Bricks

Bricks are manufactured by moulding burnt clay or a mixture of sand and lime or of Portland cement concrete, in rectangular blocks of uniform size and then drying and burning these blocks.

Bricks are used for building up exterior and interior walls, partitions, piers, footings, and other load-bearing structures.

Bricks are one of the oldest building material and it is extensively used at present as a loading material in construction methods because of its durability, strength reliability, low cost, easy availability, etc.

Size of standard brick( modular brick )is 19 x 9 x 9 cm and 19x9x 4 cm.

When placed in masonry work, 19 x 9 x 9 cm brick with mortar becomes 20 x 10 x 10 cm (nominal size), and the weight of such brick is 3 kg.

An indent also called a frog, 1-2 cm deep is provided in the brick, and the size of the frog should be 10 x 4 x 1 cm.

The purpose of providing a frog is to form a key for holding the mortar, and therefore the bricks are laid with frogs on its Topface.

Why Brickwork is Superior to Stonework

• Bricks of good quality shall have a thin mortar bond.
• Bricks resist fire better than Stone.
• Due to modular shape and size, more space can be saved.
• It can be used as a cantilever wall because it is light in weight. 
• Connections and openings can be made easily comparatively.
• Bricks of good quality are more durable.
• No complicated lifting devices are required as in stonework.
• The cost of construction is less in brickwork as less skilled labor is required.