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Bricks come in various shapes and materials, with each type having its advantages and disadvantages. The most common type is clay, which can be manufactured in different ways. Brick making has evolved from hand-made to mechanization, with antique materials becoming collector’s items. Newer methods include pressed mud and dry pressed bricks, with facing bricks made for exterior appearance. Calcium silicate bricks are popular due to their strength, color, and uniformity.
Bricks come in all shapes and sizes and are made from many different types of materials in various ways of manufacturing. Each type has its advantages and disadvantages, so when starting a home improvement project or attempting to make repairs, it can be daunting figuring out exactly the right type of brick to use. The most common types used today are made from clay and can be manufactured in a variety of different ways.
All forms of brick were originally hand made, dating back as far as 7,500 BC. Hand made building materials were common until the Industrial Revolution when the process turned to mechanization. Indianapolis Motor Speedway, built in 1909, was originally paved with shale brick. During the same period, the demand for quick and affordable housing has increased in the United States, especially in larger cities. Brick production was at an all-time high, and in recent years antique materials from that period have become a collector’s item, with old Chicago bricks being especially in demand.
As technology has changed, brick making has used newer methods. Pressed mud bricks are a type made of clay that is mixed with water and with hydraulic machinery is pressed into a steel mold to give a uniform shape. The clay is often mixed with a percentage of sand, which reduces the amount of shrinkage in the final product. After being pressed into the mold, the clay brick is then fired in a kiln at temperatures well in excess of 1,000° Fahrenheit (538° Celsius).
A similar style of fired clay brick is a dry pressed brick. The process for making this type requires longer cooking times in the kiln and more pressing time in the molds, which results in a more defined and more durable finished product. It is generally more expensive due to the technique used.
Facing brick is another special type, made especially for exteriors that will be viewed by the public. This type is particularly concerned with appearance and color, which is why calcium silicate bricks are very popular. Calcium silicate blocks add chemicals to increase strength and reduce curing time, but also contain color-altering additives. They can be made in a wide range of colors – from traditional red to white and even pastels. These bricks are generally more uniform in size and shape and are rougher to the touch.
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