Which facing brick is better? Choosing a facing brick Which clinker brick is better

A dacha, a cottage, internal partitions, a foundation, a chimney, a stove - all this can be built from brick. This material has already become traditional and, despite the presence of alternatives, continues to be popular. Accordingly, many are faced with the question - which brick is better? We'll share a few simple rules, which will help you choose a really good brick.

1. Let's find out the main types of bricks

There are different types of brick, and all of them are quite good. It’s just that each type needs to be used wisely, taking into account the pros and cons.

The most popular types of bricks:

• silicate (white);
• ceramic (red);
• hyper-pressed;
• clinker;
• fireclay.

There is also division within some species. For example, red ceramic brick can be solid or hollow, and porous ceramic blocks are also made from the same material. Now let's talk about each type separately.

2. White sand-lime brick - an affordable option for walls

Sand-lime brick is made from a mixture quartz sand and lime, as well as additional additives. This option is used mainly for the construction of walls.

Advantages:

• affordable price;
• environmental Safety;
• convenient parallelepiped shape, smooth edges, clear corners;
• good sound insulation;
• resistance to frost.

Brick also has many disadvantages:

• heavy weight;
• fragility;
• poor thermal insulation;
• unstable to high temperatures - cannot be used for stoves and chimneys;
• degrades quickly in humid conditions.

However, if you need a good brick for walls at an affordable price, the silicate option is quite suitable.

3. Red ceramic brick - a universal option

Red brick is made from clay, which is then fired. Classic version It has a red color and a characteristic ringing sound when struck. If you don’t want to think about which brick to choose, the red option is suitable for most types of construction.

Advantages:

• versatility;
• durability;
• good heat and sound insulation;
• environmental cleanliness;
• acceptable price;
• ease of installation;
• variety of options (solid, hollow, facing, etc.).

If we talk about shortcomings, then possible defects are most often associated with production violations, which is why it is better to buy good bricks from trusted manufacturers.

4. Fireclay refractory bricks - for stoves and chimneys

If you need to build a stove, chimney or fireplace, the choice is simple - fireclay refractory bricks. Only it is adequately reliable when high temperatures. It is based on burnt fireclay clay. Classical ceramic brick also withstands heat up to 800 degrees, but fireclay is more reliable.

5. Clinker brick - reliability and durability

Clinker brick is another type of clay building materials. It is made from refractory varieties and fired at very high temperatures. The result is a good brick with virtually no voids. It can be used anywhere, but most often it is chosen to form a foundation and plinth where it is required to withstand heavy loads. However, it is also unusually good as a cladding, since it forms a durable, beautiful masonry. Flaws - high price and the need for additional thermal insulation.

6. - for decorative cladding

This type of brick is made from limestone with the addition of binding components. The result is a material that looks like fake diamond, and its properties are comparable to other good bricks. It comes in a variety of natural colors and is used primarily for decorative purposes. This is an ideal material for cladding facades, interior decoration and even for decorating fireplaces. As for the disadvantages, these are the high price, heavy weight and thermal conductivity. If you think about which brick is better to choose for beautiful finishes- the hyper-pressed version is ideal.

7. Construction and facing bricks

If we talk about the types of bricks according to their purpose, they can be divided into construction and facing. The first option has the most accurate geometry, but does not always react well to moisture and frost. Accordingly, when using it, you need to take care of additional protective finishing. For this purpose, it is quite possible to choose facing types of bricks.

These include:

• hyper-pressed;
• clinker;
• ceramic facing.

Often such bricks are not only highly resistant to external influences, but also have decorative surface, for example, imitating the look of natural stone.

8. Solid and hollow brick

Depending on the presence of holes in the brick, it can be solid or hollow. The solid version has no holes or their number does not exceed 13% of the volume. It is heavy, highly durable, but loses heat very quickly. This is the best option for load-bearing structures and foundation.

Hollow brick has holes various shapes. Due to the presence of such air chambers, it gains the ability to retain heat well. In addition, the low weight greatly simplifies the laying. This is a good brick for internal partitions and cladding of facades for their insulation. It cannot be used for load-bearing structures, or for stoves.

9. Ceramic porous blocks - for quick construction of walls

Porous ceramic blocks are no longer exactly bricks, although their composition is identical to the red ceramic version. They are quite large blocks with voids inside and often ribbed side faces.

They are great for walls because they have a number of advantages:

• speed of laying due to large size;
• saving of masonry mixture due to the presence of grooves and ridges (no mixture is needed in the side seams);
• no thermal insulation due to air chambers is required.

