we are experts at matching existing brick work. Our staff of brickwork experts have spent years in the field working with local masonry supply yards. If you have Michigan brickwork that needs to be repaired one of our specialist will be happy to find you the closest possible match. To schedule a free masonry consultation please call us at (313) 355-3719
Brick is one of the oldest building methods man has. Brick has been used as a building material by man for centuries. The earliest bricks were made of clay formed into shapes and dried by the heat of the sun. These bricks were known as adobe. As man’s knowledge of building grew we came to the realization that by heating, or firing, the brick in a kiln they became stronger. Technologies for manufacturing brick in today’s modern era have changed. No longer are brick formed by hand and dried in the sun. Today’s brick are made in giant computer controlled kilns. Brick color and size is no longer limited to the color of the clay. Brick is now available in a variety of sizes and colors.
A small selection of brick can be found in most building supply yards like Home Depot or Lowes, but the best place to find brick is in your local brick supply yard. These yards have a variety of shapes, colors, and sizes of brick. There are a variety of brick textures available on the market today. Some of these textures are bark face, rug, buff, shale, vertical mat, bark face with a vine, wire cut, glazed just to name a few.
When choosing a brick for your brickwork or repair project, you need to be aware that there are two way to describe brick size, one is the actual brick dimension the other is nominal. Nominal refers to the size of the brick plus the mortar joint.
When you visit your local Michigan Brick Supply yard, they will typically have a large selection of brick, mortar and joint styles to choose from. The most common size of brick in Michigan is 3 5/8 in. x 2½ in. x 7 5/8 in. and weighs 4-4½ lbs. Norman brick are the same height and width as a standard brick, but is longer at 11 5/8 in. Roman brick are 3 5/8 in. x 1 5/8 in. x 11 5/8 in. In Michigan I only know of one supply yard in which you can get roman brick. Many brick when you lay them have a front and a back, the front side having the desired finish. Roman brick have a different finish on both sides and can be laid either way depending on the finish you desire.
Utility brick, often known as king brick, are larger in size and typically used on commercial projects. They are 3 5/8 in. x 3 5/8 in. x 11 5/8 in. Engineered brick, also known as queen brick, are 3 5/8 in. x 2¾ in. x 7 5/8 in. It is important to remember that in dealing with brick there can be a slight variation due to shrink and expansion during the kiln firing process. One of the great benefits to purchasing your brick at a local Michigan supply yard is they typically have samples of the brick on panels where you can get a good idea of what your brick will look like up on a wall.
When working with brick supply yards you also have access to a wealth of knowledge. Your local Home Depot or Lowes associate will probably only be familiar with two or three different kinds of brick. Most of the people who work at masonry supply yards have years of experience in matching brick. One of the benefits of having been in masonry repair for the last thirteen years is I have visited several masonry supply yards and have had a chance to require a fair amount of knowledge in matching brick myself.
Most new construction bricklayers spend their careers laying brick and block that are provided by a builder. Hiring a company specialized in masonry repair gives you the chance to work with someone experienced in matching brick, mortar color, and jointing style. Some brick are made solid, some brick have holes, and some brick have an indentation or frog. Bricks are sold in a variety of manners by the piece, by the strap, and by the cube. The more brick you buy the better price you usually get on your brick.
A couple of key tips to buying your brick are to buy brick that will be resilient in your climate. It is my experience in Michigan any time you have a red or orange brick with a white matte on it. It is prone to excessive weathering. Also more porous brick are more susceptible to damage from moisture and changing temperatures. Stay away from rare and exotic brick; for they will be harder to find a match for at a later date should the need to repair arise.
One of the most common bricks for repair work in Michigan is the reclaim brick. Reclaim brick are used brick that have a rustic appeal to them when laid, but are more prone to moisture absorption.