ASA Journal 16/2023

BRICK: AS A BUILDING MATERIAL
119
Bricks can be manufactured with various surface properties,
such as smooth, rough, porous, or grooved. Furthermore, it
can be colored on one brick surface to make it shiny and
waterproof.
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There are various sorts of bricks. However, there are two
primary types:
1. Load-bearing bricks or clay bricks used in general
buildings: The majority are small, with only one color.
It is burned at a low temperature of 600–700 degrees
Celsius. Because they are porous and absorb much
water, they will be plastered with cement and painted
after finishing.
2. Bricks for decoration (they can also be used to sustain
weight in some circumstances). These bricks were
burned at a higher temperature than standard construction
bricks, between 900 and 1,000 degrees Celsius.
They are sturdy, long-lasting, and absorb little water.
They come in a variety of sizes and forms. They are
available in various colors and can be used as a decorative
material outdoors and inside buildings without
the need to paint over them. This sort of brick comes in
a variety of shapes and sizes, including decorative construction
wall bricks, sidewalk bricks, and fire-resistant
bricks.
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Brick on the Wall
Bricklaying is another key aspect of brickwork. There are many
ways to construct durable and beautiful brick walls that may be
considered an art form. Ancient bricklayers built an infinite
number of bricklaying designs. The Parthenon and the Roman
Colosseum, the Great Wall of China, the Bagan Pagoda in
Burma, temples and historical sites in Ayutthaya, Thailand,
and even small religious sites like the Tomb of the Samanids
of Islam have exteriors decorated with beautiful brickwork
that looks like a sculpture.
In foreign countries, there is a wide range of brickwork styles.
Running bond bricklaying is the most basic type, which involves
putting bricks in long rows over the width of the brick face.
For structural stability, the bricks will be interleaved with those
in the bottom row while adding a new row vertically. Bricklayers
frequently do not position bricks with the same vertical
mortar throughout because it weakens the wall or walls. If this
is the case, there should be another supporting wall at the
back connected by steel bars or cast iron that protrudes
from the main wall to keep it from collapsing.
Lintels should be placed every 2x3 meters while laying bricks
to support weight to maintain long-term stability, or the wall
should be built as a double wall with room between the two
walls to allow air to circulate. It is an effective method of dissipating
heat and protecting the building from the outside cold.