Welcome to The Brick Centre

Clay brick structures have an impressively high load-bearing capacity, high dimensional stability and compressive strength. These properties limit cracking and ensure structural integrity. This provides the opportunity to dissipate all embodied energy over its lifecycle, reducing its carbon footprint. Bricks vary in compressive strength ranging from a minimum of 7 MPa for NFP bricks, to greater than 50MPa for Face Brick Extra and Engineering products.

Clay Brick is incombustible and therefore cannot contribute to the start or rapid spread of fire. Double leaf clay brick walls achieve maximum fire ratings of 240 minutes of resistance with impairing structural strength. Brick walls do not conduct electricity or lightning. During production, clay bricks are fired at temperatures between 1000°C and 1200°C so they are capable of resisting this level of heat without damage. 

 Clay Bricks are fired in a kiln, not dried in the sun so they can withstand saturation from flood water without being adversely affected structurally. They are water-resistant and impervious to all weather. They absorb moisture so that walls that become damp, dry out just as quickly without ugly colour changes.

Clay brick is a dense construction material and protects against natural disasters like flooding, lightning and hail, as well as civil crime, vandalism and unrest. The Great Wall of China protected half of Asia from the Mongolian invaders. 

Bricks are manufactured to SABS specifications and their use is controlled by strict national building regulations to protect homeowners and property investors. SANS 227:2007 and SANS 1 575:2007 classifies the South African National Standard for burnt (or fired) clay bricks and paving units. 

Clay brick withstands severe climate zones and industrial areas where high acid or alkaline discharges occur. At the coast, salt sea mist, high water tables, soluble sulphates in the soil, and rapid temperature changes combine to create a corrosive environment. Green Point lighthouse, a landmark from 1824 and South Africa’s first lighthouse, is built from brick.

Bricks have the structural density to support built-in cupboards, heavy shelves and wall-mounted fixtures. You can even remove a non-load-bearing wall entirely without compromising the integrity of the building. Property owners have the opportunity to do alterations and extensions. Double leaf brick walls protect conduit and piping without reducing accessibility.

Although clay brick bricks and pavers are very durable, they can become stained, and mortar can crumble after long exposure to the elements. Simply drill out or remove the mortar, remove the brick and replace it.

Most brickwork stains can be cleaned with a stiff fibre brush and running water, but in special circumstances, chemical cleaners are inexpensive, easily available and well documented. 

Clay Bricks are thermal batteries, use energy from the sun to provide thermal efficiency in a hot South African climate. Bricks can “self-regulate” keeping internal space naturally cool in summer and warm in winter. 

Thermal capacity is a measure of the degree of heat that can be stored by a wall. High thermal capacity (C) with resistance (R) results in a high CR value that achieves optimal energy efficiency and the lowest heating and cooling energy usage. Inherent thermal capacity significantly reduces the need for more expensive insulation materials between the brick leaves. 

The more thermally efficient the building, the greater the energy savings. Brick is designed to absorb the warmth of the sun all day, and release the heat inside during freezing winter nights. Clay brick’s thermal efficiency reduces the need for heating and air-conditioning, with lifetime savings for property owners. 

All building materials also undergo daily thermal expansion and contraction that can result in stress cracks over time. The thermal expansion and contraction of clay brick are minimal throughout the year. Depending on the clay mix and firing process, the coefficient of linear thermal movement for brick is between 4-8. Movement per 10m of the wall for a 50-degree temperature change is between 2-4mm. 

Most building materials suffer structural stress due to changes in air moisture from alternating sun and rain. Clay bricks rarely exhibit movements due to moisture in excess of 1mm per 10 metres of walling. The bulk of a clay brick’s expansion takes place in the first six months after manufacture which is accommodated with vertical movement joints. 

Clay bricks can be salvaged, sold or reused when the existing structure has outlived its usefulness. Bricks can be crushed and recycled as aggregate for road construction, subbase or non-toxic landfill and site levelling.

 Clay brick in combination with thermal insulation in cavity wall construction easily meets the Deemed-to-Satisfy requirements of SANS 204 and SANS 10400-XA: Energy Usage in Buildings. 

Non-standard, large size bricks (often called Maxi’s) lower material cost, use less mortar and have fewer joins per square metre. With 140mm-wide bricks, one can build a single leaf wall that meets SABS10400-XA. 

Bricks are modular and easy to transport. Bricks can be moved in a small bakkie and relocated on-site by hand, so they can cope with rural roads and restricted space on site. Buy as fast as you can build. 

No matter where you build in South Africa, you have fast access to quality products. Competitively-priced brick suppliers can be found in every region, providing consistent quality stock-in-hand and short transport distances. 

Modular clay brick walling allows construction teams to quickly adapt to the client’s variation requests, respond to unexpected site conditions, implement complex architectural designs and deal with logistics or on-site damage and errors. Bricks have known parameters for use with different foundations, soils and climate zones, ensuring consistent strength, timing and costs. 

Brick masonry construction does not require large staging areas or large equipment for placement, Bricks are weatherproof and can be stored near where they are needed. 

Because of the modular nature of brick, on-site construction waste is reduced. Scrap brick is easily crushed and recycled for new uses, thus avoiding removal and landfill costs. Packaging from brick is minimal and easily recycled.

Bricklaying and paving are not capital intensive – the investment for a skilled small contractor is little more than the cost of raw materials. Many bricklayers and plasterers were set up as independent craftsmen.