The debate about which material is best suited for building a house can be considered over. Everyone was reconciled by the facing brick, which pleases the developer with its high strength, variety of colors, shapes and textures.

The inner part of the load-bearing wall can be made of “anything”: ordinary clay or silicate bricks, wood concrete or shell blocks, foam or aerated concrete. In any case, the appearance of the facade will be ideal if facing bricks are laid in the outer verst of the masonry. The gap between it and the main wall is filled with effective insulation. This creates a three-layer structural “pie” that does not require additional external finishing.

Having agreed with the arguments of the builders, the customer is left with a difficult choice: which facing brick for the facade is better to purchase. We will help clarify this issue and introduce you to the varieties of this finishing material.

Classification of facing bricks

The gradation of façade cladding is determined by its manufacturing technology.

There are four categories of facing bricks:

1. Ceramic.
2. Clinker.
3. Hyper-pressed (concrete).
4. Silicate.

Brick in each of the listed categories is available in two versions: solid and hollow. The weight of hollow core brick is on average 25-35% less, and its resistance to heat loss is approximately 10-15% higher.

Ceramic facing brick

It is produced by firing a raw material mixture consisting of red fusible clay, organic and mineral additives that regulate plasticity. Coal dust, slag, fireclay, sawdust, ash and quartz sand are used in this capacity. The initial mixture successively goes through the processes of molding, drying and firing. The main difference between facing ceramic bricks and ordinary ones is the careful preparation of the components before molding. Therefore, there are no foreign inclusions or cracks in it.

The material obtained at the exit from the firing chamber is resistant to moisture, high strength and good energy-saving qualities. The types and colors of ceramic facing bricks are varied.

On sale you can find not only ordinary, but also shaped material (for laying complex architectural elements). To expand the color range, manufacturers use mineral dyes (chromium oxide, finely ground iron or manganese ore), adding them to the composition of the feedstock.

Decorating the surface of ceramic bricks is done in several ways. In addition to the smooth matte and shiny surface, finishing options are available that give this material a resemblance to wild stone.

Clinker brick

The closest “relative” of ceramic brick. The main difference between them is the raw materials and firing temperature. Medium and refractory clays are used to produce clinker. Accordingly, they are fired at a higher temperature. The result is a very dense and durable facing brick with minimal water absorption. These qualities make it possible to use it not only in facade decoration, but also for cladding the base of the foundation, building fences and paving paths.

The thermal conductivity of clinker stone is higher than that of ceramic stone. This disadvantage is compensated by its high resistance to cracking under the influence of low temperatures.

The color palette and texture of clinker stone are extremely diverse, since each manufacturer offers customers its own collections. The size range of this cladding also cannot be called boring. In addition to the standard single version 250x120x65 mm, you can buy bricks of reduced thickness and height, as well as long clinker (528x108x37 mm).

Hyperpressed brick

Firing clay is an energy-intensive process and not very profitable. Therefore, many manufacturers are switching to pressed unfired bricks. Its basis is granite screenings, water and cement. At its core, it is super-dense concrete, which has been shaped into masonry bricks.

The main requirement for façade finishing is resistance to weathering. According to this indicator, hyper-pressed brick is perfect for finishing external walls.

In terms of strength and other quality characteristics, it is practically not inferior to clinker. Thanks to the texture of the surface (rock, torn stone) and the use of persistent dyes, this material looks excellent in masonry.

Finishing the facade with hyper-pressed brick looks elegant, solid and reliable

Sand-lime brick

Belongs to the category of non-firing materials. It differs from hyperpressed brick in its raw material composition. There is no cement in it. High mechanical strength is achieved here by hardening a mixture of silicate sand and slaked lime in an autoclave (high temperature and pressure).

Nowadays, silicate facade brick as a facing material is losing its former popularity. In the struggle for buyers, manufacturers have developed several color options for the silicate mixture. Unfortunately, they all look rather pale and cannot compete with the rich colors of ceramics and clinker.

This material behaves well in building cladding. Compared to clinker bricks, they absorb moisture more strongly, but at the same time, they can withstand repeated soaking, freezing and thawing better than ceramics.

You can choose a facade brick that matches the color, texture and, of course, price, without leaving your home. To do this, just go to the website of a reliable supplier and choose high-quality facing bricks to suit your taste and budget. If necessary, you can order a specialist consultation by phone and finally make your choice.

