House extension, single brick, double brick, blueboard . What would you use ?

[Danny]

Originally Posted by smacxr8

Id go brick veneer, single skin external and timber frame and plasterboard. Blueboard is considerably cheaper but the biggest downside to it is you wont get the recessed window look, i.e. blueboard will be flush with the window instead of the window being recessed into the brick opening. Not only does the flush look cheapen the look but it certainly wont match the existing.
Are the existing internal walls rendered aswell?
Are you doing most of the work yourself? Because the other option is Hebel powerpanel, it works out a little dearer than bricks to buy but you can put it up yourself pretty quickly and once done you would have a hard time picking the difference between it and brickwork. Fantastic thermal properties too.

Hebel is good, another option is Polystyrene. We use it almost exclusively now when extending up a floor. Haven't used blueboard in years and years. Poly is where it's at now. Thicker, better R-Val's, and can still be fitted so that the recessed window look remains. Can even be cut so that a tapered sill look can be retained underneath the window.

In the Op's case, he is extending the ground floor which is Double Brick. Unless you plan on using your brick wall as an ANCAP crash wall, then there is nothing at all wrong with single Brick Veneer. Use some non face brick, render it to match the rest of the house, Bob's yer auntie.

If you were extending up, I'd say go for the Poly Cladding, because you're extending out, stay with brick. 100% go for a brick veneer, use plasterboard inside. It will be the best bet here.