Facing Bricks FAQs

Concrete facing bricks are made from a mixture of Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC), high-quality aggregates and iron oxide pigments which are vibrated into moulds and subsequently cured using steam at a high temperature. For more information about concrete facing bricks, read our facing the facts: debunking the myths about concrete facing brick blog.

Yes. Tobermore manufactures a range of innovative concrete facing bricks, ideal for self builders and housebuilders alike. Customers can choose either Kingston, our smooth facing brick option, or Lansdowne, our rustic, tumbled facing bricks. Tobermore’s facing bricks are readily available with short lead times, ensuring your project gets completed on schedule.

Tobermore use market-leading vapour curing technology in the production process. Products are vapour cured for a minimum 12-hour period which significantly reduces the possibility of efflorescence and speeds up the availability of the product as the vapour curing ensures it hardens much faster than traditional drying-out methods. For more information on how to maintain concrete brick products, please access our cleaning and maintenance guide.

Whilst both products are made from different materials and will have different characteristics, they can both generally be used in construction for the same purposes. Concrete facing bricks emit less CO2 than clay alternatives. E.g., Tobermore Kingston bricks – 290kg CO2 per 1000 bricks (figure independently verified March 2024) vs. clay bricks – 453.19kg CO2 average per 1000 bricks (data taken from clay brick average EPD).

For more information about concrete facing bricks, read our facing the facts: debunking the myths about concrete facing brick blog.

Concrete facing bricks are 100% recyclable. The aggregates used in the manufacturing of our facing bricks are sourced from our own quarry which is only 10 miles away from our factory. This greatly reduces our impact and carbon footprint. Tobermore concrete bricks are manufactured in the UK and have no adverse environmental impacts associated with imported products such as clay bricks.

Concrete Brick have a BRE A+ Rating for brickwork. Concrete facing bricks emit less CO2 than clay alternatives. For e.g., Tobermore Kingston bricks – 290kg CO2 per 1000 bricks (figure independently verified March 2024) vs. clay bricks – 453.19kg CO2 average per 1000 bricks (data taken from clay brick average EPD). For our available Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs), please access the EPDs section of our website.

This is difficult to put an exact figure on due to a lack of empirical studies, and will be strongly dependent on various circumstances. However, masonry is one of the most durable components of a building, meaning concrete facing bricks have a potential lifespan in excess of 100 years. Modern concrete manufacturing methods and the use of high quality cement, aggregates and pigments provide concrete bricks with excellent frost resistance and durability.

They also benefit from the fact that they increase in strength as they age. Therefore, provided they have been designed and constructed in the correct way and used in the appropriate location, they should be suitable for their intended use. For more information on our facing bricks and masonry range, please access our dedicated facing bricks and walling landing page.

Productivity – Tobermore have conducted in-house testing which has confirmed that Tobermore facing brick can achieve lifts of 1.5 metres or 20 courses per day which is the maximum height in accordance with BS 8000-3, making their productivity rate comparable with clay.

Aggregates – We can guarantee consistency of quality as we use the best aggregates available to ensure we are in complete control of the main raw materials used to produce our facing bricks. All of our aggregates are sourced locally within the UK.

Strength – Our facing bricks exceed the minimum compressive strength in excess of 22N/ mm2 and comfortably exceed the performance requirements of the standard. What’s even better is that Tobermore facing brick will gain strength with age.

Durability – Independent laboratory tests have been carried out and have proven that Lansdowne and Kingston are categorised as frost resistant (F2), offering high durability against the elements.

Voids – We manufacture Lansdowne and Kingston with three perforated voids in each brick. This provides significant benefits for a brick layer as the product bonds to the mortar on both sides and reduces the issue of floating.

Colour – Lansdowne and Kingston are produced in a choice of solid and blended colours which can be used to create complementary and contrasting features alongside our block paving and paving slab products. Only the best Iron Oxide pigments available on the market are sourced to produce the distinctive colours. These pigments are manufactured to BS EN 12878, offering excellent colour retention properties as demonstrated through completed projects that have been revisited years after construction, and the colours still look as strong and vibrant as ever.

Click here for more information on our facing bricks and masonry range.