10. Basic properties of brick - what to pay attention to?

Now that we have understood the main types of materials, it is worth listing their properties, which you need to pay attention to when choosing a good brick for a particular masonry, in order to know which brick is better.

These are the parameters:

• density(the higher it is, the more reliable and durable the material will be, but it will also hold heat worse);
• strength(this parameter shows the resistance of the brick to load; when choosing a material for load-bearing structures, it is especially important), denoted by the letter M and the number after it;
• porosity(the more pores and voids, the better material keeps warm);
• thermal conductivity(the ability to maintain indoor temperature);
• frost resistance(the ability to withstand freezing and thawing cycles without loss of properties), indicated by the letter F and a number indicating minimal amount cycles;
• fire resistance(the ability to withstand high temperatures is important when choosing a good brick for a stove, fireplace, chimney);
• moisture resistance(the higher it is, the less moisture the material absorbs; it is important when choosing a brick that will be used outdoors).

Comparative table of brick properties

Type of brick	Brand	Average density, kg/m 3	Thermal conductivity, W/(m*S)	Water absorption,%	Frost resistance cycles
Silicate	M75-M300	1000-2200	0,5-1,3	12	15-50
Ceramic solid	M200-M300	2100	0,72	8	50-75
Ceramic hollow (42-45%)	M125, M150	1100-1150	0,2-0,26	6-8	35
Ceramic porous block	M125, M150	890-940	0,16-0,18	6,5-9	35
Hyper-pressed	M50-M300	2200	0,9-1	6-7	25-200
Clinker	M400-M1000	1900-2100	1,16	6	50-100
Shimotny	M75-M500	1700-1900	0,6	15-30	15-50

These properties vary for each type of brick. A convenient table will help you compare different kinds between themselves. Data are given in average form. Now you know which brick is best for a particular task.

The question is how to choose facing brick, is simple only at first glance. This is due to the fact that in addition to appearance (and this parameter, naturally, is the key one), there are many factors that determine the suitability of a finishing material for use in a given situation. In our article we will try to analyze these factors in as much detail as possible so that you can approach the issue of selecting and purchasing decorative stone as informed as possible.

Brick requirements

Before you start reviewing the main parameters, you need to decide - what should it be?

Today we can formulate a list of several requirements:

• First of all, the material simply must be attractive. appearance. Exterior finishing is done to improve the aesthetic characteristics of the house, and therefore the blocks should be quite beautiful.

• The requirement for color fastness is a direct consequence of the previous one, since it is resistance to weathering and ultraviolet radiation that determines how the house will look a few years after finishing.
• Low water absorption of the material is also very important. Thanks to this, dampness does not penetrate into the thickness of the wall, and a normal level of humidity is maintained in a room decorated with such bricks.

We will talk in more detail about the compliance of facing bricks with these and other requirements in the relevant sections.

Product range

Main types of material

The choice of facing brick usually begins with determining its type. In principle, the exterior decoration of buildings can be carried out using almost any brand of building material, but, nevertheless, some varieties are better suited for this task than others.

According to production method facing blocks are divided into:

• Roasting. This category includes ceramic and clinker bricks. The raw material for their production is clay, which is subjected to heat treatment to give building block strength and resistance to various external factors (moisture, ultraviolet radiation, chemical substances etc.).
• Ceramics and clinker Most often they are produced without the addition of artificial pigments, therefore their color range is limited to the various shades of the clay used.

• Unfired. The unfired category includes pressed, hyperpressed and silicate bricks.
• Pressed and hyper-pressed facial blocks contain Portland cement. This component when exposed to high pressure ensures the connection of limestone raw materials into a single monolith. The resulting block can be used without additional heat treatment.

• Silicate building brick more often used for the construction of the structures themselves, rather than for them exterior finishing. And yet, some brands of silicate blocks, which are made from a mixture of lime with carefully sifted quartz sand, can be used as cladding.

As for cost, non-fired models are definitely more affordable. It costs more, and may not be affordable for everyone. And yet, if possible, then it is worth focusing on the last two options, since if the rules of installation and proper care are followed, baked clay can maintain its appearance for decades.

Strength and frost resistance

If we talk exclusively about functional indicators, then two parameters are critical for cladding - mechanical strength and resistance to low temperatures:

• The strength of the facing brick primarily provides the wall with resistance to mechanical stress, and also reduces the risk of cracks and deformation of the masonry under its own weight. The strength grade is indicated using an index in which the number shows permissible load in kilograms per square centimeter of surface.

• For example, if we mention double sand-lime brick M 150, this means that its strength is 150 kg/cm 2.
• is determined by the number of freezing-thaw cycles that a brick can withstand without signs of destruction, and is designated by the index F (Frost). Thus, F50 brick can withstand at least 50 such cycles without losing its characteristics.

