How to Choose The Right Bricks for Your Project

There are many types and sizes of bricks that are used for building buildings. When you buy them, you have to look at what they are used for or what type of construction work they are. There are 3 main types of bricks that people commonly use in construction: red bricks, block bricks, and lightweight bricks. We would like to clearly compare the differences between these three bricks to make it easier for you to buy.

Red Brick

Red bricks (Mon brick) are made from clay, water, and additional materials such as ash, rice husks, and sand, mixed together in the right ratio. It is then packed into molds into square cubes, then left to dry and then fired until cooked. The red bricks we saw were both handmade and machine-made. If it is made by hand, it will be rougher, but if it is made with a machine, it will be smoother and lighter because of the hollows inside the brick itself. Red bricks are often used for general construction work on buildings that are no more than 1-2 stories high or in areas that frequently encounter moisture, such as bathrooms, kitchens, and walls that get splashed by rain. Including areas that must support a lot of weight, such as the table top or sink.

• Pros
  • Resistant to sunlight and rain, suitable for the weather conditions in Thailand.
  • Has high strength and density
  • Can support weight of 30 kilograms/sq.cm.
  • It is a good adhesive material. Easy to drill and hang things on the wall.
  • Can be produced by a general contractor or a technician with construction skills.
• Cons
  • Relatively heavier than other types of bricks
  • Due to the dense texture, it accumulates heat.
  • Easily prone to breakage during transportation.
  • No fixed size Because most of them are produced by artisans in the community.
  • Red bricks are relatively small, so they take longer to construct than larger bricks.

Concrete Block

Concrete Blocks or Brick blocks are made from cement and sand. So we will see that this type of brick is mostly grey. In production, it is more industrial than red brick but not as good as lightweight brick. Therefore, it has an affordable price that meets the needs of construction work that emphasizes cost control. The distinctive feature of this type of brick is that it has a hollow hole in the middle, making it lightweight and able to transfer heat well. Brick blocks are often used for general construction work such as warehouses, walls in industrial plants, flooring for walkways, etc.

• Pros
  
  • The bricks are large. Construction work completed quickly
  • It is porous and has holes inside the brick so it can transfer heat well.
  • The price is quite cheap. Suitable for construction work that requires saving costs.
• Cons
  • Brick blocks should not be used to build bathroom walls because there is a high chance of leaks.
  • Cannot support very heavy hanging weight.
  • Not suitable for drilling into walls to attach various devices.
  • Easily brittle, not suitable for wiring electrical pipes or plumbing pipes inside walls.

Lightweight Concrete

Lightweight bricks are produced from many types of raw materials, including sand, cement, lime, water, gypsum, and aluminum powder. Then it is processed according to industrial standards until it becomes bricks with small air bubbles inside the material, making lightweight bricks lighter than other types of bricks. Moreover, the air bubbles inside this lightweight brick are also good heat insulators. The lightweight brick is suitable for general wall construction, whether it be public buildings, high-rise building walls, housing projects, bedrooms, living rooms, etc.

• Pros
  
  • Light weight helps save on structural costs.
  • The bricks are large. Construction work completed quickly
  • There are standard sizes. Therefore the plastering time is consistent.
  • Can prevent fire spread for approximately 4 hours, suitable for buildings that have requirements for fire retardant materials.
  • Good ventilation and soundproofing, suitable for bedrooms and living rooms.
  • The surface of lightweight brick is smooth, making the wall work look neat.
• Cons
  • The price is higher than other types of bricks.
  • Because it is porous inside, it is not very resistant to moisture. Therefore, it is not suitable for construction in bathrooms or kitchens. (You should choose the appropriate thickness)
  • Must use construction mortar and equipment specifically for lightweight bricks.
  • It is necessary to rely on technicians who have expertise in laying lightweight bricks to prevent damage to the walls.

What type of brick should I choose?

Each type of brick has different advantages, limitations, and properties. We should choose to use it appropriately for construction, for example, red bricks are stronger when you need to drill into various materials. Brick blocks are large and can be built and can be worked quickly. Lightweight bricks help save weight, making the building not bear too much weight, etc. You should consider your budget, intended use, construction time, and the homeowner's preferences. So that you can easily understand plans for building a house or building additions and deals with contractors.

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