Facing Bricks - Advice From An Expert

Whether you're a novice builder or simply an interested homeowner, it can be worth knowing the ins and outs of some building terminology as you never know when it will come in handy. If you've ever wondered exactly what a facing brick is, it's an aesthetically designed brick that's visible to the naked eye upon completion of a building. They do what their name suggests – face the exterior and act as something nice for people to look at when they walk past.

Like other bricks, facing bricks are made using heat, clay, water and sand and they come in a range of colors, sizes and styles. Structures using facing bricks must always be supported using steel beams or similar material as bricks by themselves cannot take such a huge amount of weight. Facing bricks complement other bricks that are used as part of the actual structure, such as construction blocks, glazed bricks or fire bricks. Their main purpose isn't structural so they can't be freestanding.

Facing bricks are used primarily on external walls, where the brick is supposed to be seen (such as on the front of a house). They can be used as part of the structure, but do not have the same tensile strength of regular construction bricks. Rather, they are designed to have a neat, even appearance. They also tend to be made in a bigger range of materials than other types of brick to make them more interesting to look at, taking into consideration that they are the building's ‘public face'.

Facing bricks are normally made to look solid and sturdy as it helps to inspire confidence in the overall structure. They can be made like regular bricks – extruded or molded – although there is a more expensive handmade option available if you wish. They are made to look more interesting through incorporating visual texture as well as the option of being stamped or engraved with a design or motif. This is especially popular for when facing bricks are incorporated into fireplaces and the front of houses.

There are a final few issues to consider. Firstly, you can sometimes obtain reclaimed bricks that used to form previously existing structures and if they're in good condition, you can use them as facing bricks. This is a good, sustainable way of reusing produce. You can also choose the size of the facing brick according to what you want to use it for. They also come in a range of colors. Traditional rusty red is most popular, although you can also get them in cream and yellow, among others.