Double brick is one of the most talked-about wall construction methods in Australian building circles — it’s still the dominant style for new homes across much of WA, and a common feature in older houses nationwide. If you’re weighing it up for a build or renovation, the real question isn’t whether double brick is “good” in the abstract. It’s whether its strengths line up with your budget, your climate, and how long you plan to stay in the home.
At The Brick Pit, we work with double brick construction and recycled brick supply across Australia every week. Here’s a straight, no-nonsense look at what double brick actually delivers and where it falls short.
| A double brick wall uses two skins of brick (commonly 105mm and 85mm) with a 30–50mm cavity between them, tied together with metal wall ties, for a total wall thickness around 240mm. The cavity stops moisture reaching the inner skin and gives the wall its thermal mass and sound-dampening properties. Double brick is more durable, fire-resistant, and low-maintenance than timber-frame or veneer construction, but it costs more, takes longer to build, and is far harder to modify once built. It suits homeowners planning to stay long-term who value durability and noise control over upfront cost or design flexibility. |
What Is a Double Brick Wall, Exactly?
A double brick (or “cavity brick”) wall is built from two separate skins of brickwork with an air gap between them, joined by galvanised steel wall ties set into the mortar at regular intervals. You’ll also see it called double skin brick or double layer brick wall construction all describing the same two-skin-plus-cavity system. So what is double brick, in plain terms? The outer skin is the weatherproof face; the inner skin and cavity work together to stop wind-driven rain from reaching the inside of the wall.
Standard Australian double brick wall detail runs to roughly 240mm total thickness, with a 30–50mm cavity though exact dimensions vary by builder and design region.
Think Brick Australia, the industry body for clay brick and paver manufacturers, publishes detailed reference drawings for cavity wall construction if you want the technical detailing your builder or engineer will work from.
One source of confusion worth clearing up: some people use the term “double brick veneer” loosely to describe either system, but it isn’t a standard construction method on its own a wall is either full double brick (two structural skins) or brick veneer (one brick skin over a timber or steel frame). They perform quite differently, which is the whole point of the comparison below.
The Pros of Double Brick Construction
Built to Last
Clay brick doesn’t rot, warp, or get eaten by termites, and it doesn’t burn. A well-built double brick wall, properly flashed and maintained, can comfortably outlast the people who built it there are plenty of double brick homes from the early 1900s still standing solidly across Sydney and Melbourne suburbs today. Two independent skins also mean more structural redundancy than a single-leaf wall.
Genuine Thermal Mass — If You Use It Right
This is the pro most guides get wrong. Brick doesn’t “insulate” the way batts or foam do in fact, according to the Australian Government’s YourHome thermal mass guide, a typical brick veneer wall has a thermal resistance of only around R0.45. What double brick actually offers is thermal mass: the bricks absorb heat slowly during the day and release it slowly at night, smoothing out temperature swings rather than blocking heat flow outright.
That only pays off when the design uses it properly north-facing orientation, appropriate shading, and a climate with a meaningful day-night temperature swing. In the wrong climate or orientation, double brick won’t cut your energy bills on its own; it still needs to be paired with proper insulation in the cavity and good passive design.
Noise Reduction
The combined mass of two brick skins blocks airborne sound noticeably better than a single timber-frame wall, which is one reason double brick remains popular for homes on busier streets or close to neighbours.
Low Maintenance
Unmodified, unpainted brickwork doesn’t need repainting, sanding, or sealing every few years the way timber cladding does. Outside of the occasional repoint and a wash-down, a double brick exterior is largely set-and-forget.
The Cons of Double Brick Construction
Higher Upfront Cost
You’re paying for roughly double the brick and mortar of a single-skin wall, plus specialised bricklaying labour and a footing system engineered for the extra load. Double brick is consistently one of the more expensive wall systems to build, even before you factor in build time.
Limited Design Flexibility
Once a double brick wall is up, moving a window, widening a doorway, or adding an opening means cutting into structural masonry a bigger, messier, and more expensive job than altering a timber-frame wall. It’s worth finalising your floor plan before bricklaying starts, not after.
