Heavyside

Engineering & Facing Bricks

Types of Bricks

There are several different ways of manufacturing bricks and each creates its own characteristics and properties.  An understanding of the different types of brick will help you make the decision on which to use.

Engineering bricks

• Used for their performance characteristics rather than their appearance.

• Most suited for groundworks, manholes and sewers, retaining walls and other situations where strength and resistance to frost attack and water are the most important factor.

Stock bricks

• Traditional type of brick with a slightly irregular shape.

• Made by using a mechanised moulding process known as soft mud moulding.

• A wide range of colours are available.

• In price, as well as style, stock bricks fall between the wirecuts and the handmades.

• Currently one of the most popular with self-builders.

Extruded or wirecut bricks

• Suitable for almost every type of application.

• Available in a wide range of colours and textures

• Made by extrusion of a continuous column of clay which, as the name implies, is cut by the wire.

• Surface textures can be applied by additions of sand or texturing the face e.g. rusticated or dragfaced.

• Highly automated production process makes wirecuts relatively inexpensive compared to some other types of brick.

London bricks or Flettons

• London bricks are only manufactured by Hanson.

• Made from deposits of Oxford clay, require little fuel to fire them and so are one of the most economically priced bricks.

• Available in a wide range of colours and textures.

• Popular for matching existing brickwork.

Extruded tumbled bricks

• Distressed irregular shaped bricks.

• Made by extruding and then rolling in a drum, distressing the edges and giving an irregular feel with a rounder softer look to the brick.

• Offers a value for money natural look.

Special shaped bricks

• Enable flexible design and the means to execute any imaginative design detail or decorative element.

• Adds a high quality finish to brickwork.  Can provide extra durability and protection to vulnerable areas and can save time on-site by overcoming extensive hand cutting.

• Over 70 special shapes are available from Hanson consisting of both standard and purpose made shapes.

Engineering Brick

Stock Brick

Wirecut Brick

London Brick

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