Figured (shaped) brick

Today, no one is satisfied with the straight lines of the facade, so each type of facing brick is complemented by a wide range of shaped elements. Using them, you can lay out complex architectural elements without laborious hewing and cutting, dressing your house in a beautiful “stone lace”.

Popular colors, textures and shapes

A brick building should look like brick, excuse the tautology. Therefore, the peak popularity of consumer demand falls on the colors and shades characteristic of baked clay.

It is not difficult to diversify the flat surface of fired bricks (ceramic and clinker). To do this, it is enough to apply a textured pattern to the raw clay and send it to “fix” in the oven.

Some color and texture options for clinker and ceramic bricks

In addition to “wet stamping,” manufacturers use the following decoration technologies:

• shotcrete (applying mineral chips);
• engobing (a composition is applied that forms a glassy film during firing);
• glazing (similar to engobing, but the front surface of the brick is treated with a composition that creates a thicker and more durable “crust” when melted).

A section of masonry made of shotcrete bricks

The angobe coating attracts attention with smooth color transitions. They are obtained by applying a decorative layer not to the entire brick, but to individual sections of it.

Glazed brick is excellent not only for facade masonry, but also for laying stoves and decorating interior walls.

Shotcrete, engobe and glazed bricks are advantageous to use as accents of facade decoration (corners, belts, window frames). This technique brings a pleasant variety to the monotonous row of facing masonry.

Dimensions of facing bricks and approximate prices for 1 piece

The dimensions of facing bricks are established by GOST. The table shows the standard dimensions of this material.

Table No. 1

In addition to the domestic GOST, the European standard is in force on the market. He divides finishing blocks into two additional categories:

• NF – normal format dimensions 240x115x71 mm.
• DF – thin 240x115x52 mm (corresponds to architectural classics).

When purchasing, you should choose material of only one standard (domestic or “euro”). Otherwise, the ligation of the seams will be disrupted and installation problems will arise.

An example of a non-standard brick for cladding 0.5 NF (250x60x65 mm)

When deciding for yourself which facing brick is better, you have to take into account the price factor. Traditionally, prices for foreign products significantly exceed the cost of domestic building materials. The price increase is primarily influenced by the characteristics of the brick (size, strength, frost resistance), its decorative qualities and, of course, the prestige of the brand.

The cost of facing hollow ceramic bricks of a standard format (250x120x65 mm) is in the range from 12 to 20 rubles per 1 piece. For one and a half ceramic bricks, sellers ask from 20 to 28 rubles.

Clinker brick measuring 250x85x65 mm (0.7 NF) with a smooth surface costs no less than 29 rubles/piece. For the same material, but with a textured edge, you will have to pay at least 34 rubles.

The price for smooth hyper-pressed brick of a standard size starts at 23 rubles per piece. For textured material you will have to pay a little more - 25-30 rubles / piece.

For one colored sand-lime brick (250x120x88 mm) with a smooth surface, sellers ask on average 15 rubles. For material with a relief texture you will have to pay 24-26 rubles.

The difference in prices for domestic and imported products is impressive; the cost of some types of foreign blocks from the “elite” category can reach 100-130 rubles. a piece.

An important question that you have to decide when purchasing is how many facing bricks are in 1m2 of masonry. You can easily decide on your order if you use our table.

Table No. 2. Quantity of bricks for cladding 1 m2 of facade (thickness 0.5 bricks)

Seamless brick is a wall brick polished on the bed surfaces, which is laid with a seam 1 mm thick. A thin layer of mortar is applied to the bed either by dipping the brick into the mortar or by applying it with a roller to the bed plane. Covering the butt joints with mortar is not required due to the jagged joint of the bricks. Wall stones are standardized to a height of 249 mm and are manufactured for any wall thickness up to 365 mm. They are supplied complete with additional, sliding and corner bricks.

Fillable bricks with wall thicknesses of 175 mm and 240 mm are filled with mortar after laying and therefore provide sufficient noise protection

Light brick

During production, easily combustible components, such as sawdust, are mixed into the raw materials for bricks. During firing, air pores are formed in the brick; such bricks are called porous or light bricks.

