Are these bricks rejects?

[Ivor Windybottom]

I just got a batch of class B engineering bricks delivered. I realise that of course they're not for decorative use. But they all have cracks and crazing on their faces. I've bought them before elsewhere but have never seen them looking like this...

They're to be used in a retaining garden wall. I'm concerned that the water will get into all these cracks, freeze and blow them apart.

The pallet looks really old, the paper between the layers is mouldy. I'm suspecting they've seen a DIY order and have sent the old rubbish that their trade customers wouldn't accept. It was all wrapped in black pallet wrap.

What do others think? Accept or ring them up and reject them?

 

[Ivor Windybottom]

They're Forterra. Here's the manufacturer's official photo of them...

 

[^woody^]

It depends if you paid for perfect or imperfect bricks and also if the crazing is characteristic of the clay or manufacturing process.

The brick would not necessarily be affected by freeze/thaw because of those fissures and crazing, rather it would take other factors such as clay impurities or the firing process.

It may be down to how many of the pack have the fissures.

 

[Ivor Windybottom]

I rang them. They crumbled as quickly as the bricks. They'll bring others and take them away, said they've changed suppliers due to quality issues. I said they look like old stock.

They were trying it on, trying to get rid of their junk on me. The curse of trade suppliers for DIYers, sadly. I've experienced similar before with another supplier.

If you zoom in on that first photo it's not just the two cracks, the entire surface is crazed. They're all as bad.

 

[Ivor Windybottom]

The replacement bricks were just as bad as the first lot. It's about 10 years since I last used engineering bricks, they definitely didn't look like this then. They could be a bit rough round the edges but I've never seen cracked faces before. I'll request a refund and look elsewhere.

It's for a retaining wall to the side of the house. It will be visible, but needs to be strong and frost resistant. I probably need to look at a decent frost-resistant facing brick rather than engineering bricks, if they're all as terrible as these nowadays.

Would be grateful for other opinions - do nice shiny presentable engineering bricks still exist?

 

[23vc]

I’ve deffo laid recent blue class Bs with cracks on the “good” face like your pic, and not batted an eyelid (rightly or wrongly). But I’ve no idea how many were like that, I tend to trust my merchant and didn’t pay much attention.
I also don’t reckon merchants deliberately fob off certain people with known defective products tbh…

 

[Ivor Windybottom]

I just phoned Brickhunter, who I've bought from before. Really helpful bloke, he just emailed me some photos of their bricks, Sandown Red Class B Perforated...

They're more like it. Not looking for perfection, these look vastly better. Will order from Brickhunter instead of local junk then.

 

[Ivor Windybottom]

I’ve deffo laid recent blue class Bs with cracks on the “good” face like your pic, and not batted an eyelid (rightly or wrongly). But I’ve no idea how many were like that, I tend to trust my merchant and didn’t pay much attention.

The two big cracks are obvious. But zoom into that original photo and the entire surface is crazed.

I doubt they'd last a winter. Especially not as the top course will be on edge, with their faces upwards.