Burnt Clay, Concrete, Sun-Dried, and More
The Spruce
Brick is arguably the most durable building material.
If well maintained, brick walls, foundations, pillars, and patios can last decades, even centuries.
Learn the most common types of bricks, their uses, and their limitations.
The Spruce
Typically, brick sizes are about 8 inches long and 4 inches wide, coming in various thicknesses.
Standard brick prices vary widely from $.25 to $4 per brick.
Larger stone- or clay-based building units, such as those used in foundations, are called blocks.
JessAerons / Getty Images
In modern construction practices, bricks are categorized according to their component materials and method of manufacture.
Under this classification, here are seven common types.
In appearance, these bricks are solid blocks of hardened clay and usually reddish.
Bloomberg Creative Photos / Getty Images
Burnt clay bricks are typically sold in four classes.
First-class burnt-clay bricks are the finest, offering the best quality and strength.
These high-grade burnt clay bricks have no noticeable flaws and cost more than lower classes.
vizualni/ Getty Images
Sun-dried bricks are made by putting mud into a form and baking them in the sun.
Sand lime bricks (calcium silicate bricks) are made by mixing sand, fly ash, and lime.
Pigments may also be added for color.
Valeriya Rychkova / Getty Images
The mixture is then molded under pressure to form bricks.
They are clay-based and can be mixed with many other materials.
Their extreme durability sets engineering bricks apart from other types.
ilbusca / Getty Images
They are fired at extremely high temperatures.
Concrete Bricks
ilbusca / Getty Images
Concrete bricks are made from solid concrete poured into molds.
Concrete bricks can be manufactured in different colors if pigments are added during production.
Praveenvatsa / Wikimedia Commons /CC BY-SA 4.0
They are baked in kilns at extremely high temperatures approaching 2912F.
Benefits of Using Bricks
There are many advantages when bricks are used in construction.
The oldest bricks used natural clay and were dried in the sun.
Susan Vineyard / Getty Images
Sun-dried bricks may be the oldest jot down but also the weakest.
How Bricks Are Categorized
Brick can be categorized in several ways.
Unburnt clay brick is cured more slowly, without heat.
Unburnt brick is becoming more popular as a green option since it uses less energy to manufacture.
The strongest brick is Class A engineering brick.
It is chosen for its compressive strength and low water absorption rates rather than for its aesthetic value.
Class A brick is typically used for commercial structures that may be affected by water and frost.
Generally, any pop in of machine-made brick will cost less than hand-made or hand-molded brick.
The Many Types of Bricks.The American Ceramic Society.
Zhen-Dong Cui et al.Design of Underground Structures.Springer, 2019.
Sustainable Building Materials.African Sustainability Academy.
Do I need Fire bricks for a fireplace or braai?The Clay Brick Association of Southern Africa.
Technical Notes on Brick Construction.The Brick Industry Association.
15, 2021. doi:10.1016/j.cscm.2021.e00560
Fire Resistance of Brick Masonry.The Brick Industry Association.
Facing Brick: A Specification for Facing Brick.
