Everything You Need To Know About Special Shape Bricks
Discover everything you need to know about special shape bricks, from types and uses to how they enhance architectural design and structural integrity.
What comes to mind when you picture a brick? Like most of us, you see the familiar rectangular shape of the building material. You can even pick the standard size from a cluster of random-sized masonry. The standard brick size in the UK is 215 mm by 102.5 mm by 65 mm. This is what builders use to construct regular buildings. But what happens if the building plan has an unusual design or shape that doesn’t accommodate standard masonry? That’s where special shape bricks come in.
What Are Special Bricks?
As you can tell from the name, special shape bricks are unique masonry made in custom shapes or sizes. Instead of the rectangle shape we all love, they have abstract shapes. Some are curved, arched and spiral, while others have perforations.
The British Standards Institution (BSI) categorises special bricks into two groups:
Standard specials—Bricks in this category have specific shapes and dimensions as outlined in BS 4729. Examples include plinth stretchers, plinth headers, single and double cant, and single and double bullnose.
Non-standard specials—This title refers to any unique brick shapes that do not meet the BS 4729 specifications.
Specials go by several other names, the most popular being:
Special-shaped bricks
Brick specials
Custom bricks
Non-standard specials, in particular, are also called “ special specials” or “purpose-made specials.”
While most manufacturers have some pre-designed special bricks, you typically have to order most of the custom shapes or sizes. Contact the manufacturer to see if they can make your desired custom brick. Note that some purpose-made brick designs require customised dies, so the manufacturer may have to source or make a custom die that will produce your desired shapes or sizes.
Because the production process is more involved, brick specials are more expensive than regular bricks. So, bear this in mind when designing your building plan. The manufacturing process is also longer, so don’t wait until the last minute to place your order since there might be a lengthy waiting period before the manufacturer can deliver the order.
Where To Use Brick Specials
Use brick specials for applications that ordinarily require you to cut and shape standard bricks to fit a desired style. So, instead of cutting bricks to reshape them, simply place an order for that particular brick style. Places where you can use specials include:
Chimneys
Archways
Canopies
Curved windows
Curved doorways
Chamfered corner
You may also use special-shaped bricks for:
Wall capping
Wall coping
Feature walls
Brick slip cladding
Kerb edges
Decorative casing for structural supports
In essence, feature brickwork, corners, any round or abstract-shaped architectural feature, decorative brickwork and elements greater or smaller than 90 degrees are good spots for custom-shape bricks.
Why Choose Special-Shape Bricks?
Here are some reasons to build with brick specials:
1. They add to your building’s aesthetic.
Special bricks have an attractive form that enhances any building’s aesthetic. Using them on your facade or facing walls improves the beauty of the house, such that anyone approaching the building is drawn by its appealing appearance.
2. They allow you to get creative with your building designs.
If one of your secret dreams is building the world’s most elaborate building, special bricks are what you need. If you can visualise and draw intricate architectural features, brick manufacturers can fashion these bricks to bring your design to life, something you wouldn’t do with standard masonry.
3. They enhance functionality in non-standard buildings.
Special-shaped bricks are more than decorative add-ons; they inject functionality into any building where they are used. Using this masonry means that the parts of the building featuring unusual shapes are as structurally strong as the parts made in standard architectural designs. It also means that you’ll:
Enjoy more spacious interiors by designing irregular rooms.
Create extra space by arching some parts of a room.
4. They allow flexibility when designing and constructing buildings.
Brick specials allow you to add corners of varying angles when constructing. With standard brick, most applications support 45- and 90-degree angles. With these specials, however, you create more diverse angles depending on what you’re making or the desired final look.
5. They are durable.
Purpose-made specials are made to the same quality standards as regular bricks. Therefore, they are just as strong, durable and far from inferior.
Final Thoughts
Special-shaped bricks add character to structures. These unique masonry pieces will help you create chamfered corners, vary radiuses in your corners, construct perfect arches, round, and abstract brickwork, and add distinctive details to a building.
FAQs
1. Do special-shaped bricks come in diverse colours?
You can buy brick specials in various colours and, as a customer, it’s possible to order them in specific colours. Contact the manufacturer to find out if they can process your custom bricks in your chosen colour(s).
2. Do I have to pre-order special shape bricks?
Manufacturers may stock the more common standard specials since these have standardised dimensions. However, you typically have to order purpose-made specials since these pieces have to follow a specific, made-to-spec blueprint.
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