Light brick designation (example):

Brick DIN 105 - HLzW6 - 0.7 - 10 DF (300)

Means lightweight hollow-core brick W, compressive strength class 6, density class 0.7 in 10 DF format for a wall thickness of 30 cm (/ = 238 mm, b - 300 mm, h = 238 mm)

Their special property is their low density, ranging from 0.6 to 1.0 kg/dm3. Therefore, the thermal insulation capacity of lightweight brick is higher than that of wall brick. It should be especially taken into account that light brick in the short designation differs from wall brick only in density class. In addition to the usual classes of compressive strength, lightweight bricks also come in strength class 2.

Dimensions, formats and hollowness correspond to wall bricks. They are standardized according to DIN 105-2.

Lightweight hollow-core brick W(HLzW) has a hollowness B and is considered particularly heat-insulating. Such bricks are produced in formats starting from 2DF and especially often in large stone block formats starting from 8DF. They are not frost-resistant.

Lightweight hollow-core facing brick (VHLz) is frost-resistant. These bricks are suitable for exterior walls and exterior structures. The outer surface of such stones can be structured.

Wall slab lightweight bricks (HLzT) have different side lengths of 247, 297, 373 and 495 mm.

Lightweight long-hollow brick (LLz) and light long-hollow slab brick (LLp). Such bricks can be made with small embedded voids in the side zone or with large voids.

Brick is the most popular and reliable material not only for construction, but also for cladding buildings. Thanks to the variety of colors and sizes, you can create a unique design. And most importantly, this finish will last a very long time, unlike other facing materials. In addition, the cladding will serve as additional insulation for the house. We will talk in more detail in this article about what types of facing bricks there are and what sizes they exist.

Cladding a house with bricks

Any owner of a new or old house wants to give their home a presentable appearance. The best thing to help him with this is facing brick.

It is perfect for finishing both stone and wooden houses. Before covering a house with brick, you need to make sure the foundation and roof are reliable. If the foundation is not reliable, it must be strengthened by pouring an additional layer. After all, the weight of a building with an area of ​​about 100 square meters can increase by 40 tons due to the cladding. As for the roof, a 25 cm long canopy should be provided. It will protect the wall from moisture and destruction. Therefore, if necessary, it is necessary to extend the overhang of the cornice. The durability of the building cladding depends on this.

For example, for cladding a house, you can choose yellow and brown facing bricks. The bulk of the walls are made in a light tone, and the corners of the building, the perimeters of windows and doors are highlighted in brown. This cladding looks very warm and cozy.

You can choose red material and cover the whole house with it. The result will be a building in a classic English style. This is a fairly simple and stylish solution.

Types of facing bricks

Depending on the materials used, bricks can be divided into the following types:

• silicate;
• hyper-pressed;
• clinker;
• ceramic.

Sand-lime brick This is the most budget-friendly cladding option, but is significantly inferior in appearance to other varieties. Its advantages include lightness compared to other analogues.

Hyper-pressed. It is made from limestone, cement additives and dyes using high pressure. Firing is not applied to these products. This is a very durable material that is not afraid of strong temperature changes. Thanks to the manufacturing process, the chipped brick is textured and resembles natural stone. This is often used by designers to decorate houses.

Clinker brick is a type of ceramic, which we will discuss below in more detail. This material is made using a special type of clay and at higher temperatures. Thanks to this technology, the product is obtained with high density, which contributes to low water absorption. This means that such cladding will last for a long time without cracks or chips. This brick can be produced in different sizes, shapes and colors.

Ceramic facing brick

This brick is the most common type. It is made from clay using various dyes. The positive qualities of ceramic bricks include:

• low thermal conductivity;
• frost resistance;
• heat resistance.

Ceramic brick has precise proportions and a smooth surface. It can be used in any conditions. In addition to the standard form, the product is manufactured in several versions:

• glazed - has a transparent, shiny coating, which not only improves the appearance, but also increases durability;
• engobed – covered with a matte, opaque glaze (the so-called engobe), this allows you to expand the color palette and serves as additional protection;
• textured - the surface of the brick imitates various textures: tree bark, leather, etc.;
• shaped - the surface is artificially aged and has cracks and chips along the surface of the brick.

This material has an affordable price and looks great on the facade of buildings.

Dimensions of facing bricks

Brick, like other building materials, must have dimensions specified by standards. But it was not always so. Until 1927, each manufacturer produced bricks in their own sizes, and there were no specific dimensions for this material, which resulted in many inconveniences. But in 1927, standard brick sizes were established. The most optimal brick sizes were established practically:

• length 250 mm;
• width 120 mm;
• thickness – 65 mm.

