What is a facing brick?

A facing brick is a clay brick chosen for both its appearance and its structural and weathering properties, intended to be left as the exposed face of an external or internal wall. Unlike common bricks (used in hidden structural work) or engineering bricks (specified purely for performance), facing bricks must present an attractive face in the specified colour, texture, and finish. They are manufactured in a wide range from smooth pressed bricks to rough textured wire-cut and handmade varieties.

What are the different types of facing brick?

Wire-cut bricks are produced by extruding a column of clay and cutting it into individual bricks with a wire - giving a slightly textured, sometimes sand-faced surface. Pressed (or semi-dry pressed) bricks are made by pressing clay into a mould - giving sharp arrises and a smooth or frog-faced finish. Handmade bricks are individually moulded by throwing clay into a wooden mould - giving irregular, characterful surfaces with varied colours. Stock bricks (traditionally the London stock) have a distinctive yellow-buff colour from the local clay. Reclaimed bricks from demolished buildings are widely used for heritage repairs and period-style new build.

How do I choose the right facing brick for a project?

The key factors are: colour and texture to match the existing building or local vernacular; exposure category (F0, F1, or F2 in BS EN 771-1 - F2 for severe frost exposure); mortar compatibility (harder dense bricks need a stronger mortar; softer handmade bricks need a weaker lime-based mortar to avoid cracking the brick faces); and water absorption (lower absorption bricks suit wet exposures but need wetting before laying to ensure mortar bond). For extensions to existing buildings, matching the existing brick is critical and brick matching services can identify original bricks from small samples.

What is a common brick?

A common brick (or common house brick) is a clay brick made with no particular attention to appearance - its faces may be rough, uneven, or discoloured, and it may have variable colour within a batch. Common bricks are used in hidden structural work - inner leaf masonry, below-ground work (though engineering bricks are better here), or infill walls that will be rendered or plastered. They are cheaper than facing bricks and are not intended to be seen. Using common bricks accidentally on a visible face is a common mistake in extensions where the brick type has not been carefully specified.

Masonry noun

Facing Brick

/ ˈfeɪsɪŋ brɪk /

Also known as: face brick, stock brick, wire-cut brick, handmade brick

Definition

A facing brick is a clay brick selected for both its appearance and its durability, intended to remain as the exposed face of a wall. Unlike common bricks (used in hidden work) or engineering bricks (specified for performance only), facing bricks must present an attractive, consistent face in the specified colour, texture, and finish. They are available in wire-cut, pressed, and handmade varieties across a wide range of colours from pale buff to deep red and blue-grey.

In practice

Facing bricks are specified by their colour, texture, format (standard 215x102.5x65mm or modular/metric variants), frost resistance class (F0 = not frost-resistant, F1 = moderately frost-resistant, F2 = highly frost-resistant), and water absorption (low, medium, or high). F2 bricks are specified for severely exposed elevations - coastal sites, high-altitude positions, or parapets and copings. F1 bricks are acceptable for most sheltered positions in the UK.

Mortar specification must be compatible with the brick type. Hard, low-absorption engineering or pressed bricks require a relatively strong mortar (designation M6 or M4). Softer, higher-absorption handmade or stock bricks need a weaker, more flexible mortar (M2 or lime-based) - a mortar that is too hard for the brick will cause the brick faces to crack and spall as movement concentrates in the brick body rather than the joint. For extensions and repairs, matching the existing brick type - not just the colour but also the strength and texture - is critical to achieve a compatible result.

Building Regulations

StandardBS EN 771-1 - Specification for clay masonry units

Frost resistanceF2 required for copings, parapets, and exposed positions

Durability (Part A)Brick must be specified for its exposure class and location

Approved Document A requires masonry materials to be suitable for their intended location and exposure. Frost-resistant bricks (F2) must be specified where freezing of saturated masonry is possible - parapets, copings, retaining walls, and below-DPC brickwork are all vulnerable. BS EN 771-1 defines frost resistance classes F0, F1, and F2. In conservation areas and for listed building works, the choice of brick type, colour, and format may be controlled by planning conditions or listed building consent.

Full Building Regulations guidance

Related Calculators

Masonry Mortar Calculator

Facing Brick

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