Longer Build Time
Bricklaying two skins, course by course, takes considerably longer than erecting a timber or steel frame. On a typical home build, this can add weeks to the program compared with lighter construction methods.
Moisture Risk If the Cavity Is Built Poorly
The cavity is meant to keep water out but if weep holes, flashings, or cavity ventilation aren’t detailed correctly, trapped moisture can lead to damp patches and mould inside the home. This is a detailing and workmanship issue rather than a flaw in double brick itself, but it’s worth confirming your builder is following current cavity wall standards.
Double Brick vs Brick Veneer: Quick Comparison
So what is brick veneer, exactly? It’s a single skin of brick fixed to the outside of a timber or steel frame the brick is purely a weatherproof, low-maintenance cladding, not a structural or thermal mass element the way it is in double brick. A typical brick veneer house or brick veneer cladding job is faster and cheaper to build than double brick, which is why it has become the more common choice for project homes outside WA. Some designs also use a single feature brick wall internally to bring a bit of that thermal mass and texture into an otherwise lightweight-framed home.
| Feature | Double Brick | Brick Veneer | Timber Frame |
| Upfront cost | Highest | Medium | Lowest |
| Durability | Excellent (100+ yrs) | Good | Good if maintained |
| Thermal mass | High (needs passive design) | Low (~R0.45, frame insulated) | Low |
| Sound dampening | Best | Moderate | Lowest |
| Build time | Slowest | Medium | Fastest |
| Design flexibility | Lowest (hard to alter) | Moderate | Highest |
Want the full room-by-room breakdown of when veneer makes more sense than full double brick? Our dedicated Brick Veneer vs Double Brick guide walks through the decision in detail.
How Much Does a Double Brick Wall Cost?
Exact pricing depends heavily on your region, design, and brick choice, so it’s worth getting a tailored quote rather than relying on a single national average. As a starting point for comparison, see our breakdown of recycled brick costs in Australia, and our guide to how many bricks a typical house needs to get a rough materials estimate before you call for quotes.
Is Double Brick Right for You?
- You’re planning to stay in the home long-term — double brick rewards patience, not quick flips.
- Noise control and durability matter more to you than upfront cost or build speed.
- Your floor plan is finalised before construction, since changes later are costly.
- You’re building in a climate with a meaningful day-night temperature swing, where thermal mass can actually be used to advantage.
If you’re after a faster, cheaper build, expect to renovate the layout again in a few years, or you’re building somewhere thermal mass won’t help much, brick veneer or timber frame is likely the better fit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is double brick good insulation?
A: Not in the traditional sense double brick wall insulation works differently to batts or foam. Double brick provides thermal mass, not insulation. The cavity itself doesn’t insulate unless it’s filled with an actual insulation material, and the benefit of the brick’s thermal mass depends on orientation and climate. See the YourHome thermal mass guide for the full explanation.
Q: What is the standard thickness of a double brick wall?
A: Around 240mm total typically a 105mm outer skin, a 30–50mm cavity, and an 85mm inner skin. Double brick wall thickness in Australia varies slightly by builder and design, so always confirm the exact figure with your engineer or building certifier.
Q: How long do double brick walls last?
A: Well-built and properly maintained, 100+ years is common plenty of early-1900s double brick homes are still structurally sound today.
Q: Can you renovate a double brick house easily?
A: Structural changes (new windows, doorways, extensions) are more involved than with timber frame, since you’re cutting into load-bearing masonry. Cosmetic renovations inside the home are unaffected.
Q: Is double brick still used in new home construction in Australia?
A: Yes, particularly in Western Australia where it remains the dominant residential construction method. In other states, brick veneer and lightweight construction are now more common for new builds, with double brick chosen more selectively.
Q: Double brick vs brick veneer which is cheaper?
A: Brick veneer is generally cheaper to build, since it uses a timber or steel frame with a single brick skin rather than two full skins of masonry. See our Brick Veneer vs Double Brick guide for the full cost and performance comparison.
| Building or Repairing a Double Brick Wall?
The Brick Pit supplies structural and feature bricks for double-brick builds and repairs, including our Combo Bricks range for standard construction work and Feature Blends for a textured outer skin. Get in touch for a quote on quantities, or browse our full brick range. |
