Perth's Double-Brick Preference Causes Construction Delays, Experts Say

Perth's enduring love affair with double-brick homes is causing unnecessary construction delays, experts say — but some are choosing to buck the trend and avoid the lengthy build times.

Anke and Graham Hoskins's timber-frame home is on track to be finished in less than nine months, about half the time it takes to build a double-brick house.

After extensive research, the couple was convinced a brick build was not for them and wooden-framed, highly-insulated construction was the way to go.

"The conventional logic and advice was that we should 'just build what the market expects'," Mr Hoskins said.

"However, as we were building for ourselves to live in, we were happy and determined not to bend to conventional logic and go ahead regardless."

Mr Hoskin said it was "unbelievable" they were only weeks away from moving in, as the slab for their home was only laid late last year.

"[It was] a timeline we didn't really believe would be deliverable when we signed our contract … but in fact looks like coming in exactly on time," Mr Hoskins said.

Industry under pressure

In Western Australia, it takes roughly 12 to 18 months to build a house from the time the slab is poured, according to Master Builders WA.

But a surge in home builds has put pressure on supply chains, with labour and material shortages causing delays.

"WA has gone from building 11,000 homes in 2020 to building 22,000 homes five years later," Housing Industry Association (HIA) WA executive director Michael McGowan said.

Mr McGowan said while brick homes had long dominated in WA, steel-framed and modular construction methods now accounted for more than 25 per cent of the construction market.

A 2025 HIA commissioned report found WA was the only state in which more than half of detached houses were built of brick, accounting for 68 per cent, compared to the ACT's 2 per cent.

The report also revealed material selection decisions remained heavily influenced by builders and engineers.

"Builders report that home buyers rarely express preferences or demonstrate detailed knowledge of structural systems. While clients value longevity and cost, framing materials are seldom a point of competitive differentiation in the market," it stated.

Why are bricks dominant in WA?

One of the main reasons double brick was so popular in the state was because of the sandy soil, said Master Builders WA, adding that the soil type was very stable with little ground movement.

It said using bricks for house building was more cost-effective than in other states, such as New South Wales and Victoria due to "the scale economies of the major brick manufacturers" like Midland Brick.

The reluctance of building contractors to "depart from the norm" also played a part, as anything different would substantially increase building costs, it added.

"You must also consider the future saleability of your home," the peak body noted on its website.

"Perth homebuyers prefer double brick. Brick is seen to be a sound and attractive building product, providing thermal insulation in summer and winter, soundproofing and fire resistance."

Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre director Professor Alan Duncan said there were valid reasons why double brick was favoured in WA but it typically required "more materials, more labour and more time on site".

One of the risks of a full timber-frame home is its vulnerability to termites, which can easily eat through solid wood causing considerable damage and expense.

In fact, Master Builders advises home builders should consider using brick or steel framing in lieu of timber components.

But Australian building standards require all homes to incorporate termite management systems — either physical or chemical barriers — to protect structural elements from attack, regardless of the construction material used.

Professor Duncan said he did not see any inherent safety issue with timber or steel frame construction.

"Such methods are widely used across Australia and internationally, and they must comply with the same national building codes and engineering standards," he said.

He said the lack of diversity limited how quickly the construction sector could respond when housing demand surges.

"More flexible construction systems [timber frames, steel frames, modular construction] can reduce reliance on a long chain of specialised trades and help speed up delivery."

Mr McGowan said from a consumer point of view, no single building methodology was superior.

Mr Hoskins said he expected negative perceptions around timber-frame homes in WA to keep fading over the coming years.

"[It] will eventually be accepted as completely normal."