CONCRETE BRICKS

Bricks FAQs

• What are the main benefits of bricks?

  Bricks are like clay bricks in many ways, they are the same size, similar weights and are used for many of the same brick building applications. There are some additional benefits that are unique to bricks. Firstly, bricks are coloured using colouring oxides – this means a variety of colours are available and that the bricks are the same colour all the way through and not just coloured faces which can be damaged and chip away. Bricks are also produced in a mould – this results in a high dimensional accuracy for each brick with consistently square edges and a smooth face finish.

• What colours are adbri bricks available in?

  Adbri bricks are available in a number of different ranges. The ranges available vary from state to state however there are two ranges available nationally; the Common Brick range which is a grey brick product made for use in rendered or painted walls. There’s also the Coloured Face Brick range which produces bricks in the Ebony (black brick) and Steel (grey brick) colours and these bricks are available throughout Melbourne and Victoria, New South Wales including Sydney and Newcastle, Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast and other areas in South East Queensland as well as South Australia and Tasmania. These bricks are perfectly suited to residential housing and multi-residential brick wall projects. In Victoria and Tasmania, you can also buy Architectural Bricks which are premium bricks in a range of colours and textures including the designer Shotblast and Honed face finishes.

• Are bricks laid differently to clay bricks?

  All masonry bricks including concrete and clay bricks are laid using mortar, most often by a professional bricklayer. While the process of installation and the tools used to lay concrete and clay bricks are the same, there can be some subtle differences applied to achieve best laying results. One example of the difference is that bricks are recommended to be laid off a number of pallets at the same time, this allows for the bricks to be ‘blended’ into the walls. This is important because bricks are all one consistent colour so blending through the wall provides a great natural look. The other main difference is in cleaning where clay bricks can be cleaned using hydrochloric acid and bricks cannot be cleaned using hydrochloric acid.

• How do you clean bricks?

  Bricks must be cleaned as they are installed and the recommendations in the Adbri Masonry Brick flyer must be followed to achieve best results. To clean bricks as they are installed, a damp cloth or sponge should be used to clean mortar smears off the faces of the bricks before the mortar goes off, at which point it is harder to clean off the faces.

• Do bricks vary in colour from batch to batch?

  Bricks are produced using natural raw materials like sands and aggregates. These natural materials can change over time and these can also change when raw material providers change. These natural changes in raw materials can impact the finished colour of masonry products over time and from batch to batch. As these changes are natural occurring from variations in raw natural raw materials, these colour tone changes are not defects. To ensure the best result for your project, always order the bricks you need for your house from one batch to ensure consistency. You should also sample the colour(s) that will be used in your project close to the time the project is due to start to confirm it is as required before you purchase. Lastly, good laying and installation practices from your bricklayer like laying bricks from multiple pallets to blend them through walls should be used.

• Is laying bricks a diy job or should i hire a professional bricklayer?

  Bricklaying and blocklaying is a speciality trade and professional installers are trained to install safely and while using correct mortar mixes and laying techniques to ensure consistent heights and levels. While professional installation is recommended for all housing, multi residential and commercial projects, it is possible to lay bricks with an advanced knowledge of DIY for smaller projects like garden walls and garden edging.

• Can I build a front fence out of bricks?

  Masonry bricks are suitable for use in single skin wall constructions which can include the construction of front fences. Typically in Australia, common grey masonry brick and Besser® block fences are used as privacy fences. These projects are usually rendered and painted and while a straight forward project for a professional, you must consult your local council before commencing a brick fence project to determine what engineering design (for wind load) and certification requirements may be required in your local council area.

• Where can I buy adbri bricks?

  To purchase Adbri Bricks or to find a local supplier please call Adbri Customer Service on 1300 365 565 or email enquiries@adbri.com.au to find out the best place to buy bricks near you in your local area.

• Wow do I request a sample brick?

  Adbri always recommend citing a physical product sample before purchasing products. Given differences in printing qualities and computer screens, colour swatches used in brochures and websites provide colour indications only. It is also recommended that you seek a product sample close to the time of your construction – this is to ensure the colour accuracy given bricks use natural raw materials which can change in colour over time, which can change brick colour tones.