Note! Frost resistance of finishing is important not so much in cold latitudes as in the temperate climate zone. Exactly at middle lane Winter is characterized by multiple changes in temperature, which leads to rapid failure of cladding with insufficient frost resistance.

Shape and surface type

The configuration and features of the front surface of the decorative masonry is another parameter that needs to be taken into account. And if the functional difference between silicate block and hyperpressed decorative panel Only expert masons can know, but you can easily decide on the appearance yourself.

As for the shape, everything is quite simple: the brick can be either rectangular or shaped. Rectangular models are used both for laying walls and for cladding large surfaces, and shaped ones (with beveled or rounded edges) are used for finishing decorative elements. Most often, these parts are included in the design of arches, parapets, window sills, etc.

The surface of the material can also be different:

• Smooth- the most common type. This variety is one of the most affordable, because its low price is determined by the ease of production. At the same time, you should not assume that “cheap” means “ugly”: a wall decorated with small bricks with a smooth front side looks quite presentable. The main thing is to choose the masonry pattern and arrange the seams correctly.

Advice! For smooth brick masonry, experts recommend using a contrasting compound for grouting joints, otherwise the wall relief will be lost.

• Textured the surface gives the masonry the appearance of natural stone, wood, marble, etc. The texture of the brick is laid down at the molding stage, and during the hardening process (temperature or hydraulic) it is only fixed. Textured masonry can be used both for facing surfaces and for decoration individual elements– plinths, corners, slopes of windows and doors, etc.
• Glazed. To give the block a glossy shine after firing, a special glaze is applied to it, and then the product is fired again, but at a lower temperature. Only ceramic and clinker varieties of stone are subject to glazing, since hyper-pressed models cannot withstand the temperatures required for baking the glaze.

Note! The glaze layer gives the masonry frost resistance and allows it to withstand up to 100 freeze-thaw cycles without signs of degradation.

• Engobed. This type of surface is typical for the most expensive models that are used in finishing design projects. When engobing, apply to the dried workpiece decorative composition, which is then fired. When fired, the mixture polymerizes, giving the surface a matte texture.

As you can see, there are quite a lot of options. And if you take into account that each of them is available in many color variations, then it becomes even more difficult to decide. That's why, before choosing a brick to build a house, you should have it in your hands finished project. Thanks to this, you will be able to get an idea of ​​​​what the building will look like, which means you will make a choice not at random, but guided by clear appearance criteria.

So, we have become familiar with the main characteristics of the material. But how can you choose a specific batch so that the brick lasts as long as possible, and laying it with your own hands goes without any unpleasant surprises?

Below is a kind of instruction that will help you significantly reduce the risks when purchasing bricks:

• Perforation. Most facing grades (both fired and unfired) are made hollow. To save mortar without compromising the thermal insulation characteristics, it is worth choosing varieties with the maximum volume of internal voids and minimum size one hole. That is, many small cavities are better, several large ones.

• Pressed models are produced with a very smooth “bed” - the widest plane. To ensure effective adhesion of the block and mortar, choose a brick from a “young batch”. This is due to the fact that immediately after production, unreacted Portland cement remains in the material, which plays the role of a good binder.
• To ensure uniform coloring of the entire coated surface, material should be purchased from the same batch. Otherwise, the facade may end up “spotty”, since during production it is almost impossible to avoid minor changes in the pigment concentration.

Advice! Almost any material fades under the sun during the first year of use. Take this into account and when deciding which brick to choose, give preference to brands that are half a tone or a tone darker than originally intended.

• To check how the cladding behaves over time, you can take one block from a test batch and boil it in tap water until it evaporates completely. If the stains remain and are not removed with a damp cloth, the same will happen to the walls of your house in a couple of years.

• Check the geometry of several pieces of material taken from the batch at random. For cladding, it is very important that both the shape and dimensions of the bricks match as much as possible. If there are deviations greater than those allowed by GOST (4.5 mm in length, 3.3 mm in width, 2.3 mm in thickness), the purchase should be abandoned.

It is also worth carefully examining the surface of the products and the condition of their edges. There should be no white spots on the planes that indicate the presence of lime, and the edges should be smooth, straight and without chips. Some manufacturers make face blocks with a chamfer, which not only protects the ribs from damage, but also gives the masonry a more attractive appearance.

Perimeter chamfer – protection against chipping

Conclusion

When deciding which facing brick to choose, you should not limit your criteria only to the type of material, shape or surface texture. A complex approach, accounting maximum number parameters and strict selection of the purchased batch are the guarantee that the decoration of the house will be beautiful and durable. In the video presented in this article you will find Additional information on this topic.

