The raw materials for calcium silicate bricks include lime mixed with quartz, crushed flint or
crushed siliceous rock together with mineral colourants. The materials are mixed and left until
the lime is completely hydrated, the mixture is then pressed into moulds and cured in an
autoclave for two or three hours to speed the chemical hardening. The finished bricks are very
accurate and uniform, although the sharp arrises need careful handling to avoid damage to brick
(and brick-layer). The bricks can be made in a variety of colours, white is common but pastel
shades can be achieved.
It is very common in Sweden, especially in houses built or renovated in the '70s. Here it is
referred to as "Mexitegel" (en: Mexi[can] Bricks).
In India these are known as Fly ash bricks, manufactured using the Falg process.
CONCRETE BLOCKS
In the United States, a concrete masonry unit (CMU) — also called concrete block, cement block or
foundation block — is a large rectangular brick used in construction. Concrete blocks are made from
cast concrete, i.e. Portland cement and aggregate, usually sand and fine gravel for high-density blocks.
Lower density blocks may use industrial wastes as an aggregate. Those that use cinders (fly ash or
bottom ash) are called cinder blocks in the US, breeze blocks (breeze is a synonym of ash)[1] in the UK
and are also known as besser blocks or bricks in Australia. Clinker blocks use clinker as aggregate. In
non-technical usage, the terms 'cinder block' and 'breeze block' are often generalized to cover all of
these varieties. Lightweight blocks can also be produced using aerated concrete
COMMON BRICKS
Brick Nomenclature Frequently, the Builder must cut the brick into various shapes. The most common shapes
are shown in figure 7-50. They are called half or bat, three-quarter closure, quarter closure, king closure, queen
closure, and split. They are used to fill in the spaces at corners and such other places where a full brick will
not fit. The six surfaces of a brick are called the cull, the beds, the side, the end, and the face, as shown in figure 7-
51. Brick Classification A finished brick structure contains FACE brick (brick placed on the exposed face
of the structure) and BACKUP brick (brick placed behind the face brick). The face brick is often of higher
quality than the backup brick; however, the entire wall may be built of COMMON brick
Common brick is brick that is made from pit-run clay, with no attempt at color control and no special
surface treatment like glazing or enameling. Most common brick is red. Although any surface brick is a face
brick as distinguished from a backup brick, the term face brick is also used to distinguish high-quality brick from
brick that is of common-brick quality or less. Applying this criterion, face brick is more uniform in color than
common brick, and it may be obtained in a variety of colors as well. It may be specifically finished on the surface,
and in any case, it has a better surface appearance than common brick. It may also be more durable, as a
result of the use of select clay and other materials, or as a result of special manu- facturing methods.
Backup brick may consist of brick that is inferior in quality even to common brick. Brick that has been
underburned or overburned, or brick made with inferior clay or by inferior methods, is often used for
backup brick. Still another type of classification divides brick into grades according to the probable climatic
conditions to which it is to be exposed. These are as follows: GRADE SW is brick designed to withstand
exposure to below-freezing temperatures in a moist climate like that of the northern regions of the United
States. GRADE MW is brick designed to withstand exposure to below-freezing temperatures in a drier
climate than that mentioned in the previous paragraph. GRADE NW is brick primarily intended for
interior or backup brick. It maybe used exposed, however, in a region where no frost action occurs, or in a region
where frost action occurs, but the annual rainfall is less than 15 in. Types of Bricks There are many types of brick.
Some are different in formation and composition while others vary according to their use. Some
commonly used types of brick are described in the following paragraphs. COMMON brick is made of ordinary
clays or shales and burned in the usual manner in the kilns. These bricks do not have special scorings or
markings and are not produced in any special color or surface texture. Common brick is also known as hard-
and kiln-run brick. It is used generally for backing courses in solid or cavity brick walls. The harder and more
durable kinds are preferred for this purpose. FACE bricks are used in the exposed face of a wall and are higher
quality units than backup brick. They have better durability and appearance. The most common colors of face
brick are various shades of brown, red, gray, yellow, and white. CLINKER bricks are bricks that have been
overburned in the kilns. This type of brick is usually hard and durable and may be irregular in shape. Rough
hard corresponds to the clinker classification. PRESS bricks are made by the dry press process. This class of
brick has regular smoothfaces, sharp edges, and perfectly square corners. Ordinarily, all press brick are used
as face brick. GLAZED bricks have one surface of each brick glazed in white or other colors. The ceramic
glazing consists of mineral ingredients that fuse together in a glass-like coating during burning. This type of
brick is particularly suited for walls or partitions in hospitals, dairies, laboratories, or other buildings where
cleanliness and ease of cleaning are necessary. FIREBRICK is made of a special type of fire clay that will withstand
the high temperatures of fireplaces, boilers, and similar usages without cracking or decomposing. Firebrick is
larger than regular structural brick, and often, it is hand molded. CORED BRICK are made with two rows of
five holes extending through their beds to reduce weight. There is no significant difference between Figure 7-52.—
Types of brick masonry bond. 7-32
FACING BRICKS
Facing bricks are bricks which are intended to be visible, and are thus designed with some aesthetic aims in mind so that
they are visually interesting and appealing to look at. Many brick manufacturers produce facing bricks, using a variety of
techniques, and they are readily available from building and home supply stores. It is also possible to make special orders
if a particular color, size, or style is desired.
