Flint makes a modern wonder material
Flint has a rich history in building construction, dating back to pre-historic times when our ancestors utilised its durable and versatile properties for various structures. In the medieval era, flint became a popular choice for constructing churches, walls, and castles due to its strength and distinctive aesthetic qualities.
Whilst most of our commissions in flint focus on repair of our ancient properties, we’re seeing an increase demand for our services in modern construction and cladding projects, as architects are rediscovering its fantastic characteristics.
To stoke this growing interest in this ancient wonder material, we’ve shortlisted 5 key benefits for modern schemes.
01 Durability
Flint is exceptionally strong and enduring, and incredibly resistant to weather, erosion and decay. As we well know, some flint constructions we see today are comfortably a thousand years old.
02 Sustainability
Whilst not in endless supply, constructing with flint delivers a very low carbon footprint, compared to modern materials, especially when harvesting local field flint. Supporting projects with locally sourced flint substantially reduces haulage costs.
03 Aesthetic
Flint carries a unique and natural beauty, with a dynamic and variable appearance. every construction or cladding project takes on its own unique character, reflecting different colours responding to different regions. Furthermore, with the use of skilled knapping, flint can deliver incredible cladding features for very modern projects.
04 Insulation
Flint offers outstanding thermal characteristics, providing natural insulation, reducing the energy required to heat or cool properties. In modern construction, especially developers design zero carbon schemes, flint really is a sustainable marvel.
05 Low maintenance
It’s durability to erosion and decay substantially reduces maintenance over time. Whilst much of our work in flint is repairing previous constructions, these developments have lasted many centuries before we’re commissioned.
And there you have it. An ancient wonder-material that could provide a very modern solution for 21st century development. Its only real limitations are the available skills to bring it into modern construction. Whilst Mathias works closely with the SPAB (Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings) to expand these skills in new generations of builders, the hope is flint sees another millennium in the property industry.
As we look towards the future, flint will continue to play a significant role in sustainable architecture and construction projects. With its timeless beauty, strength, and environmental benefits, Flint is poised to remain a sought-after material for innovative and eco-conscious builders looking to create structures that stand the test of time while minimising their environmental impact.