If you've ever watched a house being built, you probably saw a lot of bricks being laid. But right now, the UK is running short on both bricks and the skilled workers needed to lay them. That's causing delays on construction sites and making it harder to meet housebuilding targets.
Because of this, more and more builders are turning to timber as an alternative. This often involves using timber frames and panels that are made in a factory and then brought to site, making the build quicker and more efficient. Big names like Barratt and Redrow are already taking this direction.
That doesn't mean we'll stop seeing brick homes anytime soon. Some companies are using clever methods like thin brick veneers (basically brick facades stuck onto panels) to keep the classic look without using as many bricks.
There are still some challenges - people tend to trust brick because it's been around for so long, and some worry about fire safety with timber (though strict rules are in place to ensure that everything is safe). But with costs rising and supplies running low, this timber trend might be here to stay.