As the name implies, facing bricks are designed to be used as facing, as for example on the exterior of a wall, where the
bricks will be seen. These bricks may lack the tensile strength of engineering bricks, which are used for structural
brickwork, although facing bricks can be used for structural applications in some cases. These bricks are designed to have
a neat, even appearance. They also tend to be made from materials which are interesting to look at, since they will
comprise the literal face of a building, and will be the first thing people encounter when approaching.
While facing bricks can come in classic red, it's also possible to find cream, yellow, and other colors. Some bricks may
have inclusions which add visual texture, and facing bricks can also be stamped with motifs or designs which are designed
to make them more attractive. Facing bricks can be extruded or molded, and in some cases may be made by hand,
although handmade brick can be quite expensive.
Sometimes, it is possible to find affordable facing bricks in the form of reclaimed brick. Reclaimed brick is brick which is
salvaged from a structure which is destroyed or remodeled. While reclaimed brick is sometimes chipped, scarred, smeared
with mortar, or layered in paint, it may be in good condition, in which case it can be used for facing. People may also want
to actively cultivate a slightly weathered look, in which case they may prefer to use reclaimed brick for facing because it's
already been aged, so to speak.
Some things to think about when selecting facing brick include the color and size, and what kind of pattern is going to be
created with the brickwork. There are a number of different patterns or courses which can be used to lay out brick, and
some people mix these up even further with alternating colors and other variations. With an idea of what one wants in
mind, it's possible to pick facing brick which will meet the need.
Engineering bricks
*Facing bricks are used primarily in the construction of external walls in domestic and commercial
applications. They are chosen for their aesthetic appeal and technical characteristics, including their
speed of use in construction. They must also meet minimum standards for weather resistance.
*Facing bricks are made using either soft mud or extruded techniques. Soft mud bricks are generally
more expensive to produce than extruded bricks. Soft mud bricks are made by throwing clay into a mould.
This throwing process is generally automated, but some soft mud bricks are hand-made (with the clay
thrown by hand into the mould). Hand-made bricks are considerably more expensive to produce than
machine-made soft mud bricks and represent only a small proportion of soft mud bricks made in Great
Britain. Extruded bricks are made by extruding clay through a nozzle, with the resultant lengths of clay
being cut by wire into individual bricks. Extruded bricks have a more regular appearance than soft mud
bricks.
*Masonry bricks are classified as either building bricks or facing bricks. The building brick is load bearing
and must have high compression strength, but appearance is no factor. In contrast, facing bricks are used
on exposed surfaces where appearance is an important consideration. In fact, appearance is the criteria
upon which facing bricks are graded. There are three different grades: 1. Type FBX-exposed
interior/exterior, uniform size and color. 2. Type FBX-exposed interior/exterior, variation in size and color.
3. Type FBA-produced to result in non-uniformity in size, color, and texture.
*Engineering bricks are designed for use where the strength of the brick or the need for a brick to have a
low level of water absorption is paramount (eg in the construction of retaining walls or for ground works.
*Engineering bricks are usually extruded bricks. The majority of engineering bricks sold are smooth red
Class B bricks, which are also among the cheapest bricks sold. Class A engineering bricks have lower
water absorption than Class B engineering bricks and are more expensive to buy. They are often blue-
grey in appearance, and are generally used in facing applications on account of their distinctive
appearance. It is possible to use engineering bricks in facing applications, although they can be slower to
lay. In most, but not all, facing applications, Class B engineering bricks are considered to be less
attractive than facing bricks, and their colour may be less uniform. However, there are some situations
where they are used in place of facing bricks, such as in string courses to provide contrast in the
appearance of brick clad buildings.
*Yes, facing bricks be used in a construction of a house.
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