Bricks – types and price

1. Fired bricks

A brick is a composite of clay, sand, water and other admixtures (lime, cement). The mixture is moulded into bricks, which can be baked in a kiln, air-dried or sun-dried. Fired bricks are the most common type of brick and offer the widest variation, while baking them in a kiln increases their strength. After baking, the surface of the brick is impregnated and thus protected from weathering and other external influences. This type of brick is one of the most durable and strongest building materials, as confirmed by historical remains: today we can still admire the remains of ancient ruins around the world built from bricks. Brick is a very old material; it is estimated that it first appeared as early as 5000 BC. The brick-making process and their composition have been improved and perfected over the centuries.

However, brick is not only used for the construction of houses. It has always been a popular material to use for paving external surfaces, paths, squares, driveways, and alleyways, as well as for veneer walls, i.e. brick cladding. It is used much more in European cities than in Nigeria.

2. Traditional bricks and modular bricks

There are three main methods used for shaping raw materials into bricks to be baked in a kiln. These are: moulded, dry-pressed, and extruded. There are numerous types of brick available on the market today in terms of size, shape and colour, and numerous manufacturers. However, at the end of the day, every brick you can buy is a modular brick. This means that the dimensions are predetermined and cannot be changed, i.e. they cannot be made according to your own wishes. Actually, they could be, but it would require you to be ordering a huge quantity, far more than are needed for an average family home; otherwise, it is far from cost-effective for the manufacturer. The size of the bricks is not something you should concern yourself with as their dimensions are set by centuries-old building standards. What you can do if you do decide to use bricks for your building is to make enquiries to see what types of brick are available and then choose the ones you like.

3. Modular bricks – dimensions and types

There are different types of brick and of course different sizes of brick available. Standard bricks are solid and usually 25x12x6.5 cm in size. Similar-sized hollow bricks also exist; these are lighter and less expensive than standard, solid bricks. However, the most common type used for construction are oversized bricks, which are also hollow. They are larger (most commonly 29x19x19 cm) and hence offer more area per brick, meaning less mortar is needed.

4. 101 ways to use brick

4.1. Brick as a construction material

Brick is most often used as a building material, especially for residential and other smaller buildings, because it is a natural and inexpensive material and is relatively easy to work with when compared to other materials. However, bear in mind that when building a brick house, there needs to be enough reinforced concrete binding everything together to enable the structure to withstand horizontal loads generated by winds and earthquakes. Bricks only bear the vertical load from the roof to the foundations, but not the horizontal load. Therefore, a house cannot only be built from bricks - it is always a combination of bricks and reinforced concrete. Floor slabs and lintels (above windows and doors) should also be made of concrete.

4.2. Brick veneer and brick paving

In addition to bricks being used for walls and ceilings, they are increasingly being used as external cladding. The bricks used for brick cladding (or brick veneer) are of smaller dimensions, but they come in a variety of textures and a whole range of designs. Bricks can also be used to pave driveways, backyards, or approach roads. Paving terraces or patios with bricks can be a wonderful decorative feature, while brick paving in the garden gives it a traditional, rural feel.

4.3. Brick on the roof

Brick on the roof, in the form of roof tiles, is not a common feature in our country. Clay roof tiles are very durable although it is important to find a skilled roofer to fit them. They are vastly different to ordinary bricks for walls and come in a variety of complex shapes, including Roman tiles, pantiles, and barrel tiles. They interlock in such a way that allows water to drain away between the convex sections.

5. Brick – price /m2

The price of a south Afrivan bricks is between NGN8,000 - NGN10,000/52pcs. The price can go lower if you are purchasing in larger quatities. This is the cost of the bricks alone without installation.