 A brick is building material used to make walls,

pavements and other elements

in masonry construction. Traditionally, the term brick
referred to a unit composed of clay, but it is now used
to denote any rectangular units laid in mortar. A brick
can be composed of clay-bearing soil, sand, and lime,
or concrete materials. Bricks are produced in
numerous classes, types, materials, and sizes which
vary with region and time period, and are produced in
bulk quantities.
 A History of Brick-Making. One of the first building materials were
mud bricks, molded by hand and dried in the sun for days.
Later, bricks were made of clay and fired in kilns to create a strong, lasting
material. ... Throughout history, bricks have been used in every culture,
from the Ancient Chinese to the Romans.
 South –East Aisa before 7500 BC, were found at Tell Aswad, in the
upper Tigris region and in southeast Anatolia close to Diyarbakir.
 Egypt 7,000 and 6,395 BC, come from Jericho, Catal Hüyük, the ancient
Egyptian fortress of Buhen.
 India the ancient Indus Valley cities of Mohenjo-
daro, Harappa,[2] and Mehrgarh.[3] Ceramic, or fired brick was used as early
as 3000 BC in early Indus Valley cities like Kalibangan.[4]
 China By the Qujialing period (3300 BC), fired bricks were being used to
pave roads and as building foundations at Chengtoushan.
 Composition, Manufacturing process
Alumina: - It is the chief constituent of every kind of clay. A good
brick earth should contain 20 to 30 percent of alumina. This
constituent imparts plasticity to earth so that it can be moulded. If
alumina is present in excess, raw bricks shrink and warp during
drying and burning.
Silica-A good brick earth should contain about 50 to 60 percent of
silica. Silica exists in clay either as free or combined form. As free
sand, it is mechanically mixed with clay and in combined form; it
exists in chemical composition with alumina. Presence of silica
prevents crackers shrinking and warping of raw bricks. It thus
imparts uniform shape to the bricks. Durability of bricks depends
on the proper proportion of silica in brick earth. Excess of silica
destroys the cohesion between particles and bricks become
brittle.
 Composition, Manufacturing process
Lime – A small quantity of lime is desirable in finely powdered
state to prevents shrinkage of raw bricks. Excess of lime causes
the brick to melt and hence, its shape is last due to the splitting of
bricks.
Oxide of iron- A small quantity of oxide of Iron to the extent of 5
to 6 percent is desirable in good brick to imparts red colour to
bricks. Excess of oxide of iron makes the bricks dark blue or
blackish.
Magnesia- A small quantity of magnesia in brick earth imparts
yellow tint to bricks, and decreases shrinkage. But excess of
magnesia decreases shrink leads to the decay of bricks. The
ingredients like, lime, iron pyrites, alkalies, pebbles, organic
matter should not present in good brick earth
 Bricks
Manufacture of bricks: Following operations are involved
1. Preparation of clay, 2. Moulding 3. Drying 4. Burning
(1) Preparation of clay :- The preparation of clay involves following
operations
a) Un-soiling :- Top layer of 20cm depth is removed as it contain
impurities.
Digging: - Clay dug out from ground is spread on level ground about
60cm to 120cm heaps.
c) Cleaning:-Stones, pebbles, vegetable matter etc. removed and
converted into powder form.
d) Weathering:- Clay is exposed to atmosphere for few weeks
e) Blending:- Clay is made loose and any ingredient to be added
to it is spread out at top and turning it up and down in vertical
direction.
f) Tempering:- Clay is brought to a proper degree of hardness, then
water is added to clay and whole mass is kneaded or pressed.
 Bricks
(2) Moulding: Clay, which is prepared from pug mill, is sent for the
next operation of moulding. Following are the two ways of
moulding.
Hand Moulding: Moulds are rectangular boxes of wood or steel,
which are open at top and bottom. Steel moulds are more durable
and used for manufacturing bricks on large scale as shown in fig.
Bricks prepared by hand moulding are of two types. a) Ground
moulded bricks and (b) Table moulded bricks
Wood molds for making brick
Bricks, Hand Moulding
 Bricks
Machine moulding: The clay is placed in the machine, it comes out through
the opening under pressure. It is cut to bricks by steel wires fixed into frames.
These bricks are also called wire cut bricks. This method proves to be
economical when bricks in huge quantity are to be manufactured at the same
spot. It is also helpful for moulding hard clay.
Drying:
Wet brick from molding or cutting machines
contain 7 to 30 percent moisture, depending
upon the forming method. Before the firing
process begins, most of this water is
evaporated in dryer chambers at temperatures
ranging from about 100 ºF to 400 ºF
(38 ºC to 204 ºC). The extent of drying time,
which varies with different clays, usually is between
24 to 48 hours. Heat and humidity must be carefully regulated to avoid
cracking in the brick.
 Burning of Bricks
Highly inefficient & labor-intensive. Use coal + fuels, Most common, most primitive,
most polluting, Temporary Structures

A typical clamp kiln.

