Bricks and their different applications

There are many thousands of different types of bricks, they cover an ever increasing range of colours and finishes but they can be broken down into a handful of basic types. The majority of these bricks are made from clay and are fired in a kiln.

Brick Extrusion Process

The brick extrusion process used to create bricks involves the raw clay and other materials being pushed or drawn through a die of the desired cross section to achieve the brick shape.

So what are the different types of bricks available?

Facing Bricks

These are a high quality and durable brick with a rather attractive appearance. These bricks tend to be for external use above ground level.

Wirecut Bricks

The brick clay is continuously extruded to the required size and shape and then cut into individual bricks by means of a wire. Wires are used extensively in the ceramics industry to portion up clay for pot making and to cut thrown pots from the wheel.

Wirecut bricks have thousands of variations in both colour and texture. Usually they produce the cheapest brick facings available as the manufacturing process is highly automated.

Stock Bricks

The clay has water added so that it becomes what is referred to as a “soft mud”, and then moulded into the desired brick shape, before being allowed to dry prior to firing in the kiln.

Much of this brick making process is automated. The finished bricks tend to be slightly irregular in shape. The stock bricks are usually a little more expensive than wirecut bricks.

Handmade Bricks

Handmade bricks are usually made in moulds on a bench, in almost the same way as a stock brick. Because the clay isn’t firmly compacted into the mould by a machine, each brick normally has a distinctive creasing pattern on the faces that are known in the brick trade as a ‘smile’. Handmade bricks are a very desirable product and have the most expensive and intricate facings. Handmade bricks are considered to be well worth the cost on prestige building projects.

Fletton Bricks

Fletton bricks are also known as ‘London Bricks’, some may even refer to them as LBC (London Brick Company) bricks. Fletton bricks are a unique facing brick manufactured from the Lower Oxford clay that is found only in the South East of England. This clay contains coal traces, which burn during firing, which reduces the amount of fuel needed for the kiln. As coal is already present in the clay used in Fletton bricks the cost of firing them is reduced and the coal ingredients also produce some rather interesting effects in the finished bricks themselves.

Common Bricks

A cheap filler brick that is just plain and useful rather than being attractive. That said, some common bricks can have a charm all their own and are perfectly acceptable for some smaller jobs.

Engineering Bricks

The engineering brick really is the workhorse of the brick family. These bricks are tough, strong, hardwearing but not usually very attractive to look at. They are particularly resistant to frost and water, making them ideal for groundworks, sewer works and retaining walls. These bricks can be quite expensive, but then they can be used for pretty much anything.

Concrete or Calcium Silicate Bricks

These type of bricks are popular in areas where quality brick making clay is rather scarce. Some of these bricks are of very poor quality, but some may be split-faced or have a pitched face in an attempt to give the consumer the impression that they are buying something more than just plain and boring concrete. These bricks are pretty cheap and cheerful and you could use them for areas that you are unlikely to see.

Reclaimed Bricks

These bricks are also referred to as salvaged bricks. These are bricks that have been rescued from old buildings and usually have the majority of mortar cleaned from their faces. It is important to buy theses bricks through a reputable merchant, if not you really have to know what you’re looking for to make sure you get a good quality brick. Many people buy these bricks because of their charm. It is also possible for consumers to get hold of bricks from a particular building that held fond memories for them, such as a retired police officer being able to build his garden pond with the yellow reclaimed bricks from his old station.

There can be a high level of wastage in reclaimed bricks. Many of these bricks will be the old Imperial sizes which are incompatible with the modern metric bricks. Also a lot of people assume that as the bricks have been reclaimed from a demolished building, they will be cheap, this is not the case! Cleaning up and sorting reclaimed bricks is a very labour intensive task and the bricks can sometimes cost twice the price of a quality facing or a ‘reproduction’ reclaimed brick.

Special Bricks

Special bricks are effectively any brick that isn’t a rectangle. Confusingly, there are “standard special bricks”, such as bullnoses, cants and radials, and even “special special bricks” such as cills and quoins. These special bricks allow some amazing design possibilities and make brickwork the most aesthetically pleasing medium for building.

Brick Articles

At ET Clay Products we have years of experience relating to all aspects of brick supply and usage. We have created a list of articles which we hope will be of use to our clients and the general public.