These dimensions correspond to a single brick. Construction technologies do not stand still, and soon there was a need to produce bricks of other sizes. This is how the following dimensions appeared:

• double (l 250*w 120*h 140 mm);
• modular (l 280*w 130*h 80 mm);
• Euro brick (l 250*w 85*h 65 mm).

There is also one variety, the so-called one-and-a-half brick. Let's tell you more about it.

one-and-a-half facing brick

Of course, during construction work it is important to meet certain deadlines. In order to save time on masonry, a one-and-a-half brick was invented with the following dimensions:

• length 250 mm;
• width 120 mm;
• thickness 88 mm.

It is larger than the standard one, which means it will be faster to make masonry from it. So, for example, to lay out 1 cubic meter. m of single brick will require 512 pieces, while one and a half bricks will require only 378. And this is 26% less. From this we can draw conclusions:

1. laying time is reduced;
2. less material will be required;
3. There is also less money spent.

If, in terms of its physical characteristics and appearance, one-and-a-half bricks are in no way inferior to their counterparts, while saving money and time, you can give preference to it when cladding a house.

Red facing brick

This color is mainly found in ceramic and clinker bricks. They are made from clay mixed with metals, which give the product different shades of red. For example, iron in the composition gives a rich red color. Also, the color of the finished product depends on the firing; the longer the product is fired, the darker the tone. This brick can be used to cover all walls or lay out individual elements from it.

Yellow facing brick

Yellow brick is made from a mixture of cement and limestone - shell rock with the addition of natural dyes. Most often, pressing technology is used, which results in a durable and environmentally friendly material. Yellow brick is offered in several shades:

• pale yellow;
• straw;
• amber;
• golden.

This brick has good technical characteristics and is suitable for finishing building facades even in regions with severe climates.

White facing brick

White brick is one of the varieties of sand-lime brick. It is environmentally friendly and much cheaper than its ceramic counterparts. The only drawbacks are the heavy weight and intolerance to excess moisture. From an aesthetic point of view, this is an excellent option for cladding a house. Its masonry looks very neat and stylish. It can be supplemented with material of a different color, creating interesting patterns. Thanks to production capabilities, bricks can be given a grayish or creamy tint.

How much does facing brick cost?

Before you begin cladding the house, you need to calculate the required amount of material and the approximate cost. Thus, the price of ceramic bricks ranges from 9 to 44 rubles per piece. Material with a textured surface or glaze will cost more. The price of sand-lime brick varies from 8.5 to 22 rubles per piece. Hyperpressed bricks, depending on color and texture, cost from 8 to 38 rubles per piece. The most affordable of all types of materials is sand-lime brick. It has good physical characteristics and an attractive appearance. Purchasing bricks should not be difficult. Now many construction stores sell a wide range of facing bricks. If desired, you can place an order from the manufacturer with delivery to your destination. The only thing is that you need to correctly calculate the amount of material and, best of all, with a reserve so that you don’t have to buy additional bricks.

This article talks about the types and sizes of facing bricks. They also provide advice on cladding buildings. Using the material in the article, you can easily select the type of facing brick you need and calculate the approximate cost of the material. Good luck with your home improvement.

Which brick to choose for building a house. The question is not simple! Let's look at the main types of bricks and decide which brick is best to build a house from.

The material for most types of brick is clay. The clay is kneaded to the desired consistency, various additives and additives are added, the required amount of water is shaped, dried at a temperature of 200 degrees until completely dry, and subsequently the brick undergoes final firing at higher temperatures (sintered to a ceramic state). Without firing, raw brick is nothing - just a piece of dried clay.

There are types of bricks that are not made from clay, for example, silicate. There is no clay in hyper-pressed brick either. This is, in fact, a stone.

Main types of bricks:

1. Construction brick.

Regular fired clay ceramic red brick. As a rule, it comes in single, one-and-a-half, and double sizes. And in terms of filling - full-bodied and slotted. The surface of the brick is usually rough or ribbed for better adhesion in masonry. Solid brick is the most expensive, as it requires more material.

2. Facing brick.

Already by the name it is clear for what purposes it is intended. It is used for cladding external surfaces of buildings due to its good performance properties. Mainly due to frost resistance, moisture resistance and wear resistance, it is used for cladding purposes.

In addition, it is used for the construction of heavy fences, foundations, walls, and restoration work.