A typical scove kiln.

A typical scotch kiln.

 Burning of Bricks
CONTINOUS KILN BURNING – HOFFMANN KILN – ORIGINAL
HOFFMAN, BULL’S TRENCH, VERTICAL
SHAFT & HABLA

These are permanent structures.

Burning is done continuously in kilns. Bricks from kilns
are of correct size, perfect shape
and good quality. Rate of burning is
also high in kilns. But initial
investment for kiln is very high.
 Burning of Bricks HOFFMANN KILN – MODERN & HYBRID

• Widely used in China = 90% of bricks

• Can use coal or natural gas
 BULL’S TRENCH KILN
Burning of Bricks Used in India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh
Uses coal and scavenged fuels
According to Raw Materials

 Burnt clay brick

 Fly ash clay brick
 Concrete brick
 Sand-lime brick
 Fire brick
TYPES OF BRICKS
Burnt clay brick

It is obtained by pressing clay in molds and fried

and dried in kilns. It is the most used bricks.
It requires plastering when used in construction
works.
TYPES OF BRICKS
Fly ash clay brick
It is manufactured when fly
ash and clay are molded in
1000 degree Celsius. It
contains a high volume of
calcium oxide in fly ash. That
is why usually described as
self-cementing. It usually
expands when coming into
contact with moisture. It is
less porous than clay bricks.
It proved smooth surface so it
doesn’t need plastering.
TYPES OF BRICKS
Concrete brick
It is made of concrete. It is the
least used bricks. It has low
compression strength and is of
low quality. These bricks are used
above and below the damp proof
course. These bricks are used can
be used for facades, fences and
internal brickworks because of
their sound reductions and heat
resistance qualities. It is also
called mortar brick. It can be of
different colors if the pigment is
added during manufacturing. It
should not be used below ground.
 TYPES OF BRICKS
Sand-lime Brick
Sand, fly ash and lime are mixed
and molded under pressure.
During wet mixing, a chemical
reaction takes place to bond the
mixtures. Then they are placed in
the molds. The color is greyish
as it offers something of an
aesthetic view. It offers a
smoother finish and uniform
appearance than the clay bricks.
As a result, it also doesn’t
require plastering. It is used
as load bearing members as it is
immensely strong.
 TYPES OF BRICKS
Fire brick
It is also known as refractory
bricks. It is manufactured from
special designed earth. After
burning, it can withstand very
high temperature without
affecting its shape, size, and
strength. It is used for the lining
of chimney and furnaces where
the usual temperature is
expected to be very high.
According to Manufacturing Method

 Extruded Brick
 Molded Brick
 Dry Pressed Brick
 TYPES OF BRICKS
Extruded Brick

It is created by forcing clay and

water into a steel die, with a very
regular shape and size, then
cutting the resulting column into
shorter units with wires before
firing. It is used in constructions
with limited budgets. It has three
or four holes constituting up to
25% volume of the brick.
 TYPES OF BRICKS
Molded Brick

It is shaped in molds by hand

rather being in the machine.
Molded bricks between 50-
65mm are available instantly.
Other size and shapes are
available in 6-8 weeks after the
order.
 TYPES OF BRICKS
Dry pressed Brick

It is the traditional types of

bricks which are made by
compressing clay into molds. It
has a deep frog in one bedding
surface and shallow frog in
another.
According to Shape

