It goes without saying that bricks are one of the most commonly used building materials worldwide and have been ever since they were first invented. It’s no surprise, considering their endless versatility. From houses to pathways, walls to building foundations: there are so many uses for this staple material.

Because its superb strength and longevity have made it so popular, you’ll now find there are dozens of colours, types, sizes, and shape variations to choose from. Read on for help in buying your next palette of bricks as well as advice on how to work out how many you need and how to ensure they stand the test of time.

Bricks are predominantly made up of clay, a collection of minerals that rise to the surface when rocks are subject to weathering. Traditionally, this clay was formed into bricks and then left in the sun to dry – with some sand mixed in to act as a stabiliser. Since Roman times, however, the process has significantly improved and now involves firing the bricks in kilns to raise the temperature above 1000°C before slowing cooling them down over a few days. This results in materials that are exceptionally durable.

Engineering Bricks

Far more durable than your standard brick, Engineering Bricks are designed for use in civil projects such as tunnels, groundwork, and foundations. Engineering Bricks are resistant to moisture and weathering and are defined only based on their physical attributes rather than their aesthetics. Engineering Bricks are deployed at lower levels of brick structures where stability and weight bearing must take precedence.

Brickwork Ventilation

Bricks that are designed to allow airflow into the floor of buildings with suspended flooring. This is to ensure that damp air does not settle in between flooring which can cause damp and rotting which is catastrophic for infrastructures. Furthermore, the airflow generated by adding Brickwork Ventilation serves as ventilation for solid fuel fireplaces and stoves, as well as gas heaters.

Facing Bricks

Designed to be viewed, Facing Bricks are designed with aesthetics in mind. Facing bricks are formed of various materials and their main objective is to make the appearance of the building especially attractive. Sometimes Facing Bricks might also have aesthetic texture added via inclusions, and the bricks may also be engraved with patterns or shapes to enhance their appearance.

Special Shaped Bricks

Special Shaped Bricks are designed to give structural flexibility, allowing for truly individualised and one-of-a-kind designs. They may be implemented in almost any construction, from tall structures to low structures; they provide architectural versatility, rapidity of construction, and a level of visual detail that regular metric or imperial bricks cannot match. These bricks increase the endurance of existing brick construction, strengthen the binding between new bricks, and reduce mortar complications.

Firstly, you must consider the type of bricks in the surrounding area; some planning offices won’t approve jobs because the requested bricks are a poor fit for the surrounding area. Yellow bricks are popular in London and the southeast, the midlands adopt an orange tone, whereas darker reds are preferred in the north of England.

This doesn’t mean you have to conform to set structures per se, you can still have your own autonomy over your brickwork. Just do some research into the sort of bricks and mortar your local planning office will accept, and then once you know which you’d like to use arrange for a sample of the brick and mortar to be sent to your local planning office for their approval.

When your bricks are delivered, they can arrive either on a pallet for forklift transfer or loose. Different types of bricks should always be stored separately in distinct piles, and to maintain their composite, they ought to be stacked no more than 2.4m high and should be placed on a flat and even, dry level and then sealed in with a polythene sheet. Should you need space for a forklift, an allowance parameter of 5m is required.

You should store your bricks close to your construction site to allow ease of mobility to and from the site, saving time, resources, and money. When storing bricks, consider the temperature of the area that you are leaving them; as bricks are created in intensely hot temperatures, warm weather and heat are not a worry for them- it is the decrease in temperature and frost that causes the most problems. Bricks should be stored at around 4°C and no work should take place in below-freezing temperatures, since this would cause icing and that would make the bricks structurally weak

It goes without saying that brick structures last for a long time, but they don’t last forever. If you properly maintain your house, it can long outlive you by centuries. You can avoid expensive repairs by checking annually for any signs of water damage, cracks, moss, mould and mildew, plant growth within cracks and bowing within your foundations and walls.

Efflorescence is a good indication that your masonry needs sealing and tending to; it manifests as a white powdery substance on your masonry surface and occurs when salt dissolves and evaporates on the surface. Thankfully this is an easy fix with scrubbing with mild detergent- this ought to be done at least once a year.

