Alright, let’s talk about them water-struck bricks, you know, the ones they use for buildin’ stuff. I ain’t no fancy expert or nothin’, but I seen enough houses and walls in my day to tell ya a thing or two.
What are these water-struck bricks anyway?
Well, from what I gather, it’s all about how they make ’em. See, they take this wet clay, real muddy-like, and they shove it into these molds. But here’s the trick – they wet the molds down with water first. Why? So the brick don’t stick, see? Smart, ain’t it? Then they scrape off the extra clay from the top – that’s the “struck” part, I reckon. So, water in the mold, clay gets struck… water-struck brick! Makes sense, kinda.
- They use water to make the bricks not stick
- Extra clay gets scraped off
Now, I heard tell there’s another kind too, called sand-struck. Same idea, but instead of water, they use sand in the molds. Guess it does the same job, keepin’ the bricks from stickin’. But we ain’t talkin’ about them sandy ones today, we’re talkin’ ’bout the water kind.
Why do folks like these water-struck bricks so much?
Well, for starters, they look nice. They got this smooth face, but with a little somethin’ somethin’ to it. A kinda texture, you know? Not rough, but not plain neither. It’s hard to explain, but you see it, you know it. Folks say it gives a building character, makes it look… well, fancy, I guess, even though makin’ them don’t sound all that fancy.
And they’re strong too, I reckon. Houses made outta these bricks, they last a good long time. Course, nothin’ lasts forever, ‘specially if you don’t take care of it. Water can be a problem, you see. Too much water ain’t good, even for water-struck bricks. Seems kinda backwards, don’t it?
If water gets in them bricks and freezes in the winter, well, it can make ’em crack. Ice expands, you know, pushes things apart. And the mortar too, that stuff they use to stick the bricks together. Water can wash it away, bit by bit, till the whole wall starts to crumble. So, you gotta keep the water out, best you can.
Where do they use these water-struck bricks?
Everywhere, it seems! Houses, sure, but also fancy buildings, walls, fireplaces… you name it. They come in different colors too, not just that plain old brick red. I’ve seen yellow ones, grey ones, even some that look almost black! They got all sorts of colors these days, I guess. Makes things look interesting, I suppose.
They say these water-struck bricks have been around for a long time. Folks been makin’ ’em for ages. And I reckon they’ll keep makin’ ’em for a long time to come. They’re just good bricks, simple as that. Strong, pretty, and reliable. Can’t ask for much more, can ya?
So, there you have it. That’s my two cents on water-struck bricks. Like I said, I ain’t no expert, just an old woman who’s seen a thing or two. But I know what I like, and I like a good solid brick, specially the kind that don’t stick when you make ’em.
And that’s all there is to it, really. Nothin’ too fancy, just good ol’ fashioned bricks made in a good ol’ fashioned way. They look nice, they last long, and they keep the rain out… mostly. Just gotta make sure the water stays on the outside where it belongs, and your house’ll stand strong for years to come.
Keepin’ Your Bricks in Good Shape
Now, if you got yourself a house or a wall made outta these here water-struck bricks, you gotta take care of it. Like I said, water can be a problem. So, make sure your gutters are clean and your roof ain’t leakin’. And if you see any cracks in the mortar, fix ‘em up quick before they get worse. A little bit of upkeep goes a long way, you know.
And don’t go power washin’ your bricks neither! That’s just askin’ for trouble. All that pressure can damage the surface and make ‘em more likely to soak up water. Just a gentle scrub with some soap and water is all you need. Or just let the rain do its job, that works too.
Anyways, I gotta go now. Got chores to do and whatnot. But I hope I taught you somethin’ about these water-struck bricks. They’re good bricks, they are. Just gotta treat ’em right, and they’ll treat you right back.
Tags: [water-struck brick, brick making, building materials, construction, brick texture, water damage, brick maintenance, architecture, masonry, home improvement]
