How Bricks Are Made | Ask This Old House

In this video, Ask This Old House masonry expert Mark McCullough explains how bricks are made and what makes them unique. SUBSCRIBE to This Old House: http://bit.ly/SubscribeThisOldHouse. Mason Mark McCullough takes us to a brickyard to explain how he chooses a brick and how manufacturers make this durable building material. Mark explains that when he’s looking for a brick to work with, his choices at any particular brickyard could number as many as 20 different types and styles. There Are Many Types of Bricks When looking for a brick for a masonry project, bricklayers have a lot of choices. Between colors, textures, and shapes, brickyards can consist of twenty different types of bricks. The Main Ingredient is Clay Regardless of the type of brick chosen, the main ingredient is clay. Clay is unique to the area from which it comes, causing bricks from different regions to consist of different colors. Bricks made in the southeast tend to use red clay, causing the bricks to be a very prominent shade of red. Bricks further west, such as the Milwaukee area, use a yellow clay, creating the lighter yellow and beige-colored brick buildings prevalent in the area. Bricks from the northeast tend to be reddish-brown in color. Bricks Come in Different Textures Manufacturers use molds to create bricks, and the consistency and texture depends on the mold. Many brick molds aren’t square, intentionally generating bricks with rounded ends, tumbled profiles, and less consistent dimensions. Other molds, such as those made from metal forms, produce perfectly consistent bricks with sharp corners. Masonry and Bricks Have Evolved Over Time Brickwork used to be all about creating a strong structural envelope. But today’s brick buildings are more about atmosphere, energy efficiency, and technology, turning bricks into more of an accent piece. And, with so many types of brick available and other materials to mix them with, the possibilities are endless. Imperfect Bricks Inspire Artistry Molded bricks are often purposely inconsistent to create a certain timeless look. Unlike other building materials, many masons prefer these inconsistencies as they allow for creativity and artistry. This requires the mason’s talents to take over to create flat, square, plumb, and consistent surface. Where to find it? Mark explains that he loves a variety of bricks for different functions and purposes, and they’re sourced naturally from all different parts of the country and the world. When looking for bricks, a brickyard or a stone masonry yard is the best place to look. Expert assistance with this segment was provided by the Spaulding Brick Company [https://ift.tt/2PdhdY2]. Looking for more step by step guidance on how to complete projects around the house? Join This Old House Insider to stream over 1,000 episodes commercial-free: https://bit.ly/2GPiYbH Plus, download our FREE app for full-episode streaming to your connected TV, phone or tablet: https://ift.tt/3jclZ3N About Ask This Old House TV: From the makers of This Old House, America’s first and most trusted home improvement show, Ask This Old House answers the steady stream of home improvement questions asked by viewers across the United States. Covering topics from landscaping to electrical to HVAC and plumbing to painting and more. Ask This Old House features the experts from This Old House, including general contractor Tom Silva, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, landscape contractor Jenn Nawada, master carpenter Norm Abram, and host Kevin O’Connor. Ask This Old House helps you protect and preserve your greatest investment—your home. Follow This Old House and Ask This Old House: Facebook: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHouseFB Twitter: http://bit.ly/AskTOHTwitter Pinterest: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHousePinterest Instagram: http://bit.ly/AskTOHIG How Bricks Are Made | Ask This Old House https://www.youtube.com/user/thisoldhouse/