 Bull Nose Brick  Hollow Brick

 Cow nose Bricks  Paving Bricks
 Perforated Bricks
 Air Bricks
 Purpose made Bricks
 Channel Bricks
 Modular Bricks
 Coping Bricks  Splay, Cant or Plinth Bricks
 Capping Bricks  Coping Bricks
 Brick Veneers  Gutter or Channel Bricks
 Curved Sector Bricks  Brunt Clay Sewer bricks
 TYPES OF BRICKS
Perforated bricks
These bricks have cylindrical
holes through their thickness.
It is done by pushing iron bars
through the brick at the time of
molding.
 TYPES OF BRICKS
Hollow bricks or Cavity bricks.
Volume of solid material in them
should not be less than one-half of its
gross overall volume. No web should
be less than 1.5 cm thick.
 TYPES OF BRICKS
Splay, Cant or Plinth bricks.
These have a bevel taken off on one side.
These are used in door and window jambs
and in plinths. The splay should be on the
header or on the stretcher as shown.
 TYPES OF BRICKS
Coping bricks
These are of different shapes and sizes to suit various conditions
of use. These are used as topmost course on parapets and their
shapes are so made as to expeditiously drain off rain water from
the top of parapets. When projecting the undersides of the
projecting portions are provided with throats so as to throw the
rain water off the faces of walls.
 TYPES OF BRICKS
Bull-nosed bricks

These are used to round off sharp corners

 TYPES OF BRICKS
Cow-nosed bricks

These are used to round off sharp corners

 TYPES OF BRICKS
Paving bricks
Clay used for their manufacture contains more iron than the brick-
earth used to manufacture ordinary bricks. Excessive iron causes
the vitrification of bricks while burning. It gives them natural glaze
as a result of which they can resist abrasion better.
These bricks are mechanically shaped and not hand moulded. Their
compressive strength is not to be less than 400 kg/cm2 and
dimensions are 19.5×9.5×9 cm and 19.5×9.5×4 cm. these should
not absorb water more than 5% of their weight on 24 hours of
immersion in water.
 TYPES OF BRICKS
Gutter or channel bricks

These are moulded to the shape.

Very often these are glazed and are used for laying drains
TYPES OF BRICKS
Burnt clay sewer bricks
These are bricks used in construction of sewers for domestic
sewage. These bricks should be free from cracks, flaws and
nodules of lime. These should have rectangular faces with sharp
edges and corners. Their sizes are 19×9×9 cm and 19×9×4 cm.
Their average compressive strength is not less than 175
kg/cm2and these should not absorb more than 10% of their weight
of water.
BRICK KILNS BRICK TYPES/ SIZES
• Burning of brick is (I) COMMON BRICKS
done in 4 stages
• Water smoking: • Common (now called Building)
400 °F • Most widely used
• Dark orange to deep red
• Dehydration:
color
300 -1800 °F • Many finishes & sizes
• Oxidation: 1000 BRICKS available
– 1800 °F • Meets ASTM C62 grading
• Vitrification: criteria:
1600 – 2400 °F • SW – severe weathering for
• Flashing (oxygen DIFFERENT BRICK TYPES exposure to heavy rainfall
reduction)– produces & freezing
different colors or (I) COMMON • MW – moderate
(II) FACE BRICKS weathering for avg.
color shading
moisture and minor
• Cooling down – (III) GLAZED FACE BRICKS freezing
done in 2-3 days; rate • NW – Negligible
of cooling will affect (IV) FIRE BRICKS
weathering for exposure to
cracking, and color (V) PAVING BRICKS moisture & freezing

17
BLD62003_MAK_STONES AND ROCKS
BRICK TYPES/ SIZES
(III) GLAZED FACE BRICKS
• Bricks sprayed with a
ceramic glaze and fired
at high temperature to
fuse glaze to the brick
• Finishes may appear
dull, satin, or glossy
(IV) FIRE BRICKS
• Made of clays with a
large amount of
alumina, silica, flint, and
feldspar
• These bricks are used in
fireplaces, chimney
stacks, incinerators, and
many industrial settings
BLD62003_MAK_STONES AND ROCKS
BRICK TYPES/ SIZES BRICK TYPES/ SIZES
(V) PAVING BRICKS (II) FACE BRICKS
• Bricks are burned at • Made from clay, shale, fire
much higher clay, or a mixture, under
temperatures to make controlled conditions
them resist water and • Meets ASTM C216 standard
wear from traffic • Appearance types:
• FBS- general use in
exposed & interior
walls where wide color
BRICKS ranges & variation in
sizes are permitted
• FBX- used in exterior &
interior walls where a
DIFFERENT BRICK TYPES
high degree of
mechanical perfection,
(I) COMMON narrow color range &
(II) FACE BRICKS little variation of size is
required
(III) GLAZED FACE BRICKS • FBA- nonconformity in
(IV) FIRE BRICKS size, color, & texture
(V) PAVING BRICKS
18
 **Refer color coding