Antique or contemporary bricks for any build

When you are looking for the perfect brick for your building project, you will want to consider several factors. Firstly, you will need to ensure that you have the freedom to choose the brick colour and maybe even style fits in with the aesthetic of your area. Some areas only permit building with a certain colour of brick. Secondly, the texture is a consideration.

Brick built barbecues last a lifetime

As the weather warms up and the evenings get longer, many peoples minds turn toward that great summertime tradition, where the man of the house dons his apron and reverts back to his inner caveman to cook meat outdoors.

Brick built property extensions

Most people would like some extra room at home, whether it be for an extra bedroom, a bigger lounge or kitchen or even a hobby room. However, fewer people can afford to move house these days so they look for ways to improve their existing property.

Brick matching for all building projects

A frequent problem when making additions to any brick building is matching the bricks that were used to construct the original building. Whether the addition is an extension or a garage, the challenge will always be to source bricks that match the original ones.

Brick Matching Service from ET Bricks

How many times have you thought about adding to an existing brickwork construction, but have held back because you couldn't find the exact same bricks to match? Here at ET Bricks we are frequently getting enquiries from people who want to add on to an existing wall, or replace bricks that have been damaged by drilling.

Brick slips for that classic look

How many times have you watched a movie where the home set is in a converted factory or warehouse? Vast open plan spaces to live in with the charm of bare brick walls.

Brick sustainability

Bricks have been used for building countless structures over many thousands of years because of they last for so long and are very durable. This and a number of other factors make them a sought after building material and contribute to their inherent sustainability.

Bricks and their different applications

There are many thousands of different types of bricks, they cover an ever increasing range of coulours and finishes but they can be broken down into a handful of basic types. The majority of these bricks are made from clay and are fired in a kiln.

Bricks around the world

Bricks of one kind or another have been manufactured from many different materials throughout the ages. Whether they be for the construction of a simple dwelling hut to a grand cathedral, bricks have been the staple building material for many centuries. The manufacturing process may change from location to location, but the overall use of bricks has remained pretty constant.

Bricks in so many different colours

Depending on where you live, you may be restricted to a particular colour of brick for your property. The Olde Welwyn brick is a good example. A mellow red that is mixed with 25% grey tones to provide a mature weathered look, textured to give a traditional handcrafted appearance. These bicks form the bulk of properties in the Welwyn village and its larger neighbouring town of Welwyn Garden City, with very few exceptions.

Bricks inside as well as out

We all know that bricks are used extensively around the world to make dwelling houses and office buildings. We are also well aware that there are many different styles and colours of brick for such building projects. What many seem to be unaware of is just how good bricks can be when used as an interior building material.

Bricks: More than just a building block!

Rarely do we walk down the street and pay any particular attention to bricks. Bricks are everywhere and we generally take them for granted, why? Probably the reason we ignore bricks is because we are so used to looking at them on our own house when in the garden, or the view through the front or rear windows of our property may look directly at a very similar, if not the same type of build. Many people would think that a brick is just a brick, maybe different colours exist, but that's about as far as the changes go. In fact, the humble brick has more diversity and heritage than most would give it credit for.

Bricks: The best house building material

When it comes to choosing the right sort of building material for your house renovation or building project, what is the best material to go for? Brick and wood are practical choices as building materials for homes. They also come in a massive variety of colours, finishes, treatments and styles. Brick and wood are natural to look at and very durable and they insulate well too. You can build a house from all bricks, one from wood panelling or a mixture of both. What factors should affect your decision though when deciding what building material to use?

Dampening bricks before laying versus using dry bricks

Should you speak to any bricklayer worth their salt, they will tell you about the benefits of dampening any absorbent bricks before laying them!

Decorative bricks in and around the home

When most of us think of a brick, we tend to think of a red lump of fired earth that is used to build houses. Not very inspiring, but practical nonetheless!

Different uses for house bricks

Should someone ask you to think of the most obvious use for a brick, your mind would most probably start to focus on house building and the construction industry in general. Bricks are without a doubt used for building more than any other use, but just what else could the humble brick be used for?

Efflorescence on bricks: The causes, prevention and cure

We have probably all seen it! That nasty white powdery coating that spoils the look of brick buildings. A recent development of luxury home in Hertfordshire looked amazing when they were finished, but within a short space of time, the majority of these attractive red brick dwellings were white with efflorescence. So what is the cause of this phenomenon and what can be done to prevent or cure it?

