Using Bricks in Construction

In many masonry constructions, blocks and bricks are utilized. They are components for durable buildings in which uniformly shaped units are laid in courses with mortar as the bed and binding material. They are made up of high mass materials with good compressive strength formed into units that can be lifted and handled by a single worker. Stones, such as granite, marble, limestone, and travertine are some of the materials used in masonry construction. Other materials include brick, concrete, glass, and tile.

Brick walls fulfil multiple uses including providing structure, finish, acoustic comfort, thermal comfort, good indoor air quality, fire resistance, impact resistance and durability, all in one product, reducing environmental impacts and increasing energy and resource efficiency. Read on here.

The aesthetic qualities of brickwork are normally the reason why it is exposed and usually rendered. However, most bricks and blocks can be utilized as facing materials or render coatings.

There are different methods to use blocks and bricks in making walls. Every method has its economic and environmental advantages and it is vital to understand the reasons for selecting any given method in building your home. It is understandable to use each method in the same home but it is highly recommended to just use at least one or two.

Brick veneer

Conventional brick veneer construction places the high mass of brickwork on the outside of the building, where it contributes little to the thermal performance of the building but takes advantage of the capacity bricks possess for long life and low maintenance. The leaf of bricks is tied to the load bearing lightweight frame.

Reverse brick veneer

Reverse brick veneer, in which the brickwork or blockwork is the inside skin tied to an otherwise conventional lightweight stud-framed construction, takes advantage of the material’s thermal mass properties. It can produce high performing buildings with lower than average energy demands for both heating and cooling.

Reverse brick veneer.

Double brick

In double brick, the two leaves of brick walls are separated by a cavity that reduces thermal transmission and prevents moisture being transferred directly from the outside wall face to the interior of the building. The internal leaf, or skin, may be plasterboard-lined concrete blockwork, with the external skin in facing brick. The leaves of double brick are joined with ties.

Buildings with the highest thermal mass are made with double brick, also known as cavity brick, followed by brick veneer (an outer layer of brick). As a building material, brick offers superior thermal mass. Research shows that building with brick gives greater thermal mass than alternative lightweight building materials. Learn more here.

Solid brick

Solid brick or blockwork walls deliver good loadbearing capacity along with substantial thermal mass to provide a unique combination of structural, thermal and aesthetic benefits. Internal walls of solid brick or blockwork provide well-located thermal mass that can be either self-supporting or load bearing.

As a building material, clay bricks have been used for hundreds of years, and quite literally, stands the test of time. The ability to use brick in a variety of ways, the ease of construction and its superior thermal mass properties, makes it worth considering for your home. Read more.

If you still have excess bricks from your recent home renovations or landscaping, you can still use them in many useful ways. The uses of excess bricks include:

• You can create a classic-looking bookshelf by making stacked bricks. The finished product can be left in the garden for better convenience.
• Both concrete and clay bricks make a simple and effective boarder to any garden bed.
• Cost effective and easy to create, old bricks are the perfect material to create your own fire pit for those chilly nights.
• Create an impressive veggie garden or mini greenhouse!
• Some bricks already have holes and make the perfect planters or candle holders to dress up your outdoor entertaining.
• Or create a stacked version for a new age vertical garden – succulents and cacti would be perfect!
• Get creative with shapes and patterns for a striking garden feature wall or sculpture. Add some outdoor lighting and you have created something magical!
• You can also create a textured-wall for the interior design of your home. It would make a simple yet sophisticated ambiance inside your house.