The facade of a house can tell a lot. For cladding facades, siding, protective and finishing plasters, thermal insulation boards. But the rigor and completeness of the forms is given to the façade of the building only by facing it with special bricks.

Most often in construction for facing works Three types of this material are used:

• Ceramic brick.
• Clinker brick.
• Hyperpressed brick.

Each type is good in its own way, with its own advantages and disadvantages. In this article, we will try to understand the question of which facing brick is better. Each of the above types building material has significant differences that can affect the quality and service life of the masonry.

Ceramic brick

Facing ceramic bricks are distinguished by their shape (and cross-sectional area) and through holes that connect the bedded surfaces. The size of the holes affects the consumption of masonry mortar. Experienced builders prefer to work with ceramic bricks, the holes in which have smallest area sections.

Ceramic brick has high degree water absorption. A large number of branched system of internal pores contributes to normal ventilation of the internal wall and allows excess steam to be removed, i.e. allows the walls of the building to “breathe” normally. The disadvantage of this property of ceramic brick is its ability to absorb atmospheric moisture. In the event of temperature changes, wet ceramic bricks, if hydrophobization work is not carried out, will collapse. Therefore it is recommended after completion masonry work, conduct additional work on hydrophobization of masonry.

Usage clay brick V construction work- a centuries-old tradition. For most people, ceramic brick is a symbol of completeness. Brick has a relatively low cost, durability and excellent insulating characteristics.

This is the most popular type of brick for facing work. But it also has disadvantages: each batch of brick has its own unique shade, so for work it is necessary to select bricks from different batches

Clinker brick

This type of brick has a lower degree of water absorption, so hard brick is used for its laying. masonry mortar, with low water content.

Currently it has the highest strength characteristics. This means that this brick will last much longer than other types of facing bricks. Absolutely no maintenance required. In some European countries, houses lined with clinker bricks retain an almost original appearance for a hundred years.

Manufacturers currently offer this product in various options, including a textured front side design and various shades of colors. Clinker bricks are more expensive than other types presented in the article.

This video presentation is dedicated to the advantages of clinker bricks.

Hyperpressed brick

If we talk about the advantages of bricks of this type, then hyperpressed brick allows you to expand the limits of your imagination. His front surface often made textured. You could see the walls of many cottages, laid out as if from old, weathered bricks.

This type of brick has too dense and smooth bed surfaces. Therefore, experts recommend using bricks of this type, which have through holes of small cross-section.

Recesses in bedding surfaces also increase strength brickwork and increase the degree of adhesion of surfaces to the solution.

This type of brick has a tendency to develop microcracks on the front side. Unfortunately, a façade made of unfired bricks of this type requires hydrophobization. The vapor permeability of this brick is very low, and the thermal conductivity is high.

Hyperpressed brick can rightfully be called one of the most affordable. There are factories or simply workshops for its production in almost every region. High competition usually stimulates a reduction in the selling price; the manufacturer offers various bonuses.

As a result, a facade made of this brick is quite affordable in cost, but it will require additional expenses for waterproofing bricks and installing normal, balanced steam and thermal insulation conditions.

By operational properties The best facing brick is clinker. By price the best option– hyperpressed brick. But even simple ceramic bricks - reliable material, time-tested.

But the final choice still has to be made by you.

A rather difficult situation arises when it is necessary to decide which brick to choose for cladding a house. The point is that such facade material includes several types that differ in composition and characteristics. That is why many factors need to be taken into account to ensure that the final result matches the desired one.

Facade brick also called facing or front, which explains the main purpose of the material - external design walls in order to give the house a more presentable appearance.

Although the main parameter of the product is the decorative component, we must not forget that it must provide reliable protection of the structure from any influences. Such factors include preventing the penetration of moisture (parts must have a small percentage of moisture absorption) and protecting the structure from wind and temperature changes. The material must be strong and durable, and harmful influences must not reduce the visual appeal.

Choosing suitable option, take into account that simple building bricks are also found on sale; the façade variety differs from such products in external parameters. Facing material is often divided into two groups: shaped (with complex geometry) and textured (having a relief side).

The choice of facing blocks is now quite large

Types of facing bricks

All types of facing bricks differ from each other in production technology and components included in the composition. This is what influences the final result, determining the properties of the material and its appearance.

On construction market The following types of bricks are found:

• silicate;
• ceramic;
• clinker;
• hyper-pressed.

Thermal conductivity for any external cladding material is considered one of the main parameters

Each option has its pros and cons.

