Facing bricks, or face bricks are the most popular type of brick in the UK, and they have been used in external walls in the housing market for upwards of a millennium. In contrast to engineering bricks, facing bricks have many useful properties such as the following:
- Higher water absorption
- Lower density
- More appealing aesthetics
One important quality of facing bricks is weather resistance. Due to their frequent and widespread use in the UK’s housing stock, there needs to be higher water absorption within facing bricks so they remain durable during the winter months.
Over time, manufacturers of facing bricks have adopted more colours, and we have more than just red and grey facing bricks available. We offer shades of weathered yellow facing bricks and a wide range of other colours from cream to rustic brown.
We deliver nationwide, with a mission to get our quality facing bricks to you within 3 working days. In certain cases, we can also offer next day delivery if you place your order by 10:30 am.
We also offer a Brick Matching Service which could prove very useful if you are after something more bespoke.
We stock many types of bricks and blocks for sale with excellent delivery and collection options, for fast supplies of all of your essential materials.
What Are Facing Bricks?
Facing bricks are types of bricks that are designed to ‘face’ outward from a building - the opposite of common bricks, which are used internally within a building. As a result, these special bricks must be weather-proof and capable of resisting the outside elements - as well as being aesthetically pleasing.
Common bricks can get away without this extra level of functionality and appearance, as they are covered over with tiles or plasterboard. Other types of bricks and blocks include engineering bricks and concrete blocks.
People usually use brick slips, small sections of brick, as tiles for creating the appearance of external facing bricks on the inside.
What are the Standard Sizes of Facing Bricks?
External walls have different requirements to brick walls that are indoors, but all facing bricks are available with standard brick sizes. By having standard brick dimensions it is much easier to plan costs and estimate the number of materials required to complete a project.
The standard sizes of facing bricks include the following heights:
- 65 mm
- 68 mm
- 73 mm
- 75 mm
The standard sizes of facing bricks include the following lengths:
- 204 mm
- 208 mm
- 195 mm
- 202 mm
- 203 mm
- 215 mm
- 228 mm
- 230 mm
Using standard sizes gives you a very flexible way to manage your building materials costs, but you might also want to control the size and shape of the wall for structural or aesthetic reasons. You can get a pack of 500 or higher facing bricks when you buy with us, but there are many smaller packs available too.
What Types of Facing Bricks Do You Have For Sale?
We stock many types of facing bricks for sale across the UK, with very fast lead times and responsive service from our dedicated team of professionals. Certain types of facing bricks can be hard to get, but we pride ourselves on being a one-stop shop for all of your needs - so we will always do our very best to get them to you through our network of vendors.
The two main types of facing bricks are the following:
- Stock bricks, which are sometimes called ‘stud bricks’ - these are standard bricks that are made with a machine the applies compressive strength to roll the clay into sand before it goes into a mould
- Wirecut bricks, which are also called ‘extruded bricks’ - these are put into a machine and that presses it into a long, thin shape that is then cut into individual bricks of varying lengths
For commercial settings, many contractors will select concrete facing bricks - this will provide extra strength in comparison to ordinary clay bricks, but also some aesthetic value too.
You can choose a wirecut brick if you want a more angled appearance, and a stock brick if you would like to achieve a look that is more textured and grainy.
What Are the Available Colours of Facing Bricks?
One great thing about facing bricks is the potential for customisation and adding your personal touches. You can get many different colours, which will make for a functional and aesthetically pleasing outward-facing wall.
The main colours of facing bricks include the following:
- Red: Red facing bricks are a common sight on many buildings, they provide a very rich, warm and orangey appearance.
- Grey: Grey bricks provide a neutral appearance suitable for all conditions and will subtly blend with most surroundings.
- Blue: A calm and smooth colour, blue bricks are useful as they have a shade and hue that feels cool in summer and warm in winter.
- Yellow: Yellow bricks give you a very bright design, so it is a perfect choice for walls that do not get much natural light.
- Buff: Buff bricks also give you a very rich sense of warmth, similar to red bricks, but with more of the brightness and lightness of a yellow brick
- Black: Black is a good option when you have a lot of natural light as it absorbs sunlight and will provide a non-reflective surface.
- Charcoal: If black is a little bit too bold of a decorative choice for you then charcoal is a good halfway point.
Facing bricks act like tiles for the outside of your building, so you can have a great deal of variety when picking colours. You could also get assorted colours, for brick walls with red, grey, blue, black, buff, charcoal or yellow multi-coloured designs.
Get Your Quality Facing Bricks Fast With Our Amazing Service
Facing bricks have a lot of potential for design and play an important role in making sure that your building is capable of facing the elements, so it is vitally important to pursue quality at all times. We stock only the best facing bricks and building supplies, so you can be sure that you will always get quality products.
Our team can help you to get whatever supplies you might need, whether that is some of the brilliant facing bricks we have for sale, another item or a mixture of things. We can get the products you need when you need them for fast, reliable building work.