Brick Slips: Common Questions and Answers
WHAT ARE BRICK SLIPS?
Brick slips offer a practical and eye-catching alternative to traditional facing bricks; they are perfect for creating rustic, natural-looking brick walls in any commercial building. Brick slip cladding is an incredibly popular solution where new facades are needed, or for cladding walls where some rendering has been done. The uses for brick slips extend to anything from fireplaces to feature walls.
Designers and architects who are looking to create a conventional red brick wall, for a new commercial build should consider a brick slip wall. Here at Modular Clay Products, we can supply an enormous range of brick slips to complement almost any project, with numerous textures, thicknesses and colours available. We can provide anything from traditional red brick and glazed brick slips to traditional red brick slips.
As brick suppliers with years of experience providing various types of brick for projects across the UK and abroad, we are frequently asked a wide range of questions about our products. Specifically concerning brick slip cladding systems, some people aren’t aware of their full capabilities, or how they can be used. To clear up any confusion, we’ve outlined some of the most frequently asked questions about brick slips, which will hopefully help you as it pertains to your next project.
BRICK SLIP FAQS
Q: Are brick slips available in different sizes and textures?
A: Yes, with our numerous range of brick sizes and brick textures available, the same applies to slips. For every clay brick, there is a clay brick slip. We can supply brick slips with a glazed finish, or with a wire-cut, water-struck or long format brick style. The options are almost endless. Use our Brick Finder to find one that works for you, and compare it with another brick to see how it measures up.
Q: Do they have the same level of strength and durability as facing bricks?
A: All bricks have to comply with minimum performance standards in the UK, but brick slips are not laid the same method as you would lay a brick wall usually. Therefore, they can’t be used for structural purposes. Laying brick slips involves using an adhesive on a cladding panel, and the slips are subsequently pointed as standard bricks would be. Slips may not be as structurally supportive, but they last just as long and offer the same level of insulation and weather resistance as regular bricks.
Q: How are brick slips made?
A: Clay brick slips are made in one of two ways. Usually, they are made by cutting the faces off full bricks, or they can be purpose manufactured to precise specifications. At Modular Clay Products, all of our slips are moulded and fired as standard UK bricks are, which guarantees you get excellent quality slips which can suit whatever project you’re planning.
Q: Are they fireproof?
A: Yes, they are. Bricks are inert; they are kiln-fired at temperatures that surpass 1200°c. Therefore, clay brick slips will hold a great deal of fire resistance. Heat does cause stress and pressure onto any material which can have implications, however. It’s worth checking the system that the slips are stuck to is fireproof as well, to ensure maximum protection. We can supply fireproof brick slips for you, but if you have concerns, please don’t hesitate to speak to us.
Q: Are they easy to install?
A: Yes, they are significantly more straightforward to install than traditional brick. As opposed to standard brick bonding patterns, slips are simply glued onto a cladding panel using high-quality adhesives. Leaving a 10mm gap between each slip for the mortar joints.
Q: What are the advantages of brick slips?
A: There are numerous benefits of brick slips. The main ones being that slips are significantly lighter than bricks, they require much less space and don’t require extensive building work if you fit them externally (as they can simply be mounted onto an existing substrate). They can create a rustic or modern appearance depending on your preference, with slips proving far less hassle to install.