Facts about Brick

For the rock solid facts to support your decision to build in face brick, look here. You’ll find everything you need to know about this most iconic of building materials.

Brick Colours, Mortar & Profiles

Brick is a very versatile building material that gives you thousands of options to express yourself. With hundreds of different brick colours, a wealth of mortar colours and every size from large bricks to small rounded bricks, you’re sure to find the ideal brick for the look you want.

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Brick Colour. Express Yourself
Because clay bricks are a natural material, made naturally in a kiln, each one has a unique character.

This allows you to design a home with a very distinctive character – all yours. Your brick home never needs to be a “cookie cutter” copy

There are hundreds of different brick colours, from the lightest of whites and creams to the darkest browns and greys – and an unlimited opportunity to blend or accentuate. New generation colours offer a range of monochromatic tones for a more subtle appearance.

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Brick Mortar
Generally the mortar represents about 15% of the total visible brickwork area and can dramatically change the look of the brick and your home. For example, mortar coloured to match the brick will give the impression of a large area of one colour, whereas a contrasting mortar colour will highlight the shape and colour of the bricks. The overall appearance is also determined by the joint, with raked joints being most commonly used to achieve the ‘character’ look in a new home.

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Types of Mortar Joints
The combinations are almost endless which means you can proudly stamp you style and individuality on your home.

Round – a joint that enhances the effect of the brickwork by emphasizing the regularity and repetition.
Flush – this joint makes a feature of the mortar and creates a render effect.
Raked – these mortar joints create a shadow line for contrast and interest.

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Texture.  An important element in home design.

When you’re looking at colours for your home design, make sure you also look at texture. The right textured surface can enhance a design and add a lot of character to a new home.

Bricks come in many natural textures that can your home apart. Textures can add contrast or define a feature like an alcove or porch. Textures can bring out the natural colours of bricks.
Textures can add dimension throughout the day as the sun highlights them.

Bricks give you many many more textural choices than flimsier building materials. Here are just a few examples, from modern and sleek to more traditional quarry styles;

Thrown bricks are cast in sawdust-lined moulds which produce a rustic texture
Smooth bricks have crisp, squared edges and a very consistent texture
Wire Cut bricks have straight edges with a slightly rough texture on their face
Hewn bricks have had their faces specially chipped to resemble masonry or quarried stone.
Slurried bricks have a pigment on some surfaces
Tumbled bricks have a “hand made” look, with round, uneven edges
Rolled bricks can have a variety of textures – they’re treated with a patterned cylinder prior to firing.

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Profiles and sizes

Although the most common face brick is 230mm x 76mm x 70mm, you can order elongated bricks, double height bricks or modular sized bricks. There are rounded bricks, bricks for window sills and accent bricks.

The choice is up to you and your architect, designer or builder. Just tell them what you are thinking of and ask them to show you how it can look. There’s a brick for every home in every suburb, town, city, bush or beach. There’s a brick for every style: Contemporary, Georgian, Mediterranean, single or double storey.