While most suppliers of reclaimed building materials quote lead times measured in months, a family-owned operation in New Orleans is shipping hand-selected century-old bricks within 48 hours of payment, capitalizing on summer construction demand with a speed advantage that larger competitors struggle to match.
New Orleans Brick Co, run by the Bourgeois family for nearly four decades, maintains a ready inventory of bricks sourced from pre-World War II Louisiana structures, eliminating the sourcing delays that plague most reclaimed materials suppliers. The company ships nationwide, with particular concentrations in Louisiana, Texas, and the broader Southeast.
The 48-hour turnaround represents a significant competitive advantage in an industry where project timelines are tight and delays cascade through construction schedules. When a contractor needs reclaimed bricks to match an existing historic structure or achieve a specific aesthetic, waiting six to twelve months for delivery is often not a viable option.
The company operates on a low-overhead family business model, dealing directly with buyers without retail markup. This approach keeps pricing at wholesale levels while maintaining the personal service and material knowledge that comes from decades of experience in the reclaimed brick market.
Each brick in the company’s inventory was hand-selected from structures more than a century old, and the materials come with a provenance that modern manufactured bricks cannot replicate. The soft red bricks typical of pre-war Louisiana construction have distinct characteristics in color, texture, and size that reflect the materials and techniques of their era.
For restoration projects requiring historical documentation, the company provides provenance information that helps architects and preservationists demonstrate compliance with historic district requirements. This documentation capability is increasingly valuable as historic preservation regulations become more stringent across the country.
The summer construction season typically brings peak demand for building materials of all types, and reclaimed materials are no exception. Renovation projects, historic restorations, and new construction incorporating reclaimed materials all accelerate during warmer months, making inventory availability and shipping speed critical competitive factors.
The company’s longevity, approaching four decades of family ownership, reflects the enduring market for authentic reclaimed building materials. As both sustainability concerns and appreciation for historic architectural character continue to grow, the demand for materials with genuine age and provenance shows no signs of diminishing.
