Solid brick, despite its invention several thousand years ago, is still the most popular construction material on earth. It is inexpensive, easy to use, has high strength and other favorable performance characteristics. Despite the appearance of gas silicates, cellular concrete, and silicate bricks, solid bricks have a share in the construction materials market of at least 30% of the total volume of wall materials produced.
In fact, the finished brick consists of blocks of pressed and baked clay of the same size and weight. Before use, they do not require any actions other than moistening and cleaning from dust. Thanks to its small size and precise geometry, there is no need to involve special equipment and highly paid workers during bricklaying. Almost any home craftsman can handle this task.
Types of red bricks
There are several most popular and popular types of red bricks:
- Ceramic brick ordinary – used for masonry walls, piers, construction of supporting structures, columns;
- Face hollow brick-has more precise dimensions, a high-quality surface, does not crack, does not carry a load, is used for processing and protecting the main wall material;
- Special red brick-products produced using special technologies to achieve certain properties and characteristics. For example, fire-resistant furnace bricks, materials for sidewalks, curbs, and bricks for the construction of dams and other hydraulic structures.
Please note that much depends on the quality of raw materials, compliance with technology in the production of bricks.
What is a red brick made of?
The main component in the production of hollow and solid bricks is clay, a sedimentary rock that becomes plastic after adding water. Thanks to this principle, it is possible to prepare a solution of clay, water, dyes, mineral components that improve certain properties (strength, frost resistance). Thus, we can talk about the naturalness of the brick, because in its simplest form (raw brick) it is not even fired. Just knead the clay and let it dry.
Modern red bricks will be mass-produced using a technology that includes the following stages::
- Preparation, grinding, moistening of clay;
- Pressing in special forms, pre-drying;
- Firing at a temperature of 950-1050 °C.
As a result of the melting of minerals that make up the clay, a solid block is formed, which firmly retains its shape and size. The crystal phase is similar to glass, the percentage of content is about 8-10% of the total mass.
Brick dimensions and weight
The main regulatory document Gosstandart 530-2012. this document describes the ranges of brick weight depending on its size and density. In total, there are 7 classes of bricks for solid and hollow blocks. Also, the most common sizes of red bricks are:
- Single-250×120×65 mm;
- One and a half-250 120 88;
- Double-250×120×103 mm.
Facing bricks can be classic (250×120×65) and European-style (250×85×65).
On one pallet is laid:
- 300-350 pieces of facing bricks;
- 420 pieces of solid single brick;
- 380-400 pieces of one-and-a-half.
The weight of red solid bricks is 3.2-3.6 kg, depending on the density, hollow – about 2.5 kg, single facing, depending on the size, has a weight of 1.45-2.2 kg. Please note that silicate brick is the heaviest structural material, its weight is from 3.7 to 4.2 kg for a solid block, facing can have a weight of 3.5-3.95 kg.
The size of a brick is the main factor affecting the strength of structures made of it. The more precise the geometry of the blocks, the more uniform the tension in the walls, columns, arches, and supports, the more weight the structure can support. In our online store you can buy red bricks with different grades of strength, from M-100 to M-150. Our specialists will help you choose the appropriate size for your tasks, prepare a free calculation of the cost of building materials, and complete your order with other materials (cement, dry mixes, aerated concrete blocks).
Scope of application of red brick
Ceramic blocks are used in the following works::
- Construction of load-bearing and self-supporting structures – towers, walls, piers, partitions;
- Foundation alignment; ground floor construction;
- Single-and multi-storey construction of residential, commercial, and industrial buildings;
- Construction of industrial and industrial stoves, fireplaces, hot water boilers;
- Oblivion of voids, filling of cracks, repair of walls, foundations;
- Laying of foundations, grillings, supports;
- Construction of chimneys and ventilation ducts;
- Construction of elevations, construction of working and supporting structures (bridges, overpasses);
- Construction of red brick fences, restoration of facades;
- Facing of buildings and structures;
- Interior and exterior design.
Strength is the main characteristic of a brick. It perfectly resists internal stress, mechanical damage, temperature deformations and even chemical impact. Properly made brick has high frost resistance due to its uniform structure and the absence of cracks, cavities, chips. When building multi-storey buildings, it is appropriate to use bricks with a strength of M150. For piers and low-rise buildings, the strength of M100 is sufficient.
There are a series of bricks that are produced for special purposes:
- Decorative brick-used as a finishing material for the interior, facades, and restoration of buildings. It has a highly artistic appearance, can be decorated in the old style, have a burnt surface with bright bright tones.
- Frost-resistant brick-used in northern latitudes, it is characterized by an increased number of freezing and thawing cycles that the brick can withstand until fragments are shot off as a result of frost expansion.
- Fireclay-also a subspecies of red brick, it includes fireclay clay. It is used for the construction of blast furnaces, fireplaces, barbecues, household stoves;
- Acid-resistant-used for laying foundations, towers, industrial premises and reservoirs in which the presence of an acidic environment or the use of aggressive reagents is possible.