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Estimating Sheet

Common types of bricks and their usages

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The brick are categorized in different ways. As for instance, the brick can be divided based on the types utilized for facing (uncovered and observable on the outside of a structure) vs. backing bricks (which are applied structurally and are concealed from view).

The brick is also categorized based on their manufacturing process: unfired (brick that is air-cured) and fired (brick that is baked in ovens in order to become solidified).

Bricks are also categorized as per their standard application: common bricks or engineering bricks.

Bricks are also classified depending on their shape. Given below, some common shapes of bricks:

• Brick veneers: These bricks are thin and suitable for surface cladding.
• Airbricks: These bricks comprise of large holes to pass on air and reduce weight. They are mostly found in suspended floors and cavity walls.
• Perforated bricks: These bricks comprise of several cylindrical holes drilled all through the brick. They are very light weight.
• Bullnose brick: These types of bricks are molded with round angles.
• Paving bricks: These bricks include huge quantity of iron. They are applied in underfoot paving.
• Capping bricks: These bricks are utilized to cap the tops of freestanding walls.
• Hollow bricks: It’s weight is about one-third of the normal bricks, these are frequently applied in partition walls where load-bearing is not necessary.

Also Read: Learn to work out quantities of bricks in a wall

Categorizing Bricks by Raw Materials - In current construction methods, common bricks are classified based on their component materials and manufacturing process. The following five common types bricks are available :

• Burnt clay bricks
• Sand lime bricks (calcium silicate bricks)
• Concrete bricks
• Fly ash clay bricks
• Firebrick

Burnt Clay Bricks: Burnt clay bricks are formed by compressing wet clay into molds, then drying and firing them in kilns. These bricks are solid blocks of toughened clay, generally reddish in color. When these bricks are applied in walls, they need plastering or rendering with mortar. Their applications are found in masonry walls, foundations and columns.

Sand Lime Bricks: Sand lime bricks (also called calcium silcate bricks) are formed by blending sand, fly ash and lime. To provide color, pigments are used. The mixture is then molded under pressure to produce bricks; the materials are tied jointly with a chemical reaction caused when the wet bricks dry under heat and pressure.

Concrete Bricks: Concrete bricks are built up with solid concrete and normally provided in facades, fences, and give an excellent aesthetic appearance. The concrete blocks are mostly found in fences, internal (hidden) brickworks.

Fly Ash Clay Bricks: Fly ash clay bricks are formed with clay and fly ash—a byproduct of coal burning—fired at about 1,000 degrees C. It comprises of a huge volume of calcium oxide and it is also known as self-cementing as it stretches when vulnerable to moisture. It is lighter in weight. Their application is found in structural walls, foundations, pillars etc.

Fire Bricks: These are also called refractory bricks and built up from specially formulated earth with a high aluminum oxide content. After being burnt, these bricks can resist very high temperatures devoid of changing their shape, size, or strength. These are mostly utilized in lining of chimneys and furnaces as well as pizza ovens and exterior brick barbecues.

Common types of bricks and their usages