Bricks were used all the time to build houses and other buildings in the past, but over the years they were set aside by contractors who wanted to use other materials. The good news is that the bricks have weathered the storm and are still being used in some of the most incredible buildings and some brilliant walkways and patios around the world!
Older bricks were primarily composed of clay, but this has changed with the bricks used today. The newer bricks used today are composed of concrete or clayey soil, lime and sand. When these bricks are laid for construction purposes, they need to be fixed with mortar or other adhesive. Another option is to interlock them to prevent them from moving over time.
There are thousands of different bricks available for you to use, so don't think that choosing one is as easy as going to a store and telling them you need to buy some bricks. Instead, you should know what you are using the bricks for, the size needed for the job, or size of the job, and the quality of brick you want. Sometimes knowing what material you want the bricks to be is helpful in narrowing down your choices, as is the texture and where they were made.
A common, or construction, brick is intended for use inside a structure and is never visible when the project is completed. Exposed bricks are completely different and are the bricks that can be seen on the exterior of a house or building. They always have a clean appearance to add visual appeal to the space. Paving bricks always go into the ground, while thin bricks have a thin width so they can be used as veneer.
When it comes to the individual dimensions of the bricks, no brick is made too big to be picked up with one hand. This is due to the fact that bricklayers need their other hand to pick up the trowel and it would be a longer process if any bricklayer had to continually lower the trowel to pick up each brick and place it in place.
Most brick dimensions have the length of the brick doubled in relation to the width of the mortar joint because this allows the brick to add stability and strength to what is being built. Larger bricks are typically used in colder climates as they create a thicker wall that offers more insulation. Therefore, smaller bricks are used where the climate is warmer year-round, which actually makes it cheaper to build things with brick in those regions.
At the same time, using larger bricks can keep costs down because fewer bricks would be needed, as well as less mortar. This also saves on labor cost as fewer bricks require less time to put into place.
Most manufacturers produce bricks that meet standard brick dimensions, but that doesn't mean they won't customize brick sizes for jobs that require something different! When considering which bricks to use in your project, you should keep in mind that nominal brick dimensions are typically made to fit within a four-inch grid. Bricks are made this way so they work well with the sizing of many other building materials that include windows, doors, and wood components.
It's important to note that many manufacturers will use different numbers when it comes to standard brick dimensions. You might think this will make your job more difficult, but it shouldn't be if you know in advance the exact number of bricks you need or the area you need to cover with those bricks.
To show the difference, here are typical brick dimensions in the United States, Australia, and South Africa:
- United States: 8 x 4 x 2.25 inches
- Brazil: 11.5 x 14 x 24cm or 9 x 19 x 19 cm
- Australia: 9 x 4.33 x 3 inches
- South Africa: 8.75 x 4 x 3 inches
Although a three-eighths-inch mortar joint is typically used during the construction process, it is important to be aware when they are half an inch. This isn't noticed by many people after the fact, but it's an important detail where making a mistake can mean the difference between an easy job and a difficult one.
The number of bricks you use per square foot of building space will depend on the size of each brick. You will only use a little more than three utility bricks per square meter, while it will take almost seven modular bricks to fill the same space. This shows how the cost of construction can change depending on the type and size of bricks you are using. It is important to note that this example uses a quarter-inch vertical and horizontal mortar joint.
The most commonly used bricks in the construction world include strength, king, queen, modular and modular engineer. Strength bricks are necessary when you need bricks that can withstand heavy loads. This is the brick commonly used to design very strong pillars and walls.
The king and queen bricks are very similar, but the size of the queen is a little smaller. To give you an idea of the size difference, a king brick is typically 3 3/8 x 3 x 10 inches, while a queen brick is 2 ¾ x 3 x 10 inches. These bricks are used to create thinner walls and are preferred by those trying to construct a building at a lower cost.
Modular and modular engineering bricks are also similar and are the most common bricks for construction. Modular engineering brick has a higher front height which makes it an oversized brick when talking about brick dimensions. This larger brick dimension is often used to create firm walls and structures.
As you can see, it is very important that you know the brick dimensions needed before starting any construction project. This knowledge will ensure you purchase the correct amount of bricks to construct a building, create a walkway or patio, or whatever else you are constructing.
Without this knowledge, you may find that you have too many bricks or, even worse, that you don't have enough bricks to complete the job at hand. The latter can be detrimental to any project as it can cause delays that can delay the project by weeks and cost thousands of dollars. This is something everyone wants to avoid in the construction world, as time and materials are money.
