A: A vitreous or slurry coating is when a clay brick has a face colour different to the colour of the brick body. This is achieved by the application of a separate clay coating during the manufacturing process and kiln fired into the body of the brick to create a permanent, ceramic finish. The coating will not fade or rub off.

A: A brick’s ‘face’ is the side designed to be seen. Most bricks only have one ‘face’ and the ends are called ‘headers’, therefore it is important that bricklayers lay them correctly. Some of our bricks have two faces, so please just ask a member of the team to clarify which bricks these are.

A: An engineer will be able to help with this. We are NOT in the business of designing or building structures to comply with the NZ Building Code, we leave that up to the professionals, the architects, designers and engineers. Please note that 70 series bricks are non-structural.

A: Our bricks are sourced internationally including: Australia, Italy and Spain.

A: Bricks are made from clay, shale and other minerals that are moulded into the ‘brick’ shape then fired (cooked) at temperatures up to 1200°C. There is a very complex science behind making a clay brick, so depending on the plant of manufacture, will depend on the materials and technology used

A: Good question! For efficient handling and laying, bricks must be small enough and light enough to be picked up by the bricklayer using one hand (leaving the other hand free for the trowel). Brick sizes have changed over the course of history, in most cases, the length of a brick is twice it’s width plus the width of a mortar joint. As a cladding material in New Zealand, clay bricks are manufactured to 70mm deep. In Australia they use bricks that are 110mm deep. An architect/design professional can alter your plans to accommodate bricks deeper than 70mm. More commonly however, bricks are different sizes (formats) to provide different aesthetic options to our customers. 

A: Bricks are made of natural products, the clay from one part of the clay pit (quarry) may be a slightly different colour to the other. As controlled as the kilns are, the firings and the environment changes a little each time. It’s important that you get a sample pack of the brick you want to use and quote the batch number on the back of this when ordering your bricks.

A: Unlike concrete products, fired clay brick colours do not fade. Whilst clay bricks don’t fade, they do weather naturally over time.

A: Choosing a mortar colour comes down to personal preference and design trends. Take the time to view mortar samples to explore mortar colour and brick combinations. We recommend the use of bagged mortars, click here for further information http://bricksnz.co.nz/mortar-sources-and-colour/. Mortar represents roughly 18% of the overall look of the brick veneer, so there is a substantial colour difference to one’s eye using for example a white colour mortar, compared to say a black mortar.  This can completely change the look of the brick.

A: The brick selected plays a part in which type of mortar joint will work best. A rolled joint is recommended for all slurry/ vitreous coated bricks. For all San Selmo 70mm bricks a flush joint must be used.  For colour through bricks, a raked joint is quite appealing as it creates a negative detail in the veneer.  We recommend you talk to your builder or bricklayer around ensuring the right mortar joint is used on your build.

A: Clay bricks should NOT be sealed. In an area with freeze thaw, water gets behind the sealer and can pop off the face of the brick. It needs to “breathe” to allow water to migrate in and out of it. It’s porosity is natural. This is the advantage of a clay brick, it is colour fast and will not fade over time.

A: No two bricks are the same, no two computer screens are calibrated the same and printing throws in another set of colour variables. Physical samples allow you to see the real brick colour in natural light, ensuring there are no surprises when the bricks arrive on site. It’s important that you get a sample pack of the brick you want to use and quote the batch number on the back of this when ordering your bricks. Great news is that this service is free of charge, simply request a sample and we will courier it to you, or pop into the nearest display centre and we can provide you with sampling from there.

A: Our Painter Bricks are produced specifically for bagging and painting, and or painting, these are NOT face bricks. While they may be cheaper than face bricks, any further surface treatment comes with some important considerations: labour and material costs to achieve the look you’re after and ongoing maintenance. Painted and bagged brick treatment is permanent. After you paint your brick house, you can’t go back to its original brick exterior. Professional painters know that once brick is painted, it needs to stay painted.

A: All of our clay bricks come with a 100 year guarantee.  Request our Warranty Form for more information.

A: While clay bricks are low maintenance, the following information provides advice on the correct cleaning procedures and ongoing maintenance of brickwork to ensure the best possible results. Please refer to the Think Brick Clay Masonry Cleaning Manual https://thebrickery.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/tb-manual-13-website-2019.pdf

A: Our brick deliveries are handled by trucking contractors. For the Auckland region all deliveries are delivered to site on tractor unless a Hiab is requested. For all other areas, Hiab is predominately used although tractors can be requested. Our experienced and helpful Customer Services Team can help answer your delivery queries. They can be reached on 0800 BRICKS. Our customers are also able to pick up bricks from our yards once payment is received, and appropriate notice has been given to our customer service team.

A: No order is too small! Simply request the amount you need of our stocked bricks, and we will make it happen. Our indent bricks are subject to minimum order quantities and vary from brick to brick.

A: The bulk of the price difference will be due to the area the clay is sourced from (distance from the plant, or cost of particular clay colours) and the freight component e.g. Spanish bricks versus Australian made – freight to New Zealand will vary due to the distance.

A: We will do our best to match your old brick, finding the closest colour and finish. Please send photos and dimensions of the brick you are trying to match to sales@thebrickery.co.nz and we will be in touch with some suggestions.

A: We do recommend using a licenced brick layer for your masonry work. Click here for a list of Brick and Blocklaying companies that belong to the New Zealand Masonry Trade Association. Please note, a brick laid is a brick accepted. Cost per square metre or brick normally depends on the type of brick used, the design of the build (application), and the region you are in.

A: You can buy directly from us, through your builder or merchant. The earlier you can get your order in the better. Our experienced and helpful Customer Services Team can help answer your ordering queries. They can be reached on 0800 BRICKS or sales@thebrickery.co.nz.

A: If it is a 70mm brick specified on your project you can use any of our 70 series clay bricks. 110mm bricks and Schist require the services of a design professional to alter your plans.

A: The simple answer is the light. A wall that is north facing will have full sunlight, making it look brighter and a south facing wall with less light will look darker.