We have already discussed the benefits of using quality cement, its type, and usage in building construction. We really hope that the article helped you get an overall idea of where to use what in different construction scenarios. Today, however, we will be going to take a deep dive into brick, its type and characteristics so that you can choose the right one for your building construction. Brick is the single most important material in building construction. The rigidity and longevity of your building depend a lot on it. That is why it is very important to have some prior knowledge of brick, otherwise, you may not be able to choose the right one for the construction. Having that said, here is everything you need to know about brick in building construction.।
Benefits of brick in building construction
Brick is one of the fundamental building construction materials worldwide. And there are plenty of reasons why. Bricks are durable and amazing at prolonging the building’s longevity. They are also beautiful and can add a distinctive style to any type of building. They are also terrific at tackling the temperature and humidity of a building. And during fire hazards, bricks can also withstand fire longer than most materials because brick is a great insulator of heat. But most important of all, brick is cost-effective and easy to work with. That is why they are used to create concrete composites for the foundation, one of the most important elements of a building or structure, and the iron frame of the building.
We have excellent articles on the foundation costs of building a home and key factors that influence foundation calculation if you wish to know more details.
Types of brick
There are thousands of types of bricks with different usage, quality, forming method, and texture. However, we will be discussing the five most popular ones in our region.
Burnt clay brick
These types of bricks are made by burning wet clay in a chimney. These have been used as a building material since ancient times and can be found in the most ancient installations or historic houses around the world. These types of bricks are red in color. Burnt clay bricks are usually sold in four classes, first class bricks are the best and provide the most strength and the price is on the higher side than the other 3 classes. When a building is constructed with burnt clay bricks, plastering or mortar is required on the walls. These are most suitable for masonry work, and foundations.
Sand lime brick
These types of bricks are also known as calcium silicates. They are composed of mixed sand, ash, and lime. Unlike burnt clay bricks, they are not thrown into the chimney, rather they are dried using the heat from chemical reactions and by pressure.
Benefits of using Sand lime bricks:
- Plastering is not required as the shape is uniform and smooth.
- Very strong and suitable for bearing heavy loads.
- They are gray in color.
- These require less mortar.
- The edges of these bricks are straight and precise so the construction is easier.
Engineering brick
Engineering bricks are primarily used in civil projects. These are formed by mixing clay and many other materials. Fore their distinctive style and look these bricks are easily distinguished from other bricks. These are cast at extreme temperatures to make them as hard as possible. That is why these are strong and last longer than the other types of bricks. These are commonly used in sewer construction, foundation works, and underground tunnels.
Concrete brick
As the name suggests, concrete bricks are made out of solid concrete. These are traditionally made in brick kilns. Which are used for decorating the walls of the house or creating boundary walls of the house. Concrete bricks can be made in different colors. These bricks can be used in any type of construction except underground work.
Fly ash brick
These types of bricks are sometimes described as self-cementing owing to the high concentration of calcium oxide in them which expands when exposed to moisture. These tend to be lighter in weight than concrete bricks. These bricks are used in structural walls, foundations, and places where fire resistance is required.
How to identify quality brick in building construction
- They should be resistant to nail scratches.
- Good quality bricks should produce a metallic sound when hit with another brick.
- They shouldn’t break if dropped from a height of 2 meters.
- Quality bricks shouldn’t absorb a lot of water with bubbles and shouldn’t make the water muddy when soaked in a container.
- The color of every piece of brick should look the same when broken into pieces.
- Quality bricks should have refined edges and corners.
- The surface of the brick should be smooth and flat.
Brick is the building material of choice and will remain so in the future. They are amazing at shaping things. But when it comes to environmental sustainability, the production of brick is a big threat unless we embrace eco-friendly construction practices.
All in all, choosing the right type of brick is really important especially if you are constructing your own home without the aid of developers. And we firmly believe that this article will help you make the right decision when it comes to brick in building construction.
