Would you use second quality bricks?

[Wiredcharlie]

I'm building a smallish single story extension. I local merchant specialises in end of line and second quality bricks. We saw a suitable brick there, but was told it was a second - so there would be extra variation on colour and size. They are 32p each instead of 42p. Would I be silly to buy them and if so why?

Much appreciated

Tony

 

[noseall]

Colour variation isn't so bad as long as there is a variety of colours or shades throughout the range. It is a case of mixing up the packs. Problems may arise say, if you were to be a pack short on a gable for instance and the final pack ended up being a completely different colour.

Size also may slow the brickie down. If he happens to lay a lot of long bricks in a long run then he could end up having to cut a brick to fit. Similar with coursing-up. He may need to either muck-up or screw down accordingly.

Running into window and door opening can also be troublesome with differing sizes.

That said, there are huge variations in size when laying re-claims and brickies cope.

If you are prepared to see the perp's wander and the bed joints thick and thin with a few speckles here and there then no prob's, go for it!

Make sure you tell the brickies though.

 

[Thermo]

we use them quite often when doin small garden walls etc. as long as you are prepared to chuck the odd, odd one, then there is no real problem with them, dependent on what theyre being used for of course!

 

[^woody^]

Some bricks may be seconds because of problems when fired - over fired, uneven burning, bad batches of clay etc.

These become very brittle and prone to cracking, or spalling.

If the second grading is just due to shade or size, then no probelm

 

[Nige F]

If you are prepared to see the perp's wander and the bed joints thick and thin with a few speckles here and there then no prob's, go for it!

.

Just look at any 60`s estate for that effect

 

[Wiredcharlie]

Thanks chaps. Some really useful points there. It was looking like I might need to buy a few additional "perfect" bricks to make up the numbers, so thanks for mentioning the gable end.

Tony