Brick has been used by mankind in construction for many centuries. Its first varieties were blocks of dried clay. Over time, technology has improved. Today, new materials are used in the production of bricks. They are usually fired at high temperatures. This allows you to give the brick high strength, resistance to adverse effects.
Baked brick is used in the construction of various objects. This can be both a supporting structure and finishing of the facade, sidewalks, paths, etc. For each individual area, its own specific type of brick is used. What they are, what properties they have - will be discussed further.
General characteristics
Burnt brick (photo below) is used in the construction of various objects. Depending on the processing, this material acquires special qualities. It can be used in the construction of supporting structures, partitions of buildings and structures. Also, from the presented brick, they make the decoration of the facade, the basement. Specially worked bricks can be used to make chimneys, build fireplaces and stoves.
A separate area of application for bricks, which were fired in a kiln at high temperature and pressure, is the decoration of pavements, sidewalks and paths. This masonry material must be resistant to various mechanical and weather influences. Increased demands are being made on him.
There are many varieties of fired bricks. They differ in configuration, color, size and performance. When choosing a material for carrying out certain construction works, it is necessary to pay attention to a number of features of masonry blocks.
Production technology
Baked brick today is one of the most sought after building materials. It is made in accordance with certain technologies. High temperature and pressure are the main factors that provide excellent performance.
It should be noted that non-fired bricks are on sale. It is made at high pressure but relatively low temperature. These products include hyper-pressed and finishing bricks.
When using high temperatures, ceramic, fireclay, clinker bricks are obtained. Submitted materials may include various subspecies. They differ in appearance, durability and cost. Therefore, when choosing, be sure to take into account for which objects the material will be used.
Ceramic red brick
Red burnt brick is in demand and relativelyinexpensive material. It is characterized by good resistance to adverse conditions, durability. Depending on the processing method, it may have a certain strength class.
The presented material is prepared from clay of various grades. It is mixed in a certain proportion with water. Then the plastic mass is added to the molds. You can give the product a different configuration. Next, the workpiece is fired at a temperature of about 1000 ºС. Such a brick becomes dense, resistant to moisture.
It is customary to call such material red. However, today, according to the presented technology, many products are made that have a white, mustard color. To ensure that the bricks used to build one object do not differ in shade, it is necessary to purchase a sufficient amount of material for construction.
Varieties of ceramic bricks
There are many varieties of ceramic bricks. They can differ not only in shade. Manufacturers produce hollow and solid fired bricks. The first has holes and voids inside. This makes it more fragile. But the thermal insulation qualities of this material will be higher. Partitions are built from it indoors.
Solid brick is more durable. It can be used for the construction of foundations, roads, sidewalks, load-bearing walls. However, its thermal insulation characteristics are somewhat inferior to hollow varieties. It is placed at the time of creation.walls in two rows.
Also, the surface of ceramic bricks can be different. It is smooth or embossed. Also, the type of ceramic brick includes facade, glazed, shaped type. They are used for decorative facades. You can also lay out paths from similar products in the garden, build arches, etc.
How to choose a quality ceramic brick?
There are many varieties of bricks on sale. When choosing, take into account its purpose. For example, they can lay out buildings from panels with red baked bricks to create a certain decorative effect. In this case, a special finishing look with the correct geometry will do.
To create platforms, sidewalks, it is necessary to choose the right brick strength class. The more load it will be subjected to, the thicker it should be. For garden paths along which the owners of a country house will walk, thin varieties are suitable. If cars will drive on the sidewalk, strong, thick bricks should be preferred.
The cost of ceramic bricks
The cost of the presented material largely depends on the manufacturer. The cheapest is Belarusian brick. Its price can be from 75 kopecks. a piece. A domestic manufacturer supplies bricks to the market from 1.2 rubles. a piece. European companies offer building material at a price of 15 rubles. a piece. The most famous companies in this industry are Keraterm, Lode, S. Anselmo and others.
Porous brick
The production of fired bricks is constantly being improved. As a result, new varieties are entering the building materials market. They have improved features. One of these materials is porous brick. It has a number of advantages over the previous type of materials.
The presented product is obtained using a technology similar to the ceramic group. However, in addition to clay, small sawdust is also added to its composition. Next, the workpiece is fired. The sawdust in the brick structure burns out. In the blocks in this case, small pores are obtained. The thermal insulation characteristics of such a brick are significantly higher than other varieties.
Porous blocks are lightweight. Also, the presence of pores provides good sound insulation of the masonry. The appearance of the presented material has a smooth surface. Therefore, such blocks can be used for finishing the facade or walls inside the room. They can be laid out in one row, which reduces the cost of construction work.
Firebrick
Burned brick of block shape or other configuration can be used in the construction and decoration of stoves, fireplaces and chimneys. These are fireclay blocks. This material is made according to a certain technology. Thanks to her, the brick receives new qualities. It can withstand high temperatures.
When creating fireclay bricks, high temperature is used. Thanks to this treatment, the brick can withstand temperatures up to 1700 ºС. Hisare used not only in private, but also in industrial construction.
In the manufacture of such blocks, crushed clay is mixed with fireclay powder. In this case, the block receives a grainy texture. The manufacturer can set a different configuration of the finished product. Brick can store heat. He can give it to space for a long time. This is one of the most expensive types that are currently on the building materials market. The cost is about 10-12 thousand rubles/m³.
Clinker bricks
Clinker blocks also belong to the category of burnt bricks. They are made using a technology similar to the creation of a ceramic variety. However, in this case, special refractory clays are used. Roasting in this case is carried out at higher temperatures.
With such processing, various foreign inclusions and voids cannot remain. This is one of the most durable brick brands. Its service life is higher than that of other varieties. However, the cost can be several times higher than ordinary masonry or silicate bricks. The average cost of such material is about 7.5 thousand rubles/m³. It is a frost-resistant, moisture-proof material. Clinker blocks withstand high pressure, do not collapse under the influence of acids, s alts or alkalis. It is easy to use and build. Clinker is used to make both load-bearing structures and walkways, areas that will be subject to high mechanical loads.
Facade tiles
There are constructionmaterials that imitate burnt bricks with their appearance. Facade tiles in this case are produced using a completely different technology. It is not fired in a kiln.
The presented material is created on the basis of fiberglass canvas. Bitumen with an improved composition has been added to it. Also, the material is complemented by natural bas alt. Its granules of a certain size create a special texture. The presented method of creating the material allows for its high durability.
In operation, facade tiles are not inferior in their main characteristics to brick. It is not subject to corrosion, withstands temperature changes. The material is not subject to mechanical stress. It does not fade for a long time. It is for this reason that the presented material is in high demand in the building materials market.
Facade cladding material
Today, many manufacturers offer the consumer a huge amount of materials for facade cladding. For such purposes, a very different type of brick and tile is used.
Many owners, in an effort to give a noble look to a building or a fence, opt for facade tiles. The most famous in this area is TECHNONICOL Hauberk. Fired brick imitates materials that are not made from clay. They are lighter in weight and have better performance. Installation in this case is much faster and cheaper. The cost of such a finish will be about 350-400 rubles / m².
If desired, you can purchase natural burnt bricks. In thatcase, the work will require more professionalism from the master. Natural fired brick has a high bearing capacity. Therefore, it is in demand in the construction of various facilities.
Having considered the features of a material such as burnt brick, you can choose the best option for the construction or decoration of any object.
