand and decide where all the specialty blocks are required, “single skin simplicity” is actually a very easy way of building.
There are several advantages to building with the timbercrete single skin series including:
- Ease of maintenance, walls are not easily marked or damaged and therefore do not need repairing or re-painting.
- Timbercrete walls can be nailed or screwed into directly. This means that attaching shelving, cupboards, or hanging paintings is incredibly simple.
- Improved acoustic performance. Due to the unique density and matrix of Timbercrete combined with the curved and textured surface, walls do not reflect (echo) back sound as with plasterboard or high-density masonry walls.
- The durable nature of internal Timbercrete walls makes it the ideal choice for maintenance free homes, rental properties, investment properties, commercial buildings, schools and homes with young families.
- Choosing ether single skin (single leaf) or full brick (double brick) construction has considerable thermal benefits. Timbercrete not only insulates well but it also stores thermal energy. Storing thermal energy is equally as important as insulation.
Timbercrete is unique in that it provides a workable balance, being able to insulate extremely well, while also storing thermal energy (thermal mass), unlike many other lower density insulating products. - The 200mm wide single skin Timbercrete wall offers the highest possible Fire Resistant Level (FRL) of 240/240/240 minutes. This means that for a period exceeding four hours Timbercrete is able to maintain structural adequacy, structural integrity and insulate against excessive heat transference.
In fact a CSIRO fire test was carried out to determine Timbercrete’s Structural Adequacy, Integrity and Insulation achieving a definition of FRL 240/240/240.
The Definition of the Fire Resistant Level
| FRL 240 / 240 / 240 | FRL 240 / 240 / 240 | FRL 240 / 240 / 240 |
| The first 240/ – represents Structural Adequacy, this means that for a period of 240 minutes (four hours) the product being tested was able to support a load while subject to fire conditions. In the case of the Timbercrete test wall of 3 m long by 3 m high, it was able to support a load of 30 tonnes. | The second 240/ – represents Integrity, this means the product did not disintegrate or crack so as to see the flames of the fire or for gases to escape. Timbercrete maintained integrity for over 240 minutes at which time the test was terminated while the wall remained intact. | The third /240 – represents Insulation which means the product being tested did not transfer an average temperature reading that exceeds 180°C above the ambient temperature. |
Structural Adequacy and Integrity
Most walls fail in these categories because they buckle, severely flexing out as far as 150mm before suddenly failing. A
careful study of the deflection graph shows that the 3m high Timbercrete wall only deflected 4mm towards the furnace
in the first 30 minutes. The wall then corrected itself so that at the end of 240 minutes it had only moved 1mm from its
original position. This ability to remain straight assists in its load-bearing capabilities.
Improved Insulation
With regard to the amazing thermal dynamic properties of Timbercrete, the ambient temperature at the beginning of the fire test was 30°. The average temperature of the wall being exposed to the flames (furnace temperature) was close to 1200°C. It took 75 minutes for the other side of the Timbercrete wall to reach the ambient air temperature of 30°C. After four hours the side of the wall not exposed to direct flame eventually reached 75°C! This means that the rise in temperature of the Timbercrete wall was only 45°C above the ambient air temperature, even after 4 hours of 1200 degrees directly onto its other side! “Fantastic insulation!”
This makes the 200mm thick Timbercrete single skin series the ideal block of choice where an exceptionally high fire rating is required, such as load-bearing commercial buildings, public buildings, industrial buildings and houses built in bushfire prone areas. (A bushfire may reach temperatures up to 1000°C however the front will typically pass in less than 30 mins).
CSIRO Fire tests on Timbercrete were conducted in accordance with Australian standard 1530 and part 4-1997. Test reference number FSV 1094. For a full test report including photos refer to the website www.timbercrete.com.au.
Durability
Timbercrete provides a unique kind of durability. The product is more resilient than harder fired clay or concrete blocks. In other words the product is strong without being brittle. For example if one was to strike a clay brick, mudbrick, concrete block or aerated concrete block with a hammer they would either shatter, break or disintegrate. If the same strike force is applied to a Timbercrete brick or block, typically you would simply leave a small dent.
Ballistic Proof (Bullet-Proof)
Durability tests on Timbercrete have been taken to extreme measures. Timbercrete has been tested in the US and Australia with a range of high-powered weaponry. Tests show that Timbercrete is bullet-proof whereas other masonry products shatter or explode. (Refer to ballistic test on website.)
Environment
Timbercrete Single Skin Cobblestone series is an insulating light weight masonry product that stores many tonnes of carbon di-oxide gas. Not only does Timbercrete store a significant amount of CO2 gas, the manufacturing process requires significantly less energy and is far less polluting than the process used to produce clay fired bricks. The outcome is a cleaner and healthier environment.
Improved Thermal Properties
When compared with other denser standalone masonry products with the same thickness, such as fired clay bricks, concrete bricks and blocks, sandstone blocks, mud bricks or limestone, Timbercrete’s unique thermal properties will ensure a superior thermal comfort, resulting in your house performing better in summer and winter and saving on energy costs.
Construction Considerations
With the many advantages and benefits of using the 200mm thick single skin Cobblestone Series Block, the following considerations should also be taken into account:
- Water tightness of mortar joints – problems could arise due to poor block laying or porous mortar joints.
To remedy this, we recommend that a waterproofing agent is added to the mortar mix, a waterproof sealer is added to the entire wall, and generous eaves (450 to 900 mm) or verandahs should surround the house. It is best to also use a recommended bricklayer, who reads, understands and practices the procedures taught in the “Building with Timbercrete” manual. If you still have concerns about water tightness we are pleased to announce the availability of a narrower veneer brick (120mm or 100mm wide) that shares the same facial features and measurements as the 200mm series. - Legislated or mandatory minimum R values for walls – despite many satisfied clients in relation to thermal comfort, along with an exceptional thermal
resistance performance as shown in the fire test, the R rating may not be sufficient for you to gain an energy audit through a do-it-yourself BASIX system. To remedy this you will need to obtain an independent energy assessment that will use a simulation program such as; First Rate, Accurate or Bers-Pro. Alternatively, some licensed Timbercrete manufacturers have access to a qualified energy assessor and provide a free energy assessment by offering a refund on the cost of your blocks. If this is not available in your area simply ask your local Timbercrete franchisee to recommend a good energy assessor. - Internal wall choices – with single skin structures, what you see on the outside is similar to what you see on the inside. This will offer you the choice of either
keeping the cost-effective and rustic beauty of the blocks inside and out, applying either a bag render (3mm thick) or smooth render (10mm thick) and paint. If this is not suitable, you could instead choose to build with our 120mm wide veneer to cover your stud frame and plasterboard your walls.