various types of bricks

Types of Brick

Bricks are used for building and pavement all throughout the world. In the USA, bricks were once used as a pavement material, and now it is more widely used as a decorative surface rather than a roadway material. Bricks are usually laid flat and are usually bonded forming a structure to increase its stability and strength. There are several types of bricks used many of them being about eight inches long and four inches thick.

There are various types of bricks used in masonry.

Common Burnt Clay Bricks

1. Sand Lime Bricks (Calcium Silicate Bricks)
2. Engineering Bricks
3. Concrete Bricks
4. Fly ash Clay Bricks

Bricks are used as siding in the building industry due in part to its important characteristics and just because it can be a good affordable option. Below we summarize the benefits and applications of the most commonly used type of bricks.

Common Burnt Clay Bricks

Common burnt clay bricks are formed by pressing in molds. Then these bricks are dried and fired in a kiln. Common burnt clay bricks are used in general work with no special attractive appearances. When these bricks are used in walls, they require plastering or rendering.

Sand Lime Bricks

Sand lime bricks are made by mixing sand, fly ash and lime followed by a chemical process during wet mixing. The mix is then molded under pressure forming the brick. These bricks can offer advantages over clay bricks such as:

• Their color appearance is gray instead of the regular reddish color.
• Their shape is uniform and presents a smoother finish that doesn’t require plastering.
• These bricks offer excellent strength as a load-bearing member.

What Are Engineering Bricks?

Engineering bricks are bricks manufactured at extremely high temperatures, forming a dense and strong brick, allowing the brick to limit strength and water absorption.

Engineering bricks offer excellent load bearing capacity damp-proof characteristics and chemical resisting properties. These bricks are used in specific projects and they can cost more than regular or traditional bricks.

Concrete Bricks

Concrete bricks are made from solid concrete and are very common among homebuilders. Concrete bricks are usually placed in facades, fences, and provide an excellent aesthetic presence. These bricks can be manufactured to provide different colors as pigmented during its production.

Fly Ash Clay Bricks

Fly ash clay bricks are manufactured with clay and fly ash, at about 1,000 degrees C. Some studies have shown that these bricks tend to fail poor produce pop-outs, when bricks come into contact with moisture and water, causing the bricks to expand.