Brick Match

[byrneperk]

Hello all

I'm adding a first floor to a 1920s bungalow. I will be painting the brick as existing. Ideally looking for the cheapest brick that will finish similar to the existing. Any ideas what the existing brick is? Or what a cheap similar brick could be? Thanks.

 

[LawnMower]

LBC Common will be close enough if painting

 

[byrneperk]

Thank you....just had a look. They do seem close. I'm trying to work out whether the closest match matters? I can get warnham red for 47p inc VAT per brick but the face looks very different. Those LBC look like 90p a brick which on my build is about 4k vs 7.5k.

 

[LawnMower]

What I tend to do with "commons" is go into Buidbase/Jewsons etc and ask how much the rejects/regrades are (these are bricks which are ungraded as colours etc might be different"
Normally they will have thousands of these which they sell to builders for footings etc.

With all Lbc bricks one side is plain anyway just like the "common"

The prices of these are drastically lower, play one merchant off against the other and they will fall over themselves beating each others price down

 

[^woody^]

Engineering bricks will be similar once painted and will be generally cheaper than any facing or common brick.

 

[byrneperk]

That's an interesting point, using engineering bricks. Did you suggest that as you feel the existing look like they might be engineering bricks or just because they are cheap and can be painted?

I suppose they are heavier, so would need to check with structural engineer. Can anyone think of a reason other than that why, in my case, engineering bricks wouldn't be a good choice?

Thanks

 

[stuart45]

LBC commons are a bit easier to work with, although these days are usually more expensive.
There was a report by BRE years ago that Flettons were not suitable for painting.

 

[byrneperk]

I've just read the same articles. Flettons and Common bricks are not for painting. Doesn't stuck well after a couple of years. Also similar to engineering Brick, it doesn't stay on as it's less porous? Maybe I should start by looking at cheaper bricks that paint well (although hard to get a Google search that helps!). Sandy face came up in one....although it won't match existing but will last, maybe that's a better quality to aim for?

 

[^woody^]

What is this about paint not sticking to bricks? I beg to differ, its a nightmare to get off when you don't want it, so why won't it stick when you want it to?