Paving
Common
Face

Glazed-face
fire bricks

BLD62003_MAK_STONES AND ROCKS 19

APPLICATIONS OF BRICKS
**Refer color coding

Glazed-face
Fire bricks
Paving
Common
Face

BLD62003_MAK_STONES AND ROCKS 20

 Full Brick
 Half Bat
 Three Quarter Bat
 King Closer
 Queen Closer
 Bevelled Closer
 Bevelled Bat
 Mitred Closer
TYPES OF BRICKS
Full Brick
 TYPES OF BRICKS
Half Brick or
Half Bat or Queen closer
TYPES OF BRICKS
Three Quarter Bat
TYPES OF BRICKS
King Closer
TYPES OF BRICKS
Queen Closer
 TYPES OF BRICKS
Bevelled Closer Bevelled Bat
TYPES OF BRICKS
Mitred Closer
 First Class Brick
 Second Class Brick
 Third Class Brick
 Un burnt Bricks
 Burnt Bricks
 Over Burnt Brick
 TYPES OF BRICKS
First Class Brick
The size is standard. The color of these
bricks is uniform yellow or red. It is well
burnt, regular texture, uniform shape. The
absorption capacity is less than 10%,
crushing strength is, 280kg/cm2 (mean)
where it is 245 kg/cm2 (minimum). It
doesn’t have efflorescence. It emits a
metallic sound when struck by another
similar brick or struck by a hammer. It is
hard enough to resist any fingernail
expression on the brick surface if one tries
to do with a thumbnail. It is free from
pebbles, gravels or organic matters. It is
generally used-
in a building of long durability, say 100
years
for building exposes to a corrosive
environment;
for making coarse aggregates of concrete.
 TYPES OF BRICKS
Second Class Brick
The size is standard, color is uniform yellow
or red. It is well burnt, slightly over burnt is
acceptable. It has regular shape;
efflorescence is not appreciable. The
absorption capacity is more than 10% but
less than 15%. Crushing strength is
175kg/cm2(mean) where the minimum is
154 kg/cm2. It emits a metallic sound when
struck by another similar brick or struck by
a hammer. It is hard enough to resist any
fingernail expression on the brick surface if
one tries to do with a thumbnail. It is used
for the construction of one-storied
buildings, temporary shed when intended
durability is not more than 15 years.
TYPES OF BRICKS

Third Class Brick

The shape and size are not regular. The
color is soft and light red colored. It is under
burnt, slightly over burnt is acceptable. It
has extensive efflorescence. The texture is
non-uniform. The absorption capacity is
more than 15% but less than 20%. The
crushing strength is 140kg/cm2(mean)
where the minimum crushing strength is
105kg/cm2. It emits a dull or blunt sound
when struck by another similar brick or
struck by a hammer. It leaves fingernail
expression when one tries to do with the
thumbnail.
TYPES OF BRICKS

Unburnt Bricks

These are half burnt bricks. The color is

yellow. The strength is low. They are used as
surki in lime terracing. They are used as
soiling under RCC footing or basement.
Such bricks should not be exposed to
rainwater.
TYPES OF BRICKS

Burnt Bricks
Burnt bricks are made by burning them in
the kiln. First class, Second Class, Third
Class bricks are burnt bricks.
TYPES OF BRICKS

Over Burnt
It is often known as the vitrified brick as it is fired at high temperature and
for a longer period of time than conventional bricks. As a result, the shape is
distorted. The absorption capacity is high. The strength is higher or
equivalent to first class bricks. It is used as lime concrete for the foundation.
It is also used as coarse aggregate in the concrete of slab and beam which will
not come in contact with water.
 Orientation of Brick
A brick is given a classification based on how it is laid, and how the exposed face is
oriented relative to the face of the finished wall.
• Stretcher or Stretching brick---A brick laid flat with its long narrow side exposed.
• Header or Heading brick---A brick laid flat with its width exposed.
• Soldier-A brick laid vertically with its long narrow side exposed.
• Sailor-A brick laid vertically with the broad face of the brick exposed.
• Rowlock-A brick laid on the long narrow side with the short end of the brick
exposed.
• Shiner or Rowlock Stretcher-A brick laid on the long narrow side with the broad
face of the brick exposed.

