Types and sizes of facing bricks

It is rather difficult to find a worthy competitor to facing bricks or, as it is also called face bricks. The house, in the exterior of which this material is used, always attracts attention and looks presentable. The front brick differs from the usual building texture and surface (face), as well as the composition (limestone, cement, dyes). This strong and durable material is obtained by gypsum pressing technology. When building a house, I use different sizes of facing bricks, but they are all consistent with generally accepted standards.

Weight and dimensions of facing bricks

Facing bricks differ in their technical characteristics, weight, cost, appearance, dimensions. There are optimal standards stipulated by GOST that relate to the dimensions of this material. Therefore, batches of bricks are usually accompanied by certification documents. Brick according to GOST should have dimensions with dimensions of 250/120/65 mm, where the first indicator is the length, the second is the width, and the third is the thickness. A single standard for brick production was set back in the 27th year of the last century and has remained unchanged since then. This standard applies to both facing and building bricks. The product can be manufactured using various technologies, but its size will always be standard:

The double brick measures 250/138 mm;

Standard single 250/120/65mm;

Thickened 250/120/88 mm.

However, at the request of the customer, it is possible to produce facing bricks of a different shape, but even these non-standard shapes are specified in GOST. Most often, a brick of 0.7 NF is ordered, which has parameters of 250/85/65 mm. It is used in the restoration of the facades of old buildings to reduce the load on the foundation. A standard brick has a weight of 3.2 to 5 kg so that the builder can lift it with one hand for the convenience of the installation process. The standard size of the facing brick helps to correctly calculate the required amount of material per cubic or square meter. Construction experts say that it is the standard proportions of the product that make it possible to obtain the desired strength of the facade. This makes it possible to evenly distribute loads and provide crack resistance. In addition, the set size allows you to lay out the cube.

Table of dimensions and designations of bricks according to GOST 530-2012

Types of brick

In addition to finishing the house, facing bricks are used in the construction of pillars and columns of fences, fences in gardens and parks, the design of gazebos, arches and small architectural forms. Any facing material has unified forms, but it must necessarily have two sides with a decorative surface - a spoon and a poke. This is the "face" of the brick.

There are several types of this building material:

Ceramic - can be hollow or solid. The latter option, respectively, has more weight, which should be taken into account when calculating the load on the foundation.

Clinker - has a dense structure, which provides moisture resistance and frost resistance.

Hyperpressed - made of clay and sand, in the context it has an expressive chip, similar to natural stone.

Silicate - used less frequently due to low decorative qualities. However, it has a low price.

Ceramic facing brick

Ceramic bricks are made from special brick clay, which is first shaped and then fired. This facing material is considered one of the environmentally friendly and safe materials in construction, which does not emit any impurities. Ceramics do not absorb moisture and are able to "breathe".

Facing ceramic

Advantages of ceramic bricks:

fire safety;

Good soundproof qualities;

Ability to withstand temperature fluctuations;

A wide range of sizes, shapes and prices;

Ease of installation.

In addition, the facing brick has a standard shape and a uniform color. There are no splits or cracks on the surface of the material.

Cons of building from ceramic bricks:

Quite high cost;

If the manufacturing technology is violated, it can become brittle.

The standard dimensions of the material are: 25/12/6.5. The weight of the product ranges from 2.7 to 6 kg depending on the size (single, double).

Clinker front brick is made from special clay, from which the product is formed and fired in a kiln at a temperature of 1200 ֯C. The brick is very durable due to the strong adhesion of clay particles. Color difference may appear due to pigmentation. In order to prevent strong differences in the shades of the material in the manufacture, manufacturers use a standard formula. This facing material can be dense or with internal cavities.

Clinker

Advantages of clinker bricks:

Minimally absorbs moisture;

Resistant to temperature changes;

There is no effect of fading in the sun;

It is a good heat insulator;

A wide selection of textures and shades;

Long service life;

Optimal mechanical strength;

Good decorative possibilities.

Paths, terraces are arranged from such material.

Of the minuses of clinker bricks, it can be noted:

Its heavy weight, which creates an additional load on the foundation.

Greater cost.

It is worth knowing that adhesion with various mortars in a brick is difficult, because it does not absorb water well.

The installation of this brick is a laborious process that requires the participation of specialists. Clinker bricks should not be installed in hot weather, when the original wall is very hot. Moisture will have time to dry even before it has time to penetrate inside the brick structure. The standard dimensions of the base brick are 240/115/71 mm. Weight can range from 1.6 to 6 kg, depending on the size.

Hyper-pressed facing brick is produced by semi-dry hyper-pressing from a material of natural origin (limestone, shell rock). Sometimes mechanical chipping technology is used. The result is a brick with an unusual relief. During the manufacturing process, dyes are added to the source material, which make it possible to obtain a material with a wide color spectrum. Such material is often used for cladding the facades of not only one-story, but also multi-story buildings.

hyperpressed

Advantages of hyper-pressed brick:

The high degree of adhesion of the components of the material provides it with maximum moisture and frost resistance:

Ideal geometry;

Standard, exact sizes.

However, this material has many disadvantages and manufacturers rarely mention them, which is unfair. Indeed, when choosing the optimal material for facing the facade of a house, the applicant expects to receive comprehensive information about all the technological characteristics of the material.

Cons of hyper-pressed brick:

Changes color over time, fading in the sun;

Thermal expansion of hyperpressed bricks leads to cracks;

The high mass of bricks requires the construction of a powerful foundation that can withstand the expected loads;

Zero vapor permeability, which requires taking care of the air gap in the masonry.

The dimensions of the standard material are 250/120/65 mm and the weight is 4.5 kg.

The composition of the silicate facing material is limestone, sand, which are held together by water. If the proportion is violated, this can lead to low-quality products, so manufacturers carefully control the process at all stages. To give the material strength and density, it is pressed.

Silicate

Advantages of silicate brick:

Safety for health and the environment;

Biological stability;

Increased density guarantees high soundproof qualities;

Ease of installation;

Low cost, which is possible due to the low cost of production;

Can be combined with any type of solutions.

Facing silicate brick has high geometric accuracy. It is manufactured in accordance with accepted standards, so that it has clear corners and a flat surface. This material is frost-resistant and can be frozen and thawed several dozen times without loss of quality.

Cons of silicate brick:

High water permeability (7-8%);

High level of thermal conductivity, which requires additional insulation of the facade;

Large weight (more than that of ceramic by 30%) requires the construction of a reliable foundation.

The size depends on the type of brick. The standard size is 250/120/65 mm. Weight varies from 2.5 to 6 kg.

Features and benefits of facing bricks

Using facing bricks for the facade is a common practice. Thanks to a wide range, you can choose the best option for the material to your taste, having decided on the thickness, height and length of the product. Such facades are distinguished by a beautiful aesthetic appearance and durability. Mostly popular types of face brick retain heat well and do not let in sounds. However, it should always be borne in mind that the brick is quite heavy, which creates a load on the foundation and has a relatively high cost. To work with this material, special adhesives should be used. But still, brick is considered the best option for facing the facade and basement, when compared with synthetic materials or natural stone.