How to choose Bricks - Which Brick?

Trying to decide on which brick to use can be tricky. Colour is obviously an important thing. Often with an extension you are trying source a similar colour/brick to match the current house, but this can prove tricky if the brick isn’t produced anymore plus there are other factors to think about when selecting a brick choice. 

Cost is always an important factor when pricing a job, so choosing the right brick can be costly, depending on your location you may need to use a certain type to stay in keeping with area. Yellow brick is common in Bath, for instance. 

The 3 main bricks commonly used are:

• Facing Bricks – Commonly used on external walls
• Engineering Bricks – Used for ground-works, manholes, sewers, retaining walls
• Commons – Not to be used below ground and mostly for internal brickwork only

You will find a range of these bricks available all year round.  

With lots of other bricks produced you often need to find the right brick for the required job, given that they have different types of compressive strengths. 

You should always pre-plan how long it can take to get hold of the brick you want, some suppliers will only make a certain amount at a time, and this could mean they won’t make any more for a year, so always make sure you have ordered enough to complete the job or you will find yourself phoning round to see if any merchants have the brick you want in stock, which could mean travelling distance to collect also. 

There are any many bricks manufacturers in the UK, the main leading suppliers are – 

• Wienerberger - founded in 1819, is a world class provider of wall, roof and landscaping solutions with a global reach. With 204 plants in 32 countries – 14 of them in the UK – leading the way in the new build and renovation markets, offering more than 1,000 products encompassing the complete building envelope.
• Forterra - a leading UK manufacturer of a diverse range of trusted clay and concrete building products. From its nine brick manufacturing facilities, with a production capacity of over half a billion bricks a year, the company produces some of the industry’s best-known clay brick brands, including the original London Brick, Butterley, Ecostock and Cradley - products that have been used in the building of more than a quarter of Britain’s homes and some of its most iconic buildings.
• Ibstock - is part of Ibstock PLC, and is the country’s largest brick maker operating from 22 locations across the UK. Ibstock Brick’s roots can be traced back to the 1820s to the village of Ibstock in Leicestershire where the business is still based. Ibstock Brick has over 600 different bricks and pavers in its product range which also includes external wall insulation and rain screen cladding systems. This range and variety make Ibstock Brick the first choice for architects and builders alike.

Ultimately, the best thing you can do is: once your architect hands over the plans, give your local merchant a call to see the availability of the bricks specified or find a merchant with a brick display to choose from. 

At Putney Builders Merchants you will find a range of bricks held in stock for everyday use as well others with aesthetic features. 

Give your local branch a call and enquire about a brick you have seen online or would like costed, chances are they have a supplier that can match it, or find the closest to it.