My mega research on where to find breeze blocks continues — here’s another company — D’Hanis Brick & Tile Company of San Antonio, Texas — in business since 1905 — that sells terra cotta breeze blocks. The company calls them “solar tiles, and there are five different designs.
I actually was tipped to this company by an email from the owner himself, John Albert Oberman. After looking at their website I dialed him up, in particular thinking I was misunderstanding a detail. Was this company really in business doing terra cotta since 1905? Yes! he said.
Digging their own clay for 115 years
Not only that, but D’Hanis Brick & Tile has been digging their own clay from their own fields since that time — 115 years! Their clay pits are just a mile from their manufacturing site. But… but… wouldn’t they run out, I asked? Oberman replied that even after 115 years of digging, they were only 30% into their reserve. Whoa!
Most of the company’s business is in Texas and 200 to 300 miles around Austin, but that they do ship — and that shipping costs are not that bad, Oberman said.
Deservedly so! Thank you, John Albert Oberman, for sharing this information, and for the photos too!