What are 5 Common Types of UK Bricks?
Looking through the history of commercial construction, it’s obvious just how reliant we have been on the usage of brick as a building material. One of the oldest building materials, brick is arguably the most durable, economical and eco-friendly of them all.
Modern bricks can be made using various materials and processes, offering versatility and diversity that has led to UK bricks being used in most types of construction across the country. In this blog, we’ll cover five unique types of bricks available, the benefits of each specific product and what they can be used for.
What are Bricks?
The term “brick” refers to any clay or stone-based building unit that is secured with a cement-based mortar when used in construction. Bricks are often mixed with other materials such as concrete or ash to achieve any required qualities.
How are Bricks Categorised?
For customers to understand which variety of brick they require for their construction work, the material can be categorised into various lists, the choice of which depends on the qualities needed for each project. Examples of this include:
- Where they’re used – The options are categorised into facing bricks (used in exposed walls) and backing bricks (more structural and hidden from view).
- How they’re manufactured – The varieties are categorised into unfired bricks (which involves bricks being air-cured during manufacture) and fired bricks (any type that has been fired directly in a kiln).
- How they’re used – These options are categorised into common bricks (usually used for residential construction) or engineering bricks (a variety that tends to be used in heftier civil projects).
UK bricks can also often be categorised depending on their shape, as the design and appearance of a type of brick will impact its strengths. Brick categories often overlap due to the options available, and the various descriptions commonly used are imperfect. If you’re confused by the variety of bricks that exist, it’s often helpful to speak with qualified brick suppliers, such as our team here at Modular Clay Products.
The 5 Unique Brick Types when Categorised by Raw Materials
One of the most common ways of categorising bricks is according to the raw materials used in the brick manufacturing process. If we categorise bricks this way, there are five primary types available in the UK.
Burnt Clay Bricks
As mentioned earlier in this blog post, this is the ‘classic’ type of brick that many people associate with the term. This type of brick is created by pressing wet clay into a mould before drying and firing in a kiln. Burnt clay bricks are often divided into 4 sub-categories referred to as “classes”: this helps distinguish the quality and cost of each burnt clay brick.
Sand Lime Bricks
Also known as calcium silicate bricks, these are made by mixing sand, fly ash and lime, with pigments sometimes introduced to add colour. This mixture is moulded under pressure rather than fired in a kiln, as the chemical reaction created by the mix of materials bonds the brick together. Sand lime bricks offer several advantages, including a uniform shape and excellent strength.
Engineering Bricks
Also clay-based and often mixed with various other materials, what sets these bricks apart and gives engineering bricks their name is the extreme durability and strength they possess. This is due to their manufacturing process, during which the bricks are fired at incredibly high temperatures, which creates a final product that is as hard as iron, with very low porosity. Due to these qualities, engineering bricks are often used in sewers, retaining walls and underground tunnels.
Fly Ash Clay Bricks
Fly ash is a by-product of coal-burning that is sometimes mixed with clay and fired at around 1,000°C to create this type of brick. Fly ash clay bricks are often described as “self-cementing”, as it expands when exposed to moisture due to its chemical ingredients. Therefore, these bricks are lighter than clay or concrete bricks and are often used in structural walls or foundations.
Concrete Bricks
Traditionally used for internal brickwork, concrete bricks are beginning to be used in exterior work due to their modern aesthetic. As their name suggests, this type of brick is made from pouring concrete into moulds. The durability of concrete bricks makes them suitable for use in almost any construction area, except for underground projects.