On a note! Silicate and ceramic products are divided into two categories: for the construction of houses and for cladding.

Silicate brick

This variety is often used for exterior decoration, since the price of the material is considered one of the most affordable. The production technology is that a mixture of quartz sand, lime and special components is subjected to dry pressing with a gradual increase in temperature.

The standard color for this option is white, but by adding color it is possible to obtain a more diverse decorative component.

Recently, diversity and the lineup silicate blocks have grown significantly

Advantages of the material:

1. Frost resistance. The product can withstand many cycles of freezing and defrosting.
2. Safety. The composition and manufacturing method do not affect environmental friendliness, so the products do not have any impact negative impact to your health.
3. Availability. This is the most cheap option from existing ones.
4. Acceptable strength. The resulting surface can withstand various weather influences if installed correctly.

The following disadvantages cannot be ignored:

• Considerable weight. Because of this, the load on the foundation increases, therefore, in order to cover the surface with a silicate variety, the structure must be carefully strengthened.
• Low visual content. The coating lacks texture, and even tinting does not give the desired effect.
• Thermal conductivity. This indicator for this option is high, so in difficult situations climatic conditions additional insulation is required.

Silicate finishing can be spectacular, but the brick itself is cold and heavy

On a note! Silicate decorative brick suitable for front finishing only if the base is made of a more reliable material, otherwise it will quickly become unusable.

Ceramic brick

This option is the main competitor of the previous one, so the question very often arises which brick is better: silicate or ceramic. Of course, the production of ceramics is a more complex process; the difficulty lies in choosing the right raw materials. Only high-quality clay with minor admixtures of other substances is used for work. Since the shade of the material is often red, the final product has exactly this color, although other varieties are also found. If necessary, the source material can be tinted.

Ceramic blocks have the widest range of figured elements

The manufacturing technology is that the mass is molded and then sent to a well-heated oven. The final quality of the product depends on the correct preparation of the composition and its firing.

The material should have a rich red color with a brownish tint, and with a slight impact a characteristic ringing sound should be heard. It is worth considering that even minimal process violations lead to defects. Such deficiencies can be identified by appearance. If parts have burnt areas, they have been kept at high temperatures for too long, they will become brittle. At low temperatures and insufficient firing time, the fragments turn out faded, have high moisture absorption, and there is no ringing sound when struck.

Classic ceramics have good thermal insulation and can maintain their original appearance for decades

This decorative brick has advantages:

1. Appearance. Ceramic material includes varieties that differ in color, size and shape. This provides scope for implementing design solutions.
2. Durability. The service life of a surface made from such products is tens of years.
3. Heat and sound insulation. The products protect the house well from heat loss, cold penetration and extraneous noise.

The only one significant drawback There may be a violation of production technology. Therefore, when purchasing products, it is necessary to pay great attention to this factor.

If facing bricks are sold too cheaply, then there is a high probability of buying a fake, which will crack and crumble after a couple of seasons.

Hyperpressed brick

This decorative brick has a surface closest to natural stone. The fraction used for production is natural materials, shell rock, cement and mineral pigments. The mixture is pressed and exposed to high temperatures.

Hyperpressed blocks are close in their characteristics to good granite, but the material is heavy and quite expensive

For hyper-pressed façade facing bricks a large number of advantages. Strength and durability stand out among the main ones; the coating can withstand many cycles of temperature changes. But because heavy weight And high price products are not widely available.

Clinker type

This finishing material a bit like ceramic option, but for its production a more refractory type of clay is used, and firing occurs at very high temperatures. Due to this, the parts acquire excellent protective and decorative qualities. But this also affects final cost: She gets too high. That's why exterior decoration often done using brick-like tiles, which are much easier and cheaper to cover the surface with.

Clinker finishing belongs to the elite species and, according to most experts, is the highest quality and most durable

Which is better?

When choosing facing bricks for the facade, you should remember that the main competitors are silicate and ceramic types. Both options are quite popular, but the second one stands out the most. This is explained by its advantages:

• Technical specifications. The material has high strength and low moisture absorption. It can withstand more than 130 cycles of defrosting and freezing; a lined house becomes durable.
• Thermal insulation characteristics. Ceramics not only retains heat and keeps out cold, but also helps create a comfortable microclimate inside the building.
If you choose the appropriate option, it will minimize the impact on the structure.
• Highly decorative. There are many varieties available that differ in color, shape and texture.

Choosing between silicate and ceramic cladding it is better to give preference to good ceramics

Sand-lime brick has only one advantage over ceramic brick - lower price. If the budget is limited, this will The best decision. And the desired visual effect can be achieved by painting the surface.