Long Format Bricks: How do they Differ from Facing Bricks?
WHAT ARE LONG FORMAT BRICKS?
Long format bricks offer exciting and innovative design options for some exceptionally spectacular commercial projects. While it’s no secret that clay bricks also provide new opportunities, that combine the physical benefits of a natural material with modern aesthetic elegance, architects and designers are looking to use more distinctive brick sizes and brick dimensions for their projects.
Long bricks, commonly known as Roman bricks, are becoming increasingly popular in the UK, with their longer, more slender appearance emphasising the horizontal and linear aspects of buildings. Architecture is consistently evolving, with bricks having become one of the most sought after materials. Here at Modular Clay Products, we have more colours, textures, heights and lengths of long format bricks to choose from, to help transform a façade into a genuinely original-looking building.
Do long format bricks differ in any other way to standard bricks?
ARE THERE ANY DIFFERENCES BETWEEN LONG AND STANDARD FACING BRICKS?
Sizes
The standard brick size (UK) is 215mm long, 5mm wide and 65mm high, with a mortar joint that spans a nominal capacity of 10mm. Brick manufacturers can produce bricks of almost any size; however, many modern Roman brick sizes are approximately 400mm long, 100mm wide and 40mm high. The length and height of long bricks are noticeably different to standard facing bricks at first glance, with Roman bricks noticeably ‘thinner’-looking. However, it’s possible to create longer bricks, with variations in depth and height too. As long as they are meeting the minimum performance standards, and are not compromised in structural integrity, anything is possible.
Aesthetics
The finished product of a commercial building using long bricks over standard bricks, can look noticeably different. As was the case in Roman times, the more extended, leaner bricks were commonplace. Architects often appreciate the aesthetic value long bricks have over standard-sized clay facing bricks, with their projects mirroring traditional-looking Roman brickwork with modern structural design, giving them some character.
Finishes
At Modular Clay Products, we can supply bricks with various finishes. This doesn’t just apply to standard clay bricks; we can offer long bricks in a vast range of finishes, so really there is no vast difference here. However, we can offer long glazed bricks, as well as handmade, extruded and slop-moulded long bricks which can be used to significant effect. In terms of colours, we can also supply Roman-style bricks in a massive range of colours, from the uniform red brick colour to white, cream, black and grey.
Features
While bricks can come with slick-looking, unique designs, sometimes there is a case when standard bricks just won’t meet the design and aesthetic requirements for a commercial build. Modular Clay Products work closely with some of the UK’s leading manufacturers to produce bespoke bricks that achieve the minimum physical properties (compressive strength, weight, insulation etc.), that also retain the elongated, more linear features than traditional facing bricks.
In the past, we have produced bespoke solutions that blend different styles of brick, with one particular project (25 Floral Street), requiring long format bricks with ‘stone’ features. Regularly, we use our expansive knowledge to find brick manufacturers that can produce bespoke brick blends to meet project requirements. In the case of The Shard in London, we were able to find companies that could provide bespoke Roman bricks with lengths of 290mm and heights of 47mm. It also required other special-shaped long bricks that were manufactured in the same way to keep the look consistent.
Therefore, it goes without saying that standard bricks and long bricks, invariably, have almost the same possibilities when it comes to manufacturing and creating bespoke blends. It does entirely depend on what the architects are looking for.
WHICH TYPE OF BRICK SHOULD YOU USE?
There is no distinct advantage of using lengthier bricks over those of standard sizes and dimensions. However, there are some noticeable differences in how a commercial build will look if Roman-style bricks are used in favour of traditional facing bricks. Here at Modular Clay Products, we are happy to speak to you about your particular requirements.