For best practice, Tobermore facing bricks should only be laid when they are dry. Therefore, it is important to keep them protected prior to use. Wet bricks will be more difficult to lay, may not achieve the correct bond with the mortar, and may shrink, potentially leading to cracks in the finished brickwork. We recommend that opened packs are protected as should any stacked out bricks on the scaffold. If bricks are wet, the packs should be opened and the bricks spaced out to allow air to circulate and allow the bricks to dry out.

For more information on best installation practice for our facing bricks, please navigate to the best practice on-site section of our walling & masonry brochure.

It is always important to keep bricks as clean as possible while laying and tooling. If mortar has been allowed to dry on the surface of the bricks, the options you have to clean it off are as follows. Each process should be tested first and should ensure the facing bricks are not damaged:

a. Dry brushing

b. Wet brushing

c. Using a ‘like coloured’ brick to rub the stained brick

d. Pressure washing should only be used as a last resort as it will damage the surface and the mortar joint if not completed correctly (this method cannot be attempted until the area has been allowed to set for a minimum of 7 days).

Acid cleaning should be avoided.

For best practice on-site when using our facing brick products, navigate to the best practice on-site section of our walling & masonry brochure. 

Hairline cracks that appear in brickwork can be unsightly and cause concern. However, it is not usually a major issue unless the cracks are wide and are replicated through to the inner leaf. In cases like this, it could indicate a structural issue and will require investigation by a qualified structural engineer. The majority of hairline cracks in concrete or clay brickwork are caused by moisture or thermal movement. They are usually classed as micro (hairline) cracks which either run through the bricks themselves and/or the bricks and the mortar. They can occur when the mortar is too strong. If mortar is too strong, it prevents sufficient flexibility within the structure.

Cracks can be dealt with as follows:

1. Very fine micro cracks: it may be more practical to leave them as any repairs may actually make them more noticeable.

2. Slightly wider cracks: Cracked mortar can be raked out and repointed. The cracks in the bricks can be repaired by filling and tinting if necessary.

3. If absolutely necessary, it is possible to cut out the bricks and mortar and replace. This should be carried out by an experienced bricklayer who has been trained to do this type of replacement. It must be acknowledged that this type of repair may look unsightly at first as it can be difficult to achieve an exact colour match for the mortar. Any differences in colour usually dissipate as the mortar matures.

Please refer to the ‘good practice on-site’ section of Tobermore’s Walling and Masonry brochure for more guidance on best practice to avoid hairline cracks in your brickwork.

To achieve a quality finish which is visually consistent and evenly distributes any slight variations in shade, colour and texture over the entire project area the following is recommended in accordance with established good practice.

A suitable site reference panel should be built prior to commencement of brickwork in order to provide a fair representation of the finished brick appearance. Brick panels should be viewed from a distance of three metres. This is sufficient to reliably compare the aesthetic characteristics of the full delivery of facing bricks with the approved reference panel. When building a one-off unit or wall, select products from the same batch. This can be achieved by checking the batch code labels displayed on the packs. Although products are preblended in their packs, bricklayers should always thoroughly mix products from a minimum of three packs simultaneously. This is standard industry best practice as stated in the British Standard Code of Practice for Masonry BS8000 Part 3: Workmanship on building sites states “To achieve a good blend, units should be loaded out from at least three packs. For upper lifts, loading bays need to accommodate at least three packs, if blending cannot take place on the ground. A balance of bricks from a previous load should be kept prior to another load arriving so that a continuous blend is maintained throughout the brickwork. This applies equally to both blended and solid colours. House Builders / Developers should allocate products from the same batch to specific plots.

When products are supplied in packs with vertical slices always select the product vertically and diagonally slice by slice as this ensures colours, shades and textures are distributed evenly over the entire installation.

When products from different batches are installed in one area it will be more difficult to achieve a consistent finish. Therefore, we would advise that you take this into consideration and follow our guidance for “Achieving a quality finish”.

Where products from different batches are being installed in the same area it is the installers responsibility to carry out a colour match check by comparing colours from each batch. If a noticeable variance in colour / shade or texture is visible, do not proceed with the installation and contact your supplier for further guidance.

Irrespective of the product colour always thoroughly mix products from a minimum of three packs simultaneously with some overlap between batches / deliveries to minimise any possible colour banding /shading.

The overall visual appearance of a completed installation should only be assessed from the normal viewing distance. Variations in colour/shade and texture are technically harmless, do not affect the products performance and are not deemed to be a product defect.

