Clay brick is not only one of the oldest and most traditional exterior cladding materials, it is technically the best and most trusted by consumers. Brick generally scores very highly on surveys of exterior materials and for good reason. The chart below outlines the features of clay brick compared to other building materials.
Characteristics Genuine Burned
Clay Brick 		Concrete/Calcite
Brick		 Vinyl/Aluminum or
Wood Siding 		Stucco and EIFS Adhered Artificial Stone What Clay means
to You
Colour Enormous range of
natural colours.		 Limited range of
pigment-added colours.		 Limited colour range Pastel monochromatic colours Wide range of surface pigments Improved resale
value, lasting
beauty.
Colour
Retention 		Never fades - colour fired in
at 1900 F.
Look improves
with age. 		Colour fades over
ten years time.		 Depending on material, colours fade. Wood needs repainting. Colour fades over time. Colour fades over time. Clay brick is virtually maintenance free
and gives higher
resale value.
Texture Very wide range of bark, wire cut.
Smooth antique textures in
all colours.		 Limited range. Limited range. Limited surface treatments. Wide range of profiles that repeat. Clay brick allows greater variety of design and beauty, resulting in higher resale value.
Strength Up to 10,000 psi (pounds per
square inch).		 3,000 to 4,000 psi. Not load bearing. Not load bearing. Not load bearing. Clay brick lasts for decades.
"M" Factor Up to 8 hours for clay brick to transfer 30º F difference from outside to inside wall. Comparable to
clay brick.		 About 1 hour to transfer 30º F difference. Thin layer means minimal thermal mass. Lightweight concrete and thin layer means minimal thermal mass. Clay brick homes stay cooler in summer and warmer in winter.
Moisture Absorption Approx.
20 gms/minute
per 30 sq. ins.		 40-80 gms/minute per 30 sq. ins. N / A Similar to concrete. Similar to concrete With Clay brick
your home does
not go through drastic colour
change in rain.
Repair and Maintenance Little or no maintenance required with proper design detailing and good clay brick practice. Concrete eventually may require colour correction due to colour fading. Replacement may
be needed due to scratches, dents and warpage. Wood requires painting.		 Caulking is critical and requires regular attention Occasional units fall off, no mechanical anchors. Clay brick looks better as it ages and requires virtually no maintenance
Impact Resistance Resists everything from hail to golf balls to bullets with little or no damage. Resists everything from hail to golf balls to bullets with little or no damage. Dimples or punctures upon impact, bullets pass through unimpeded. Minor disaggregation from hail, bullets pass through. Minor disaggregation from hail, bullets pass through. Clay brick protects you from hail, errant golfers
and terrorists.
     
         
    Clay brick and fire
Clay brick fire wall assemblies provide passive fire safety protection for building occupants.

  
      zip 4952k   pdf 458k    
             
    Clay brick and mould
Clay brick cavity walls provide excellent moisture management that helps protect the health of occupants.

  
      zip 552k   pdf 598k    
             
    Sustainability
Clay brick’s thermal mass helps reduce energy costs and HVAC equipment sizes.

  
      zip 506k   pdf 548k