Alright, let’s gab about this brick finish thing. You know, the way them bricks look on a house or a wall. I ain’t no fancy builder or nothing, but I’ve seen my fair share of bricks in my day. My old man, he used to lay bricks, God rest his soul. Tough work, that was.
So, first off, they got all sorts of ways them bricks can look. Some shiny, some rough, some smooth as a baby’s bottom. They call it “brick finish,” I guess. Sounds fancy, but it just means how the brick feels and looks, you see?
Now, some bricks, they look real shiny, like they got a coat of somethin’ on ’em. That’s what they call “glazed,” I think. Makes ’em look pretty, and probably keeps the water out too. Then you got these rough ones, they call ’em “rusticated” or somethin’. Looks like they just pulled ’em outta the ground, all bumpy and uneven. But I reckon they’re strong, them ones.
- Glazed Bricks: Shiny and smooth, good for keeping water out.
- Waterstruck Bricks: Looks kinda wet, with a soft edge.
- Handmade Bricks: Each one a little different, not all perfect and the same.
- Rusticated Bricks: Rough and bumpy, looks old-timey.
- Dragfaced Bricks: Scratched up on purpose, for a different look.
- Rolled Bricks: Got a textured pattern on ’em.
- Sandfaced Bricks: Looks like they got sand stuck to ’em.
- Smooth Bricks: Just like the name says, nice and smooth.
And then there’s the way they stick them bricks together. That’s important too, you know. They use somethin’ called “mortar,” like a glue for bricks. And the lines between the bricks, them “mortar joints,” they can be thick or thin, neat or messy. It all changes how the wall looks. A good bricklayer, he knows how to make them joints look just right. Not too much, not too little. Just right.
I remember when they built that new schoolhouse down the road. Them bricklayers, they were somethin’ else. They had these fancy tools and they moved so fast. But they took their time with them joints, makin’ sure everything was straight and even. It’s like sewin’ a quilt, you know? You gotta be precise, or it ain’t gonna look right.
And speakin’ of lookin’ right, you can even use bricks to make pretty patterns. They call ’em “bonds” or somethin’. Like, they can stack the bricks straight, or they can stagger ’em, or even make little designs. It’s amazing what they can do with just bricks and mortar. I saw a fella once made a whole picture outta bricks, a flower it was, pretty as you please.
You know, some folks like to put a coat of somethin’ on their bricks to protect ’em. Keeps the water out, and makes ’em last longer. They call it “sealing” or protectin’. Like puttin’ a raincoat on your house. Smart, if you ask me. Specially in them places where it rains a lot.
And if you’re thinkin’ about puttin’ in a little brick path in your yard, that’s a good idea too. Makes things look nice, and keeps your shoes clean. Just make sure them bricks are level, or you’ll be trippin’ all over the place. And you gotta make sure them bricks are flush with the ground, so you don’t trip over them. My old man, he always said, “measure twice, cut once.” Same goes for layin’ bricks, I reckon.
So, that’s about all I know about brick finish. It ain’t rocket science, but it’s important. Makes a house look good, and keeps it standin’ strong. And if you’re gonna do it yourself, just take your time and do it right. That’s what my old man always said, anyway.
Different Brick Bonds and Patterns: They ain’t just stackin’ bricks willy-nilly, ya know. They got these patterns, like how you lay out a quilt, they call ‘em “bonds.” Some are straight, some are staggered, some make little designs. It all adds to how the wall looks, gives it some character.
Application Techniques: Now, layin’ bricks ain’t just slappin’ them together. You gotta have the right mix for the mortar, gotta lay ‘em straight, gotta make sure them joints are just right. It’s a skill, takes time and practice to get it right. My old man, he used to say a good bricklayer is like an artist, makin’ somethin’ beautiful and strong at the same time.
Protecting Your Brickwork: And just like you gotta take care of your clothes and your garden, you gotta take care of your bricks too. They got these things you can put on ’em, like a coat of somethin’, to keep the water out and make ’em last longer. Keeps ’em lookin’ good for years to come.
So, there you have it. A little bit about brick finish, from someone who’s seen a whole lotta bricks in her time. It ain’t everything, but it’s enough to get you started. And if you’re ever in doubt, just ask a bricklayer. They know what they’re doin’.
Tags: [brick finish, brickwork, brick patterns, mortar joints, bricklaying, brick types, brick sealing]