Frog Arris
Basic Brickwork Terminology
Header - Bonds two wythes together
Wythe: vertical layer 1 unit thick

Rowlock -
laid on face,
end visible

Stretcher - long dimension horizontal

& face parallel to the wall

Soldier - Laid on its end, face parallel

 Basic Brickwork Terminology

Head
Joint

Bed
Joint

Course - horizontal layer of brick

CLAY BRICK DIMENSION//SIZE
CLAY BRICK SIZE

CLAY BRICK SIZE

CLAY BRICK
SIZE/
DIMENSION
64
BLD62003_MAK_STONES AND ROCKS
MORTAR

• Mortar is the material that sticks two

masonry units together - it is the stuff
you can see between bricks
• Must conform to ASTM C270
• 4 basic types of mortar used: M, S, N, O
• Composed of: Portland cement,
hydrated lime, sand, and water CORRECT & INCORRECT WAY IN ASSEMBLYING
• Key to forming a strong and durable
bond with masonry units

6
BLD62003_MAK_STONES AND ROCKS
 MORTAR
TYPES OF MORTAR

Type Avg Use

Compressive
Strength

2500 psi Masonry below grade and in

M contact with earth
1800 psi Where maximum flexural
S strength is required (winds
>80 mph)
750 psi General use in exposed
masonry above grade;
N parapets, chimneys, and ext.
walls subjected to severe
weathering
350 psi Solid unit load-bearing walls
O Where compressive strength
< 100 psi
7
BLD62003_MAK_STONES AND ROCKS
PROPERTIES
• Have a tendency to shrink
very little
• High degree of resistance
to moisture penetration
JOINTS
• Joint sizes vary
• Facing brick – 3/8” to
½”
• Building brick – ½”
• Glazed brick – 1/4 “
• Although many types of
joints exist , the most
weatherproof &
recommended are: V-
shaped, Weathered, &
Concave
• Joints may be formed by
using a trowel, steel rod,
or specialized tools
BLD62003_MAK_STONES AND ROCKS
FUNCTIONS
• Possess adequate strength to resist
forces applied to it
• Provide aesthetic qualities to the
structure through the use of color
and type of joint
MORTAR BASICS
MORTAR •
Brick masonry mortar made of
Portland cement, hydrated lime,
and sand (stone masonry uses
white Portland cement [non
TYPES OF JOINTS staining].
• Retempering – adding water to
the mortar mix to maintain
consistency
• Mortar mix should be used
within 2 – 2 ½ hours after initial
mix is prepared
• Efflorescence – the soft white
powder appearing on the face of
brick; caused by salts in the brick
or mortar brought to the surface
8
 MORTAR
TYPES OF MORTAR JOINTS

9
BLD62003_MAK_STONES AND ROCKS
Basic Brickwork Terminology
Concave joints done
primarily for weather
proofing
Basic Brickwork Terminology
Raked joints are made
primarily for appearance
BRICK BOND
• Bond – the arrangement of bricks in rows (courses).
• Bonds are designed for:
• Appearance
• To tie together a structural or outer wall (wythe) to an inner wall
• Wythe – a vertical section of wall one brick thick

22
BLD62003_MAK_STONES AND ROCKS
BRICK BOND

23
BLD62003_MAK_STONES AND ROCKS
BRICKS COLOURCAST

28
BLD62003_MAK_STONES AND ROCKS
 Colour: Colour should be uniform and bright.
 Shape: Bricks should have plane faces. They should have
sharp and true right angled corners.
 Size: Bricks should be of standard sizes as prescribed by
codes.
 Texture: They should possess fine, dense and uniform
texture. They should not possess fissures, cavities, loose grit
and unburnt lime.
 Soundness: When struck with hammer or with another brick,
it should produce metallic sound. (vi) Hardness: Finger
scratching should not produce any impression on the brick.
(vii) Strength: Crushing strength of brick should not be less
than 3.5 N/mm2. A field test for strength is that when
dropped from a height of 0.9 m to 1.0 mm on a hard ground,
the brick should not break into pieces.
 Water Absorption: After immercing the brick in water for 24
hours, water absorption should not be more than 20 per cent
by weight. For class-I works this limit is 15 per cent.
 Efflorescence: Bricks should not show white patches when
soaked in water for 24 hours and then allowed to dry in
shade. White patches are due to the presence of sulphate of
calcium, magnesium and potassium. They keep the masonry
permanently in damp and wet conditions.
 Thermal Conductivity: Bricks should have low thermal
conductivity, so that buildings built with them are cool in
summer and warm in winter.
 Sound Insulation: Heavier bricks are poor insulators of sound
while light weight and hollow bricks provide good sound
insulation.
 Fire Resistance: Fire resistance of bricks is usually good. In
fact bricks are used to encase steel columns to protect them
from fire.
 CLAY BRICKS PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
Water absorption MOISTURE & THERMAL MOVEMENT

THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY FIRE RESISTANCE

COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH

CLAY BRICKS
63
BLD62003_MAK_STONES AND ROCKS
How to check quality of bricks at site

 Bricks are the building blocks of a building. If the quality of brick used in a
 structure is not good then it can lead to serious damages of building.
 Therefore it is necessary to check the quality of brick before using it in any
 construction activities. There are some field tests that we can conduct in
 the field in order to check the quality of bricks. These tests are as follows.
1. Water Absorption
2. Visual inspection
3. Efflorescence
4. Dimension
5. Hardness
6. Soundness
7. Structure
How to check quality of bricks on site(Cont.--)
1. WaterAbsorption:- Take few (say 5) bricks and weigh them dry
and calculate the average dry weight of 5 bricks. Thereafter
immersed them in water for a period of 24 hours. After 24 hours
of immersion, weigh them again and calculate average of 5
bricks . The difference of the final average weight and initial
average weight indicates the amount of water absorbed by the
bricks. It should not in any case exceed 20percent of average
weight of dry bricks.

2. Visual inspection:-In this test bricks are closely inspected for its
shape. The bricks of good quality should be uniform in shape
and should have truly rectangular shape with sharp edges.
How to check quality of bricks on site(Cont.--)
3. Efflorescence:-This test should be conducted in a well ventilated room. The
brick to be placed vertically in a dish 30 cm x 20 cm approximately in size
with 2.5 cm immersed in distilled water. The whole water shall be allowed to
be absorbed by the brick and evaporated through it. After the bricks appear
dry, a similar quantity of water to be placed in the dish, and the water to be
allowed to evaporate as before. The brick is to be examined after the second
evaporation and reported as follows:
a.) Nil: When there is no perceptible deposit of salt.
b.) Slight: When not more than 10% of the area of brick is covered with salt.
c.) Moderate: When there is heavy deposit covering 50% of the area of the
brick but unaccompanied by powdering or flaking of the surface.
d.) Heavy: When there is heavy deposit covering more than 50% of the area
of the brick accompanied by powdering or flaking of the surface.
e.) Serious: When there is heavy deposit of salts accompanied by powdering
and/or flaking of the surface and this deposition tends to increase in the
repeated wetting of the specimen..
Bricks for general construction should not have more than slight to moderate
efflorescence.
How to check quality of bricks on site(Cont.--)
4. Dimensional Tolerance:-Select few (say twenty) bricks at
random to check measurement of length, width and height.
These dimensions are to be measured in one or two lots of ten
each . Variation in dimensions are allowed only within narrow
limits, ±3% for class one and ±8% for other classes.
5. Hardness:-In this test, a scratch is made on brick surface with
the help of a finger nail. If no impression is left on the surface,
brick is treated as to be sufficiently hard.
6. Soundness:-Take two bricks, one in each hand, struck them with
each other lightly. A brick of good quality should not break and a
clear ringing sound should be produced.
7. Structure:- Break brick and examine its structure. It should be
homogeneous, compact and free from any defects such as holes,
lumps etc.
1. As a Structural Unit
Since the clay bricks or burnt bricks are strong, hard,
durable, resistive to abrasion and fire, therefore, they
are used as a structural material in different
structures.
Buildings, Bridges, Foundations, Arches,
Pavement(Footpath, Streets)

2. As an Aesthetic Unit/Surface Finish

Bricks can be used in different colors, sizes and
orientations to get different surface designs. As an
aesthetic material bricks can be used:
In Pavements, As Facing Brick,For Architectural Purposes
3. As a Fire Resistant Material
 Economical (Raw material is easily available)
 Hard and durable
 Compressive strength is good enough for ordinary
construction
 Different orientations and sizes give different surface
textures
 Very low maintenance cost is required
 Demolishing of brick structures is very easy, less time
consuming and hence economic
 Reusable and Recyclable
 Highly fire resistant
 Produces less environmental pollution during manufacturing
process
 Time consuming construction
 Cannot be used in high seismic zones
 Since bricks absorb water easily, therefore, it causes
fluorescence when not exposed to air
 Very Less tensile strength
 Rough surfaces of bricks may cause mold growth if not
properly cleaned
 Cleaning brick surfaces is a hard job
 Color of low quality brick changes when exposed to sun for a
long period of time