Are you thinking of building your project, whether it is a house or any other construction, in brick? In this article we help you find out if brick is the right material for the type of project you want to carry out. We will explain at different points a little history of brick architecture, the uses that can be given to bricks in the construction of a project, the advantages and disadvantages of building with this material, the necessary technical requirements and recommendations for its realization on site… As well as different types of brick architecture.
Brick architecture in history
Brick is a traditional material in construction and has contributed to the development of cultures in terms of construction. It can be produced in all parts of the world, since its raw material is widely available everywhere. As the years have gone by, it has evolved, adapting to the different uses given to it in different cultures. The first bricks were made of sun-dried clay, called adobe. Years passed and it was discovered that, by firing the blocks, a much greater resistance was achieved, resembling that of stones. In ancient times, brick architecture was used in palaces or temples due to its cost, but when it began to be mass-produced and the cost of production dropped, it could be adapted to any budget.
Different uses of brick in the construction itself
Brick can be used in various ways in architecture… Whether for partitions between homes, facades… Or even to create furniture. In this section we will focus on the use of brick for exterior facades. To compose and build facades, brick can be used both to form only the wall, its components and then clad it, and to give that exposed brick finish to the façade. It will depend on the style you want to give to your construction and also taking into account the advantages and disadvantages that they will bring based on the climatic zone in which the project is located and the conditions it requires. For example, to give more thermal and acoustic insulation to a façade, thermoclay blocks can be used, although a normal hollow brick accompanied by other components can also be used to meet the acoustic and thermal requirements that are needed. In the following points we will explain all this better.
Types of brick architecture
To build a brick architecture we have a great variation of styles, the material itself, the function or the aesthetics that we want to give to our construction… In this article we explain some of the ways to make brick architecture.
- The most used over the years have been exposed brick facades for exterior finishes, as we will explain later in the advantages it has.
- Exposed brick can also be used for the interior faces of homes or buildings. It will give a traditional and rustic touch to our project, in addition to the fact that it will continue to be endowed with the thermal advantages of this material.
- Brick can also be used for the creation of furniture in situ of the project, thus creating a sense of harmony and ensemble in the space created.
Advantages of brick architecture
One of the advantages of brick architecture is that this material resists compression very well. It is also very good when it comes to thermal insulation as it accumulates all the heat during the day and releases it at night. On the other hand, brick allows the water vapor contained in the humid air to diffuse. Brick architecture has another great advantage, and that is that brick has a high resistance to fire and high temperatures. Aesthetically speaking, we can say that brick architecture has the ability to adapt to many construction designs, as they can have different finishes and textures. They do not require recurring maintenance and also provide the home with long-term energy consumption benefits , as we have already explained previously at this point.
Disadvantages of brick architecture
There are few disadvantages to brick architecture. The most difficult thing is to find the best supplier that will give you the best qualities of the material. On the other hand, it requires a well-trained workforce, since greater skill is needed for its placement because it has a much smaller module and greater precision is necessary. A lot of material is also lost while the work is being carried out, since many of the pieces can break or fracture and more if they are not of good quality.
Recommendations for the construction of masonry walls
In this article we also want to remind a little of the most basic recommendations and requirements that brick architecture has when it comes to its realization in exposed brick facades, but only for the installation of this material, not for all the others that make up the façade or partition to be made.
- It is always necessary to verify that the mortar does not have color variations, since this part represents 25% of the surface that will be seen in the final finish.
- Some cleaning techniques can be carried out on the brick, but always avoiding the problems of additional stains. These methods are cleaning with high-pressure water equipment or hand cleaning methods.
Did you find this topic interesting? The truth is that brick architecture has always been a very attractive type of architecture, which never goes out of style. It does change in the way it is implemented, since nowadays exposed brick is used and left in the interiors of the houses, achieving incredible harmony. In the event that you are interested in implementing this type of architecture in your comprehensive renovation project in Valencia, do not hesitate to contact us. See you soon!