ET Bricks and other brick manufacturers

ET Bricks can source virtually any brick you want. We have been leading the way as a brick merchant for many years and not only manufacture superior quality bricks, we supply them from other renowned brick manufacturers too, so our customers can be certain of getting the bricks they want.

ET Clay Products and Wienerberger: The perfect partnership

ET Bricks can source virtually any brick you want. We have been leading the way as a brick merchant for many years and not only manufacture superior quality bricks, we supply them from other renowned brick manufacturers too, so our customers can be certain of getting the bricks they want.

Facade and Cladding Information

A facade is the front or face of anything,  but the term is mainly reserved to refer to a building. Facade is a pretty common word that is used for anything that changes the face of anything. The exterior face of a building which is the architectural front, is sometimes distinguished from the other faces by more elaborate architectural or ornamental details.

Glazed bricks for that extra splash of colour

Glazed bricks have been used to great effect in many building projects over the years. They can really stamp the property with its own unique look and feel when incorporated into a period restoration project.

News of a UK house brick shortage: ET Bricks have the answer

It has been claimed recently in the media that Britain is currently facing a shortage of house bricks! The sudden flurry of house building activity following the recession has been blamed for the severe lack of house bricks available.

Quality Indian Sandstone

When people think about having a new patio, they are faced with a bewildering array of paving slabs to choose from. Many of the slabs for sale at the local DIY centre look great, but are they really up to the job?

Reclaimed house bricks

If you are you building a new property or possibly even refurbishing an old property, you may have considered using reclaimed bricks.

Reconstructed, Reconstituted, Artificial and Synthetic Stone

It's no just bricks that ET Clay Products are famous for, we have a vast range of cast stone and it really is taking off in a way we knew it always would! Cast Stone is often referred to by different names such as reconstructed stone, reconstituted stone, artificial stone, synthetic stone, manufactured stone and art or artistic stone. The two most popular names the buying public use for this product seems to be reconstructed stone and reconstituted stone, but the industry term for it remains 'cast stone'.

Special shape bricks for all your building projects from ET Bricks

When somebody thinks of a brick wall, they tend to imagine a flat vertical surface constructed of bricks, but depending on the design or terrain, it can be so much more!

Special shaped bricks

There’s far more to bricks than just the standard shapes! Imagine how monotonous architecture would be if all buildings were constructed from standard bricks.

The history of bricks and brickmaking

Bricks are without doubt, one of the oldest known building materials. They date back to 7000 BC where they were first found in southern Turkey and around the city of Jericho. The first bricks were sun dried and made from mud. Fired bricks were found to be more resistant to the harsher weather conditions, which made them a far more reliable brick to be used in the construction of permanent buildings, where mud bricks would not have been sufficient. Fired bricks were also very useful for absorbing any heat generated throughout the day, and releasing it at night.

What type of bricks are available from ET Clay Products

If there's one thing we really know about at ET Clay Products, it's bricks! We stock literally thousands of bricks in every conceivable size, shape, colour and texture. Choosing the right brick for your building project can be pretty daunting when you are faced with such a massive assortment of bricks, but then that's why we have friendly and experienced staff always on hand to help that process go smoothly.

Wienerberger Dartmoor Heather Brick

The Wienerberger Dartmoor Heather Brick is a glorious red brick that has been a perennial favourite with our customers for quite some time. The enduring qualities of this versatile brick are the reason why customers continuously ask for this particular brick over many others.

Wienerberger Peak Bordeaux Brick

The Wienerberger Peak Bordeaux brick is a glorious red multi brick that is ideal for so many building projects that require a naturally rustic looking red brick.

Why build with bricks

A home that has been constructed out of bricks displays more than just a style. The bricks allow you to offer a personal reflection of the people who live in the property. With bricks the designs are endless, there are so many wonderful finishes that can be achieved. You can transform your home into a beautiful, living experience with countless ways to have bricks make a real statement about the sort of person you are. It really depends on the sort of look and feel you want to achieve, a classic or modern design, one that is quietly understated with traditional lines or boldly announced in a look that could well be years into the future. The simple fact is that bricks, unlike any other building material can make for an unmistakably individual home.

Why use weathered bricks?

At ET Clay Products, we frequently receive enquiries from customers regarding weathered bricks. There are many reasons why a client will need bricks that have a weathered appearance. Probably the most obvious reason for wanting weathered bricks will be for an extension to an existing brick built building.

Menu