Yes. Tobermore concrete facing bricks are suitable for use above and below DPC, but not as the actual DPC. The relevant standards BS 5628 and PD 6697: 2010 recommend a minimum compressive strength of 22.5N/mm2 for the majority of locations. The foundation below the DPC should be properly compacted and prepared to provide a level stable base upon which the concrete facing bricks are laid. Installation instructions from the concrete facing brick manufacturer should always be followed. This will help to ensure that the correct mortar mix is used and that the bricks are installed and bedded in correctly to provide robust layers beneath the DPC with no gaps that could provide a route for water to enter the structure.

For more information on the benefits of using Tobermore facing bricks above and below the DPC, read our dedicated blog on the topic: Can concrete facing bricks be used below the damp proof course (DPC).

The provisions of the Eurocode for masonry are written as a principle followed by a series of application rules to achieve the principle. In the case of movement, the principle is: The possibility of masonry movement shall be allowed for in the design such that the performance of the masonry in use is not adversely affected by such movement. The way of achieving this situation is by the use of movement joints to subdivide large areas of brickwork into smaller panels so that, in particular, shrinkage of the brickwork does not allow sufficient tension to build up in the wall that it cracks. In particular, long low panels are to be avoided. The maximum spacing of movement joints is a national matter and the National Annex to BS EN 1996-2 recommends a value of 9m for concrete brickwork with the provision that it may be less if the length: height of the sub-panel created exceeds 3:1. In practice, movement joints are often spaced at 6m – 9m as recommended in PD6697. Tobermore recommends a maximum spacing of 6m.

Please refer to the ‘Design for Movement’ section of Tobermore’s Walling and Masonry brochure for more guidance on best practice to avoid hairline cracks in your brickwork.

There are no specific allowances that need to be made when building with Tobermore concrete facing bricks. Construction using concrete bricks is very similar to using any other masonry products. The accurate dimensions of a concrete facing brick can help with laying. Bricks should be kept dry and in accordance with BS 8000-3. The height of lifts should not exceed 1.5 metres each day.

Please refer to the ‘good practice on site’ section of Tobermore’s Walling and Masonry brochure for more guidance on best practice for laying concrete facing bricks.

The joint profiles in brickwork make up approximately 17% of the overall wall area and different joint profiles can affect both the aesthetics and weathering properties of the wall.

1. Raked joints increase the risk of water penetration.

2. A concave joint reduces water penetration through the joints. (Tobermore recommends a concave joint) Industry guidance for mortar joint specification in masonry.

Ranked Joint:

This joint strongly emphasises horizontal joints. However, it is a very poor weather joint and is not recommended if exposed to weather. This mortar joint incorporates the ledge of the block to create the horizontal lines that are so desirable with this joint. This ledge is a collector of rain water as it pours down the wall. Eventually, the water will find its way around the mortar joint into the interior of the wall and building.

Concave Joint:

This is the most common joint used in masonry construction. The tooling works the mortar tight into the joint to produce a more consistent weather joint. The pattern is emphasised and small irregularities in laying are concealed.

Please refer to the ‘good practice on-site’ section of Tobermore’s Walling and Masonry brochure for more guidance on best practice for laying and jointing concrete facing bricks.

Tobermore concrete facing bricks look fantastic without the requirement for coloured mortars. However, there are many suppliers of pre-mixed mortars that can supply colour swatches or samples of different coloured mortars if you require it. This is usually a better option than using pigments and making coloured mortars on-site as it is difficult to maintain a consistent colour.

Refer to the ‘selection of mortars’ section of Tobermore’s Walling & Masonry brochure for more guidance on best practice when selecting mortar for use with our concrete facing bricks.

BS 7533 states that a cut block should not be smaller than a quarter of a full-size block. Blocks should be cut using a masonry saw with water suppressant or bench mounted water-cooled power saw to ensure the best appearance of this block, regardless of what laying pattern is chosen by the installer.

Inboard cutting should be used to ensure individual blocks are not cut less than a quarter of the original size. Inboard cutting ensures structural performance by utilising larger cuts as opposed to smaller ones, particularly at the border or edge of a paved space. For installation guides and specification sheets for all our products, please access the downloads section of our website.