Brick Colors & Styles

Common Brick

• Common brick or building brick is the brick most used in construction. The color is usually red, sometimes buff. According to the New Jersey College of Architecture and Design, brick is categorized by its ability to stand the elements. There are three grades of construction brick, severe, moderate and negligible. The American Society for Testing and Materials sets the standards for each grade.

Face and Backup Brick

• Face brick and its partner, backup brick, are bricks used when putting the facing on a building. The backup brick is inferior, filler brick used where it is not visible or structurally key. It is often found just behind the face brick. Manufacturing standards for face brick are in place to assure they are high-quality brick. They come in a wide variety of color, texture and shapes. Face bricks are graded as severe or moderate weather bricks.

Specialty Bricks

• The bricks used in fireplaces and chimneys are built to withstand high heat. The clay used to make them has fewer impurities, which makes the brick more heat resistant. Sewer brick is another specialty brick. This brick has low moisture absorption, which makes it good for building storm drains and sewers.

Colors

• The color of most natural brick runs from deep to pale red and buff. The color is largely determined by the type of clay used and the amount of time it is fired. Brick, when treated with glazes, such as a ceramic glaze, can be of any color.