Your bricks should be sealed correctly by a professional. Heavy rain in the months leading up to winter can leave your walls vulnerable to cracking and splintering when the temperature drops as the water will expand when frozen and create cracks in your masonry.

However, if your brick wall is losing bricks, bearing long cracks, or crumbling it is in your best interest to advance from sealant to something more powerful- repointing your mortar may be the way to go. This includes removing any old mortar from your walls and replacing it with new, fresh mortar, however, this is not cheap, so it is best to carry out yearly maintenance to avoid this.

N

Ideal for use on external and above-grade walls (this extends to stone veneer) that experience harsh weathering and excessive heating. This mortar type has a medium compressive strength that consists of one part Portland cement, six parts sand, and one part lime. Type N mortar is the finest choice for general applications. Perfect for soft stone masonry application, like limestone thanks to its 750 psi.

O

Ideal for above-grade, non-load-bearing interior walls due to having a low compressive strength of only around 350 psi. There are some instances where Type O can replace Type N in internal applications, but it is not recommended for external usage due to poor structural capacity. Avoid application in places that experience major weathering, especially in instances where the structure is exposed to a lot of wind. However, because of its uniformity and simplicity of application, type O mortar mix is perfect for repointing and related repair work on existing structures.

S

Type S mortar is suited for various applications at or below grade due to its strong compressive strength of over 1,800 psi and good tensile bond strength. It is particularly resistant to soil pressure, wind, and earthquake pressures. Many below-grade applications, such as masonry foundations, manholes, retaining walls, and sewers, as well as at-grade projects like brick patios and walkways, use Type S. Although type S mortar must have a minimum compressive strength of 1,800 psi, it is frequently mixed at compressive values ranging from 2,300 to 3,000 psi.

M

Type M mortar contains far more Portland cement than the other mortars, which makes it perfect for heavy weights and below-grade applications such as foundations, retaining walls, and driveways. While type M mortar has a compressive strength of a minimum of 2,500 psi, it has weak adhesion and sealing qualities, rendering it impractical for many outdoor applications. Type M is suggested for usage with natural stone since it has the same strength as stone.

Mortar is a fairly straightforward mixture of cement and sand, though the ratio that you may need differs from job to job. That being said, if you can tilt your trowel and the mortar stays on then you’ve at least achieved the correct thickness. Note that you'll need to add water to your mix, so adding a small portion at a time should enable you to get the necessary consistency and regulate the mix more easily. When mixing your mortar, add sand first, then cement and then tiny amounts of water to build up the correct consistency and colour.  

It is important to ensure that your mortar maintains consistency of thickness for all intended applications, especially wall building. A mortar fluctuating in consistency is a recipe for disaster as it promotes inconsistent drying times which works towards total structural collapse.

If all of this sounds like far too much fuss, then don’t stress. You can always buy premixed mortar, just ensure that it is suitable for your job. 

The pattern in which the bricks are set is known as bonding, and while the primary aim of a bond is to assure the strength and stability of the brickwork, it may also have a significant impact on the aesthetic of your wall.

When you pick a laying pattern, think about the objective of your design. To take full advantage of these laying patterns you should consider the different values that each one offers to help you fulfil your vision. More complicated patterns have the ability to make the area appear smaller than it is.

If you lack experience, easier bonding patterns like Stretcher or the English bond may be in your best interest. Should you be more confident, the English Cross Bond or the Flemish Bond would be viable options too.

The orientation of your bricks may produce intriguing patterns and add value to practically any wall. A brick can be placed in one of six different ways; these rotations are determined by which side of the brick faces out and which is attached to the current building.               

With a whole host of facing, engineering and special shaped bricks available, you’ll be sure to find the right building material for your home. Whether you're touching up a damaged wall, building an extension or working on some garden renovations.

Looking for more inspiration? Take a look at our wide range of product and project guides - covering an array of subjects from garden renovations to painting and decorating, installing stunning lighting set-ups to building out a kitchen or bathroom from scratch and much, much more. Take the leap today and start your DIY journey right here. For direct help and advice, you can also contact our award-winning customer service team.