What type of brick should i use

Waterstruck soft mud bricks are made by using water instead of sand to release the clay from the moulds, creating a distinctive textured finish. As with all other manufacturing processes the wet bricks are then dried and fired. Engineering bricks have high compressive strength and low water absorption.

They are used for their physical characteristics and not their appearance and are only classified by these properties. They were traditionally used in civil engineering and are most suitable for applications where strength and resistance to frost attack and water are important. Examples of situations where engineering bricks are used include ground-works, manholes, sewers, retaining walls and damp proof courses. Engineering bricks are most commonly a smooth red colour although blue engineering bricks are also widely available.

Wienerberger manufactures a market-leading range of both red and blue engineering bricks. Despite their name, common bricks are actually the least common brick types in the UK. They tend to have lower compressive strengths than facing bricks or engineering bricks and are generally lower quality.

There is also less focus put into a consistent appearance on common bricks. Common bricks should not be used below ground level and are generally used for internal brickwork only. This is why facing bricks are produced. However, common bricks do play an important role, being a cheaper alternative to facing bricks. As common bricks are purely functional, facing bricks have the job of making walls - especially exterior walls for housing - more attractive. One of the most commonplace facing brick types is the wirecut or extruded brick.

Often made from fired clay and mortar for reinforcement, and bonded with cement, sand and water. These are far more exacting in size and shape than older clay or soft mud bricks, and are produced in a selection of textures from rustic to contemporary. Aside from colour, textures also play a huge part in adding personality to a building project. This definitely becomes apparent when working on extensions and repairs. For more of an older building brick style, heavy textured bricks bring a more worn and weathered feel.

Issues noted with sand lime bricks over clay bricks have to do with the thermal movement and the tendency for sand lime bricks to undergo initial shrinkage once laid in place in contrast to clay bricks which tend to expand with time. This fact can lead to cracking in the surface of the structure if the shrinking is not accounted for in the design.

They also have low abrasion resistance, making them unsuitable for use in paving applications. Concrete bricks are created by pouring concrete into a mold to cast and generate a uniformly- sized brick product. The mold can be designed to produce a variety of finishes on the face edge of the brick to suit the architectural details and aesthetics desired. Finishes might be smooth or may simulate the look of natural stone, for example.

Various pigments can be added to the concrete during manufacturing to impart different colors to the brick. Pigments such as iron oxide can be added to the surface or can be mixed throughout the concrete to generate different appearance to the brick. The look can also be changed by using aggregates of differing textures from courser stone to sand. Comparing concrete bricks to clay bricks, clay bricks are around 2. The average compressive strength of concrete bricks is somewhere around 3, — 4, psi, while well fired hard clay bricks have an average compressive strength of 8, — 10, psi.

Concrete bricks are also more absorbent than clay bricks. The Initial Rate of Absorption IRA for clay brick is around grams of moisture per minute through a surface area of 30 square inches. Concrete brick, on the other hand, exhibits absorbency values that are some times higher at approximately 40 — 80 grams per minutes across the same surface area.

In some cases, the term concrete brick represents a product distinct from what is called concrete blocks or CMUs Concrete Masonry Units as they are also known. The main distinction would appear to be size, where concrete bricks are typically smaller and usually solid while concrete blocks or CMUs are larger and often have hollow cavities in them. However, there is no absolute definition that is used consistently, so these two terms may be used interchangeably by different suppliers to refer to the same product.

Engineering bricks are specifically made to exhibit both high compressive strength and low porosity. The materials are bonded through a chemical reaction that takes place in the middle of wet mixing. True to their name, engineering bricks work best for civil engineering projects. These are less porous than burnt clay bricks. Fly ash is a byproduct of coal-based power plants. It may sound contradictory, but fly ash brick production can actually be better for the environment than other types of brick manufacturing.

We carry a large selection of residential bricks in many colors and styles. Want to talk about your next project? Contact us today.