The surface of the brick is perfectly smooth with smooth edges and edges. Not subject to fading. Due to different firing times and temperatures, the shade of the facing brick can be set. The color can also be changed by adding additional dye, which significantly expands the range of color shades. Perhaps one of the most expensive types of bricks.

3. Silicate brick.

The cheapest type of brick. This is due to a fundamentally different technology for making bricks (without firing). Sand-lime brick is made from quartz sand (about 93%) and lime (about 7%). The setting of the brick is carried out by the chemical reaction of slaking lime. To speed up the process, an autoclave is used, where the products are steamed at a temperature of about 200 degrees under pressure.

Without adding additives, sand-lime brick is white.

It can be ordinary (for laying load-bearing walls) and front (for external cladding).

Sand-lime brick does not “like” exposure to high temperatures (over 500 degrees Celsius) and chemical influences. Therefore, it is not used in stove masonry, as well as for basement floors, where contact with water (and chemicals dissolved in it, especially acids) is possible. In addition, due to its high thermal conductivity, they try not to use it in monolithic masonry of external walls, but use it only for cladding and masonry of internal walls.

Frost resistance can vary widely from F 15 – F 50, which is not very much.

Strength is high: from M 75 to M 300. Therefore, buildings made of sand-lime brick are not limited in number of storeys.

Density from 1300 to 1900 kg/m3.

For cladding, rusticated sand-lime brick with an artificial uneven surface is very good.

As a rule, there is a single, one and a half. Full-bodied. Smooth masonry, smooth facing, rusticated facing. The color can be from white to black (and in general - any color). Without dyes - white.

4. Hyper-pressed brick.

By and large, this is not a brick, but a concrete stone block, as it contains clay. Contains 85% limestone, 10% cement, 5% dye. It has a very long freezing cycle - 150. It has low moisture absorption - up to 6%, and increased strength. Ideal for cladding plinths, building facades, decorative finishing, cladding fireplaces. The finishing looks very presentable. Expensive type of brick.

5. Clinker brick.

Clinker brick is made from special refractory clay at temperatures above 1100 degrees Celsius. At this temperature, all voids and cracks disappear from the total mass of the brick. The brick becomes as if burned out and monolithic. May be specially grooved. The color of this brick can be sort of gradient - the color changes from red to dark gray burnt within one brick.

Brick is used for cladding stoves and fireplaces. It has a large number of freezing cycles - about 100. It is also used for laying external chimneys, outdoor stoves, barbecues, and sidewalks.

As a rule, it is one and a half and double. The most expensive type of brick.

6. Kiln brick.

This brick is not used for construction purposes. It can be fireclay refractory or stove smooth.

Fireclay brick. The thermal resistance of this brick is about 1700 degrees Celsius. Used for installation of stoves, fireplaces, chimneys, autoclaves, gas boiler furnaces and similar high-temperature structures. It is made from grinding fireclay and fireclay powder by sintering. It has a characteristic granular structure. It can be molded into any shape, you can even lay out a round oven and for this there is a special circular shaped brick.

Stove brick - used for laying stoves and fireplaces, walls in direct contact with fire. It can withstand lower temperatures than fireclay, but it is just right for ordinary stoves and fireplaces.

7. Porous brick.

Perhaps the most promising type of brick. It just seems expensive. Yes, one such brick costs from 107 to 205 rubles apiece. However, there are only 35-48 such bricks per cubic meter. As a result, a cubic meter of such stone will cost the same amount as a cubic meter of ordinary ceramic brick. But the advantages of this brick are immediately obvious. The thermal conductivity of porous brick is from 0.14 to 0.26 W/m * o C (the larger the block, the lower the thermal conductivity of the block). Which is already comparable to wood, foam concrete or even gas silicate! (The gas silicate block has a thermal conductivity of 0.14 W/m * o C.) And the advantages of the masonry are obvious - no external wall cladding is required. That is, with a half-meter brick you can immediately lay out the specified thickness of the load-bearing wall. Laying such large blocks is a pleasure. The house is being built very quickly. In addition, the brick contains special channels for pouring vertical reinforcement, which can be convenient for construction in seismically hazardous regions. The standard size of this type of brick is very diverse.

