If you search Google for the definition of the word ‘brick’ you will see it says ” small rectangular block typically made of fired or sun-dried clay, used in building.” However, this doesn’t seem to enough for the humble brick, because without it, we wouldn’t have most of our buildings today.
According to Wikipedia “The earliest bricks were dried brick, meaning that they were formed from clay-bearing earth or mud and dried (usually in the sun) until they were strong enough for use. The oldest discovered bricks, originally made from shaped mud and dating before 7500 BC” – 7500 BC! Isn’t it wonderful that something so old is still being used today just because it’s so good? But did you know there is more than one type?
The difference in bricks is quite astonishing and this is a big consideration when looking into any type of building work. Here at Simply Build & Plaster we will always choose the best brick for the job. Below we have listed a few that we use so you can see all the various options.
Burnt clay brick – Clay bricks are a cost effective option with little to no maintenance needed.
Fly ash brick – These bricks are largely used in constructions such as load bearing walls , boundary walls and are much stronger than conventional bricks.
Concrete bricks – These bricks generally have a low compression strength and can found to be low quality. They would usually be used for internal brickwork and noise reduction.
Engineering bricks – These bricks were traditionally used in civil engineering and mostly used where strength and resistance to frost is needed. Today, they are often used in ground works, manholes and sewers.
Sand lime or calcium silicate bricks – These bricks are a smoother finish brick and extremely strong, they also do not require plastering when used for walls.
Fire bricks – It’s in the name! These bricks are used to line fire places and kilns because they can withstand a high temperature and have great thermal conductivity.
Sun-dried bricks – Sun dried bricks have historically been used for housing since 7500BC (see our Wikepedia info above) and are still being used today! They help moderate the interior temperature, therefore heat slowly increases.
Who would have thought there are so many different bricks out there? The brick is an amazing item really and shouldn’t be overlooked as just a rectangular block.
But… if you were looking for Pink Floyd… we also have you covered 😉
