Brick is one of the oldest building materials and is commonly used today for a range of construction and building purposes. It is beneficial to understand the different options you can choose when building your project in order to select the one that is most fitted for you!
We are going to outline the benefits of brick, the difference between double brick and brick veneer as well as the common types of bricks used in Australia.
Benefits of brick: different types of brick used in Australia
- Fire protection: brick is a non-combustible material as they are fired at temperatures up to 1200 degrees celsius and an excellent choice to resist or confine a fire
- Double brick: this is an extremely durable choice, requiring very little maintenance. Double brick also acts as a good insulator keeping your home cooler in summer and warmer in winter. Double brick also blocks noise and reduces the risk of termites or decay.
- Solid bricks: solid brick walls deliver great load-bearing capacity along with substantial thermal mass to provide a unique combination of structural, thermal and aesthetic benefits.
- Sound insulation: brick walls provide excellent sound insulation.
What should you use for your home in Australia? Double brick or brick veneer
Brick is a popular choice for many homeowners due to their aesthetic appeal. It is important to consider the two different options when selecting the type of brick and understand the pros and cons associated with each option.
Double brick: both double brick and brick veneer offer the same style visually, however they differ in the overall structural system. Double brick offers a more stable structure and advantageous in the event of a natural disaster. Double brick also offers lower thermal transmission and keeps interior spaces quieter by softening outdoor noise. Double brick construction also minimises the chance of termites and other damage caused by pests. The only downfall to double brick construction is that it tends to be significantly more expensive and sometimes more complicated than other methods.
Brick veneer: similar to double brick construction, brick veneer offers a sleek and sophisticated aesthetic appeal. This type of construction allows you to reap the benefits of brick construction without having to fork out a ton of money on double brick building. Brick veneer is also a lightweight material in comparison to double brick and requires less extensive support systems, minimising costs. In saying this, brick veneer also has a couple of disadvantages. This type of construction doesn’t provide the same level of thermal performance as double brick and is subject to termites and other timber pests. Brick veneer is also thinner and less substantial in nature, hence won’t provide the same noise transmission prevention qualities.
Common types of brick used in Australia for construction
Common burnt clay bricks: these bricks are one of the oldest and most commonly used construction material. They are used for a variety of jobs including masonry walls foundations, columns etc. Burnt clay bricks are often used for general work and when used in walls they usually require plastering or rendering.
Sand lime bricks: these bricks are made from high pressuring a mixture of sand, lime and water and autoclaving to firm a white building material. These bricks have a grey colour appearance and are often chosen when people don’t want the regular reddish brick colour. Sand lime bricks also present a smoother finish and don’t require plastering. They also have great heat and humidity accumulation and are fire resistant!
Concrete bricks: these are also known as concrete blocks and concrete masonry units (CMU). Very commonly used among builders as a building material in the construction of walls. These bricks can be manufactured to provide different colours, providing excellent aesthetic design for facades and fences.
Fly ash clay bricks: these bricks have a range of benefits such as saving in labour costs and consumption in mortar. However, they are detrimental to the environment with an increase in the number of thermal power plants, the fly ash causes pollution of air and water.
Are you working on a construction project and are unsure about what kind of brick you should use. ASPEC Masonry is one ofSydney’s premium bricklaying experts, providing masonry and construction work for new homes, renovation, commercial structures and government infrastructure. Speak to a professional today for more information.
