Brickwork is so stable and the material itself durable to all weather, that once it's up, it shouldn't need replacing, reducing the ongoing effect on the environment. Some research has shown that brick structures can have a lifespan of 500 years or more!

An abundant natural resource, bricks are made from clay sediment called Varve Clay [vahrv kley], consisting of hydrated silicates of aluminum found in lake sediment and river beds. One of the oldest materials for building, architecture made with bricks have been dated back to 7,000 BC at archeological dig sites.