The Comprehensive Guide to Special-Shaped Bricks
With so many different types of bricks on the market, how do you know you’re choosing the perfect one for your project? More specifically, which type of UK special brick can help enhance the finished look of your project while offering structural benefits?
The following article explains everything you need to know about special-shaped bricks and which one will suit you best.
What Are Special-Shaped Bricks?
Special-shaped bricks, also known commonly as ‘specials’, allow for inspiring architectural features and levels of creativity that aren’t possible with conventional bricks. They can often be observed lining the edges of complex buildings as well as integrated into the main body of structures.
You can find special-shaped bricks in a range of materials, shapes and colours. They can improve the look and feel of any surface made of brick, by complementing and contrasting standard bricks.
Special-shaped bricks have been used for thousands of years in different building styles and designs, and these days you can use a brick selector to order them as easily as you would a regular brick. Modular Clay Products have a brick finder tool that can help you narrow down the bricks on our site and compare with others.
Why Use Special-Shaped Bricks?
The benefits of special-shaped bricks, also known as “specials”, are:
- They can come in virtually any shape, giving architects free rein to create unique and original buildings.
- They can provide seamless functionality and give brickwork extra durability and protection.
- They can be used on pretty much any project, and can sometimes reduce build time and waste on-site.
How are Special-Shaped Bricks Manufactured?
They are usually made in two ways: fabricated as complete components or cut from standard metric or imperial bricks.
When they are made as complete components, they are produced according to the following three methods:
Wirecut brick (extruded)
These are manufactured by extrusion and then wire cut to size.
Stock brick (moulded)
These specials are manufactured using a sanded mould, into which the clay is either thrown by hand or machine.
Waterstruck brick (moulded)
This kind of brick is manufactured in a similar way to stock bricks, but this time using a special watered mould to give the brick a lightly structured texture.
What Types of Special Bricks Are There?
This kind of brick is manufactured in a similar way to stock bricks, but this time using a special watered mould to give the brick a lightly structured texture.
1. Long Format Bricks
Long format bricks are also known as Roman bricks. These Mediterranean-style bricks are becoming ever more popular in the UK as the long, lean bricks provide a dramatic effect to any building. Traditionally measuring one foot by two feet, Roman bricks were fired in kilns across the empire. They can be used in whole facades or just feature areas of a building.
2. L-Shaped Bricks
L-shaped bricks are used on external corners to give a seamless look. They are an easy fit for 90-degree angles and vertical heads.
3. Terracotta bricks
Terracotta bricks are made entirely from high-quality clay and can provide excellent thermal insulation. Similar to clay bricks, terracotta bricks have a larger density.
4. Arch Bricks
Arches are a popular option for decorative or practical features in both commercial and residential new buildings. They are double tapered in either width or length so they can be put together in an archway, to provide structural stability or other curved features, for example, a curved window, for aesthetic purposes. Two of the most common types are:
- Tapered header
- Tapered stretcher
5. Brick Slips
Brick slips are typically used to cover reinforced concrete frames or for interior brickwork, but can also be made to suit any project. At Modular Clay Products, brick slips are moulded and fired the same way as traditional bricks. The final result is ideal for cladding as they look no different from regular clay-facing bricks.
6. Plinth Bricks
Plinth bricks assist in blending together two different depths of a structure to soften its effect. They are angled at 45 degrees and are primarily located at the base of brickwork structures.
7. Bullnose Bricks
Bullnose bricks have a soft, rounded edge on one or two sides and give a subtle transition for windows, corners and doors, making them visually appealing. They can also be used as decorative capping for walling or edging kerbs.
8. Angled and Cant Bricks
Cant bricks (otherwise known as Angle bricks) are just that – made at an angle, to allow a building to carry a structural element through an angle other than 90 degrees. Cant bricks are usually used for feature brickwork, where clean and crisp lines are needed, particularly on corner details, and window and door openings. They can also be used for capping.
9. Coping & Cappings
A coping is an architectural fabrication that lays on top of a wall and comes down the sides to encase and protect the brick beneath, whilst a capping sits on top of the brick with its edge flush to the width of the wall.
10. Pistol Bricks
Pistol bricks are designed to assist in hiding metal structural supports. They sit vertically within a project, not only creating a visually appealing finish but also enabling a seamless transition between brick and support.