What to look for in a brick sample

When searching for a brick whether it’s for a residential home, commercial project or a restoration project, it’s important to consider more than just its colour. There are several things to look for when searching for the right brick.

Colour And Appearance

It’s important to look at the colour of the brick and assess the following things:

• Does the colour match the original property if you are brick matching
• Is the colour sympathetic to the design and the surroundings
• It is important to view the brick in both daylight and dusk as the natural light can change the look of a building
• Bricks can have variations in colour so it’s important to try and get a sample panel of your chosen brick to see the colour variations on a larger scale. Our team are able t put these together
• Whether it’s a traditional or modern style brick, the facade of a property will add character and colour plays an important part in that.

Texture

To help decide what texture you want on your brick, look at the following textures as they catch the light differently and can affect the overall appearance.

• Smooth
• Handmade/rustic
• Wirecut
• Tumbled/aged
• Sandfaced

Mortar Compatibility

A brick can look very different depending on the chosen mortar color. It’s often helpful to build a small sample panel using your chosen mortar before making a final decision. We supply lime mortar and have a range of colours to choose from.

Size and Shape

Bricks come in different shapes and sizes. There are a wide range of brick sizes available however, the UK standard format is 65 x 215mm whereas Imperial brick sizes are old and they can vary.

Check that the dimensions match your project’s requirements.

Water Absorption

You can check the data of a brick in their technical specifications or ask our brick specialists for more information on a particular brick type.

• Lower absorption generally improves durability in wet or freezing climates.
• Higher absorption bricks may require different mortar choices and installation methods.

Brick Durability

Brick durability refers to how well a brick resists weathering, moisture, and structural loads over its lifetime. A durable brick can last for many decades. Key factors that affect brick durability are:

• Water absorption
• Compressive strength
• Frost resistance
• Efflorescence

You can check the data of a brick in their technical specifications or ask our brick specialists for more information on a particular brick type.

Efflorescence

Efflorescence is a white powdery substance which leaves salt deposits on the surface. While some efflorescence can be cleaned off, excessive amounts may indicate soluble salts that could affect appearance. You can find more information about this on our website under advice section

Brick Sample Service

Our brick showroom offers a huge range of brick samples ranging from traditonal brick types to modern contemporary bricks. Our brick range includes a vast range of facing bricks, handmade clay bricks, reclaimed bricks, engineering bricks, brick slips, gloazed bricks and headers and much more.

Our brick specialist sales team can help with all your brick requirements ranging from sending out brick samples to site to arranging sample panels for client consideration. Our team, are experts in putting together bespoke blends of bricks to offer a new design or to match restoration projects where brick types maybe discontinued.

Working with architects, builders, homeowners, contractors and developers, our team have an extensive range of knowledge within the construction industry.

We have a dedicated brick showroom where customers and clients can come to browse our brick range, speak with a brick specialist to discuss their project and our team will offer expert impartial advice tailored to your construction project.

Bricks For Conservation Areas and Heritage Buildings

We supply bricks for conservation and heritage projects. Our team can provide brick samples or sample panels for approvals.

In conservation areas, local planning authorities often seek to maintain the area’s architectural character. This may involve:

• Matching existing brickwork as closely as possible.
• Retaining original materials wherever possible rather than replacing them.
• Using traditional detailing, bond patterns, and joint profiles.

For listed or historically significant buildings:

• Replacing only bricks that are beyond repair.
• Bespoke or special shaped bricks may be required
• Reclaimed bricks may be appropriate where they provide the closest match.

For most projects, the best way to assess a brick is to view several samples together—or better yet, a small constructed sample panel on a larger scale—since a single brick rarely shows the full range of color and texture