Safe and sturdy are two factors to consider when having your own home. And if you already have a house, but are still worrying about whether or not it’s going to be safe for your family, then maybe it’s now the time to start investing in home improvements. Making sure that you have a safe and sturdy house is important to keep you and your kids safe at home.
When talking about houses, some people normally use bricks to construct their houses. Bricks are normally used in construction since they are strong and durable and can last long. Aside from that, some bricks are made of fireproof and heat-resistant materials, which would help ensure your family’s safety in times of fire.
However, not all bricks are the same. Several house brick types have substantial differences. Way back before all the modern technology emerged, bricks were only made of clay, but as of now, you can now encounter different house brick types, chemically cured and engineered to make sure that the people are offered the best-quality bricks for their homes.
These house brick types have different qualities. This is because of different factors, such as the materials used to make them, the clay and bricks’ production process, the type of kiln, and many other factors.
Choosing the best house brick type for you may be difficult as many brick types are available in the market. However, you have several factors to consider that may help you narrow down the house brick type of your choice and pick the best one for your home.
You might want to consider the physical aspects of the bricks – their color, form, and texture. You should also look out for the materials used for the bricks. Lastly, another important factor to consider is your budget.
Yes, it might not seem easy. However, this blog will give you knowledge about different types of bricks and will be your guide in determining the best house brick type for your home.
Burnt Clay Bricks
If you are on a budget, burnt clay bricks are an ideal house brick type for you. This brick type is also called a “common brick” since they are the most common and the usual brick type used in modern construction. You may normally see them in columns, foundations, and walls. Note that when you use them to build walls, this brick type needs plastering with mortar to increase its strength, insulating ability, and water resistance.
Burnt clay bricks come in four classes based on their quality. The first-class brick is of the highest quality among the four – smooth, has a standard shape, strong, and durable. The second-class burnt clay brick is of average quality and has an irregular shape and rough texture. The third class has poor quality because it’s made from low-quality materials and is usually used for makeshift structures. Lastly, the fourth-class brick has the poorest quality out of the four classes and is usually broken down to be used as a construction aggregate. It has an irregular shape and is usually over-burnt. First-class burnt clay bricks are the ideal brick type for your homes.
If you want a cost-efficient and sustainable house brick type, burnt clay bricks are among the best choices. They only need little to no maintenance, and they can be very versatile.
Concrete Bricks
As the name suggests, concrete bricks are made of concrete (a mixture of water, sand, and cement.) When creating this type of brick, you usually pour the mixture into the custom molds. That is why you may have concrete bricks in different types and sizes.
Concrete bricks are also the most commonly used house brick type. Some people like using concrete bricks over clay bricks because concrete bricks are already ready-made in construction sites. So the amount of mortar needed to construct the house is significantly reduced.
These bricks are usually utilized in the house’s interior, outdoor walls, and sometimes facades or fences. The standard mix of concrete bricks is one part for the cement, two parts for the sand, and four for the aggregates, such as rock, sand, or gravel.
However, if you are using concrete bricks for the foundation of your house, then you might want to choose a stronger concrete brick with a different mixture. It can be one for the cement, three for the sand, and six for the aggregates.
Engineering Bricks
Engineering bricks might belong to the high-quality house brick types. It is strong and durable, cold-resistant, fire-resistant, and has low porosity. This type of brick is commonly used to construct basements, as they need an optimal level of chemical and water resistance.
Engineers like using engineering bricks because of their quality – they are incredibly strong, durable, and are excellent load-bearing materials. They also don’t easily absorb moisture, so you are ensured that this house brick type does not easily crack and leak. The low porosity of engineering bricks makes them more chemically resistant, ensuring that they can avoid internal corrosion.
Aside from constructing basements, it is also ideal to use engineering bricks for manholes, retaining walls, and sewers.
Porotherm Hollow Bricks
Porotherm hollow bricks are perforated clay bricks. People may also consider this house brick type an eco-brick because its material is made up of natural clay. These bricks are 60% lighter than your usual walling materials, making them cost-efficient because the dead load is substantially reduced.
Aside from that, porotherm hollow bricks are usually used in residential and commercial constructions because they are modern bricks of high quality. These bricks are strong and durable, have thermal insulation, incredible fire resistance, are eco-friendly, and are very cost-effective. Another plus side of this type of brick is that it allows faster construction for masons.
Fly Ash Bricks
Fly ash brick is an unusual type of brick as its material is made from industrial wastes like cement, fly ash, and sand or stone dust. Surprisingly, most people choose this type of brick over clay brick. One reason is that fly ash bricks cost less than clay bricks.
Aside from that, they have impressive strength and durability. Another advantage of fly ash bricks is that they are lightweight. This is incredibly helpful, especially when it comes to tall buildings because the stress on the buildings is significantly reduced when the bricks are lightweight.
Fly ash bricks also have a nice cement-like color, have uniform sizes, and have smooth surfaces. They also absorb lesser heat than clay bricks, so fly ash bricks are ideal when you are in a warmer place and want to keep your house cool. They have great fire resistance, are environmentally friendly, and have excellent sound insulation. For more information on the types of bricks used for homes, check out the Types of Bricks Used In Home Construction.