Brick Suppliers
Matching brick for a historic repair is a matter of size, texture, colour and, above all, hardness. Bricks before the twentieth century were made in imperial sizes that vary regionally and by period, fired unevenly, and are generally softer and more porous than modern equivalents. Introducing a harder, denser brick into an old wall concentrates weathering in the surrounding original material. The suppliers here provide handmade and imperial-size bricks, reclaimed stock, specials and cut and rubbed work, and many will match from a sample brick sent to them.
What this category covers
- Handmade and imperial-size bricks for repair and extension
- Reclaimed bricks sorted and matched for historic walls
- Specials: plinths, bullnose, cants, squints and copings
- Rubbers and cutting bricks for gauged brickwork and arches
- Matching service from a supplied sample brick
Aldershaw Handmade Clay Tiles Ltd
Aldershaw Handmade Tiles makes clay tiles by hand at Pokehold Wood, Sedlescombe, ...
Heritage Brick Company
Heritage Brick Company is a family-run brick manufacturer and distributor based in ...
The Brick Development Association
The Brick Development Association is the trade body for the UK clay ...
Matching brick for a historic wall
Send a sample. Suppliers who work with conservation projects will match against a physical brick far more reliably than against a photograph, and can advise on which of their ranges comes closest in size, texture and firing.
Match hardness as well as appearance. A modern brick that looks right but is denser and less permeable pushes moisture and salt into the softer original bricks and mortar around it, and the damage shows within a few winters. Softer and slightly more porous is the safer direction.
Get the size right, including the joint. Imperial bricks vary regionally, and matching course heights depends on the mortar joint as much as the brick. Lay a sample panel and compare it against the existing wall before the main order.
Order specials and surplus early. Plinth bricks, cants, bullnoses, squints and gauged rubbers have long lead times, particularly handmade, and reclaimed batches cannot be repeated. Order more than the calculation requires.
Remember the mortar. A well-matched brick laid in cement mortar still damages the wall; lime mortar of an appropriate mix is part of the same specification.
Questions to ask
Why can't I use modern bricks to repair an old wall?
Because most are harder and less permeable than historic brick. Moisture and salts that would once have evaporated through the brick face are forced into the surrounding older material and the mortar, which then decays faster. Matching hardness matters as much as colour.
Are reclaimed bricks better than new handmade ones?
Not automatically. Reclaimed brick can match weathering and size exactly, but quality varies and frost-damaged or cement-fouled bricks need sorting out. Good handmade brick is more consistent and available in quantity. Many projects use both.
How do I match brick sizes on an old building?
Measure several course heights on the existing wall rather than a single brick, since the joint thickness is part of the dimension. Suppliers can then match brick size and advise on the mortar joint needed to keep coursing aligned.
All 7 businesses listed under Brick Suppliers
- Aldershaw Handmade Clay Tiles Ltd East Sussex
- British Brick Society Middlesex
- Coleford Brick & Tile Co Gloucestershire
- Heritage Brick Company South Yorkshire
- The Brick Development Association Staffordshire
- W. J. Cove West Sussex
- W.H.Collier Ltd Essex
Directory information is provided to help visitors identify potentially relevant specialists and suppliers. Inclusion does not constitute a recommendation, approval or guarantee by Tuscan Foundry Products. Please check current services, credentials, availability and suitability directly with each business.