What causes such low thermal conductivity? In the technology of manufacturing porous bricks. Wooden sawdust is specially added to the clay batch during the manufacturing process. During firing of a brick block, sawdust burns out, resulting in the formation of an air pore in the brick, which prevents the spread of cold in the brick. The amount of sawdust in the batch regulates the thermal conductivity and strength grade. If you are planning to build a house out of brick, then you should definitely pay attention to this type of brick.

However, the cost of porous bricks is still high. A cubic meter of porous brick costs at least twice as much as a foam concrete cubic meter. For example, in 1 cubic meter there are about 28 pieces of foam blocks measuring 200x300x600, while there are only about 36 pieces of porous bricks measuring 510x250x219. If the cost of a foam block is about 90 rubles, and a porous brick of this size is 142 rubles, we get: one cubic meter of foam concrete is 2520 rubles, one cubic meter of porous brick is 5112 rubles. Total: 5112 rubles / 2520 rubles = 2.02 times. Expensive? How to say. If we take into account that the thermal conductivity of a porous brick with a size of 440x250x219 is equal to 0.14 W/mx o C (thermal conductivity also depends on the size of the brick - less cold bridges - less thermal conductivity), that is, it is equal to the thermal conductivity of gas silicate brick, and there is no need to do cladding, which reduces labor costs, then porous brick is a very promising material. And, if you consider that walls made of foam concrete or gas silicate need to be additionally lined with a gap and re-lined with special facing bricks, then this idea is unlikely to pay for itself. I think that when the production of porous bricks is established in Russia, it will become cheaper. In addition, the production technology is not so complicated. For now, porous brick is a foreign material for construction and is still a bit expensive. But it's already available. I would even think twice about it. Laying gas silicate or foam concrete requires experienced masons (working with glue, cladding, additional re-lining), while laying ordinary brick does not require much experience. If only they laid it out according to the level. Very, very tempting.

By what other characteristics are bricks distinguished? To size. There is a standard for basic brick sizes. Each country has its own standard.

Main sizes:

1. Single. Brick size: length 250 mm, width 120 mm, height 65 mm. (250x120x65).

2. One and a half. The brick size is 250x120x88.

3. Double. Double brick size 250x120x138.

There are also exotic brick sizes. These standard sizes are used for so-called warm ceramics or porous bricks. These sizes are more convenient to install.

These are the sizes:

4. Facing. 80x500x219. Used for cladding interior walls.

5. Septal. 120x500x219. Used for laying internal partition walls.

6. Masonry. 250x380x219. Used for interior masonry with additional cladding.

7. Main masonry. 380x250x219. Used as the main masonry stone.

8. Thickened masonry. 440x250x219. Allows you to build walls without additional cladding.

9. Thick masonry. 510x250x219. Allows you to lay out a full brick wall.

10. Dressing. 380x250x219. Serves for bandaging masonry layers.

11. Additional. 440x250x219. Serves for dressing purposes. Shape without side ribs.

12. Extended dressing. 510x250x219. For bandaging walls when using thick masonry bricks.

Brick is still classified by the nature of the filling brick bodies with holes. Determine whether there are heat-insulating holes in the brick.

1. Full-bodied. If there are only a couple of large holes in a brick, this does not mean that it is slotted - it is also a solid brick. Solid brick is the coldest, in contrast to slotted brick.

2. Slotted. There are a great variety of varieties and spatial arrangement of holes in slotted bricks. From round, to rhombic and rectangular. The location of the holes determines how this type of brick will release heat. The more intricately located the holes in the brick, the warmer it will be, the more difficult it will be for the cold to pass through these ornate passages - bridges of cold. Increasing the number of holes in the body of a brick reduces its strength characteristics.

By appearance brick is divided into:

1. Masonry. As a rule, the brick is an ordinary one, which is used for general masonry inside the wall, without being displayed.

2. Smooth. At least one of the longitudinal sides of the brick has an attractive appearance and such a brick is used for facing purposes.

3. Rusticated brick. In a special way, convex irregularities are created on the brick. This type of brick is used for decorative and facing purposes.

4. Grooved. Another type of facing brick, but here the irregularities are of the pressed type.

5. Broken. A type of decorative facing form of brick, obtained by chipping or breaking. Typically, hyperpressed bricks are made in this way. A house lined with such bricks looks like an old stone house. Very beautiful.

