CONSISTENCY IN THE APPEARANCE OF BRICKWORK: BLENDING BRICKS

By: keydo

CONSISTENCY IN THE APPEARANCE OF BRICKWORK: BLENDING BRICKS
The Colour of Bricks
Clays used for making bricks are natural materials that vary in their composition. A brick’s colour is predominantly determined by the reaction of the clay to the firing process that transforms it into a semi-vitrified state – duration, temperature and air supply all affect colouration. Texture depends primarily on production methods and it can also be affected by the firing. Manufacturing skills and controls minimize inconsistencies of colour, texture, form and size, but some are inevitable. Indeed, some bricks are admired for their variations and uniformity would be regretted.

Nevertheless, whether accepted as inevitable or as an admirable characteristic, variations that result in distinct bands or patches of different tone or colour will mar the appearance of brickwork. The accepted technique to avoid such unsightly banding or patchiness is to blend the bricks as they are taken from the stocks to the work positions so that any variations are spread throughout the brickwork.
The need to blend bricks of a plain colour (e.g. smooth red, or buff stocks) tends to be recognized and accepted, but it is not always understood that it is essential to blend multicoloured bricks.

Practical Procedure
Assume that there will be some variation within any delivery or consignment and instruct labourers to open at least three manufacturer’s packs and draw from each of them when supplying the bricklayers’ working positions.
Where possible have all the bricks delivered at once, so that they are all from one manufactured batch. When this is impractical some forethought should be given to minimizing problems of variation between batches. If large areas are to be built with bricks from different consignments the specifier or builder should discuss with the supplier or manufacturer how variations between consignments might be minimized. In some cases particular arrangements for special controls at the brickworks may be appropriate.
It is good policy to plan work so that plain walls are built with bricks from the same consignment. If this is not practicable, then aim to build up to a common and significant level or feature – this avoids, for example, the triangular patches of mismatched brickwork when corners are raised and followed by infill of bricks from a different batch.
Special Services
Where site conditions are very limited and the procedures described above are not practicable, the brick manufacturer might offer to supply bricks pre-blended in packs that could be used directly by the bricklayers.
For more information see www.laganbrick.com