Classification of bricks by color. Today, color additives are not added only to masonry building bricks. All other types of brick can take on all sorts of shades. Sand-lime brick, for example, can be from white to black. Hyper-pressed brick can generally be of any color, since it is not fired and is tinted. The color range of facing ceramic bricks is usually in the red range - from pink to dark brown and is quite beautiful in itself without additional colors. However, special coloring methods are used during firing. Additives are added that change color when exposed to elevated temperatures. The brick house is now a beautiful work of art. Times change, and so do manufacturing approaches.

Let's look at the table of thermal conductivity of various types of bricks.

Brick type	Thermal conductivity, W/m * O C.	Price per cubic meter.
Solid red clay building brick 1800 kg/m 3	0,52	5232 rub.
Ceramic slotted construction brick (effective) 1200 kg/m 3	0,45	3532 rub.
Slotted ceramic facing brick 1200 kg/m 3	0,30	5786 rub.
Single solid silicate brick 1800 kg/m 3	0,75	4147 rub.
Hyper-pressed single smooth colored brick 1800 kg/m 3	0,74	9728 rub.
Single clinker facing brick 2150 kg/m 3

You can often hear discussions from amateur construction workers about which types of bricks are better. This formulation of the question is incorrect from the very beginning. There are different types of bricks, which differ in composition, strength characteristics, water resistance, fire resistance, thermal conductivity and, as a result, in their area of ​​application.

Silicate - the most popular

The most common in Russia are: sand-lime bricks. They are made from a mixture of lime and sand. Their extraordinary prevalence is primarily explained by their low cost and wide range of applications for domestic purposes (construction of dachas, garages, etc.)

At the same time, in most respects they are clearly not up to par: these types of bricks retain heat rather poorly and resist moisture; they are heavy and at the same time fragile. These characteristics of sand-lime brick make it possible to use it only in the construction of walls and internal partitions. It is not suitable for laying stoves, fireplaces, pipes and foundations.

sand-lime brick

Full and hollow

Depending on the design load, either can be used for different purposes. full-bodied types of bricks, or hollow. The first ones are more durable. They are used, for example, for the construction of load-bearing walls and columns. But their thermal conductivity is quite high, so walls made of them require additional insulation. Hollow types of bricks are lighter and cheaper, and their thermal conductivity is also lower than that of solid ones. But they are quite fragile and are mainly used in the construction of structures that are not particularly loaded.

Solid, hollow and porous types

Ceramic brick

The next most popular types of bricks are: ceramic. They are produced by firing various mixtures of clays. These types of bricks are also hollow and solid. These varieties can be used almost anywhere: from laying a foundation or stove to cladding walls.

Facing – stronger than they seem

From the title " facing" many conclude that they are used more for construction purposes than for actual construction purposes. However, this is a misconception. These materials are so durable that they can even be used to build a foundation, not to mention walls, use as well, and, of course, for interior decoration. Such bricks can be deliberately smooth (glazed) or, on the contrary, chopped (imitation of ordinary stone). They may have an unusual curly shape. The most common form of facing bricks is with rounded corners. The name “facing” only means that it can be used in cases where the qualitative (aesthetic) characteristics of internal or external surfaces made from it are important.

Double brick/ceramic stones

The following type of brick can be combined into a large group called ceramic stones, or double bricks. These large blocks significantly increase the speed and quality of masonry. Due to their porosity (sometimes even super-porosity), they are lightweight and economical. They are usually used for laying external walls. The fairly massive size of ceramic stones allows you to significantly save on the amount of mortar used for masonry. In addition, their high-tech shape makes it possible to significantly strengthen the “adhesion” of the elements to each other, in contrast to products of the usual shape.

double blocks

Clinker - one of the most durable

Another type of bricks - the so-called clinker. In terms of manufacturing technology and composition, they are similar to ordinary ceramic ones. But during their production, higher temperatures are used, which makes it possible to use them for purposes such as laying gutters, paths for vehicles, facing foundations, etc.

Chamotte - not afraid of fire

The following types of bricks are: fireproof, or fireclay. Despite the fact that ordinary ceramic blocks can withstand temperatures of up to 800 degrees, which is quite enough for domestic needs, in everyday life, refractory types of bricks are used when laying stoves because of their unique ability to gradually accumulate and slowly release heat. A stove made of this type of material heats up slowly, but also releases heat for a long time. In combination with ordinary ceramic bricks, their use ensures uniform and long-lasting heating of the premises.

Common forms in which modern bricks are produced:

Video: Discovery about brick