blog

Face The Facts: Face Brick Is Here To Stay

Posted by

Zenith Beck

In the ever-changing world of architecture and construction, some things just never go out of style. Unfired clay bricks used in construction can be dated as far back as 7500 BC, with fired clay bricks appearing around 5000 BC in ancient civilisations like Mesopotamia and the Indus Valley. These bricks quickly gained popularity as one of the most durable building materials. Today, clay face brick is making a hot statement in modern architecture, not just as a building material, but as a bold design choice rooted in timelessness and practicality.

From Smooth to Textured: A Face Brick For Every Vision

While face brick may be timeless, that doesn’t mean it can’t get a face lift every now and then—and Klay is modernising the classic red clay brick with a rich variety of earthy colours, textures, shapes, and sizes. With textured Kalahari Travertine FBA, smooth Satin FBX/FBS, or special bricks like the FBA Double Cant or L Shape, you can design striking facades or interior features with versatility at your fingertips. Also available in 3 different colours—Chai, Latte, and Espresso—to increase the design possibilities even further.

Aesthetic Appeal: Timeless Design

Drawn to the visual versatility of clay face bricks, we’ve seen designers creating accent walls, fireplaces, and decorative design features, offering a wide range of uses beyond a simple building material. The Klay Concept range also includes a variety of screen blocks, tiles, and special bricks that may be used in conjunction with the face brick to complete the final look. Bricks may be laid in herringbone, stack bond, basket weave and other expressive bonding patterns.

Weylandts Studio have combined the Roman Linear face brick and Rectangle Single Pane screen block, playing with the openwork design and terracotta face brick to form a dynamic surface and textural depth. The contrast of these two products leaves you with a striking statement wall.

Complementing this modern approach to a face brick façade, Weylandts Studio have also designed a classic smooth face brick wall, channelling a more heritage-inspired build. Both designs prove clay face brick isn’t going anywhere and continues to hold a strong presence in contemporary design trends.

Functional Benefits: More Than a Pretty Face

Looks aside, fired clay face brick is known as one of the strongest building materials. Fired at temperatures over 1000°C, it’s naturally fire-, water-, and pest-resistant, making it a durable and safe choice for residential and commercial buildings alike.

Strong enough to support a home (or five!), clay face bricks can support multi-storey structures without cracking or compressing over time. It’s this enduring strength and dimensional stability that makes clay brick a favourite among architects and homeowners.

Maintenance & Care: Build It Into Your Lifestyle

Regular cleaning is essential to preserve the natural beauty of your clay bricks and prevent long-term damage. Think of it as part of your annual ‘spring cleaning’ checklist, especially if your face brick feature is outdoors. This will prevent staining, grime, or mould from forming.

It’s recommended to use a soft-bristled brush or low-pressure washer to clean your face brick, avoid harsh acids or abrasive cleaners as these can erode the surface over time. In cases of efflorescence build up, simply use a dry brush or mild detergent mixed with water to remove it gently.

Face brick is low-maintenance by nature, but with the right care, it will continue to look sharp and perform well for decades. But it is not only the after-care that’s important, how the bricks are laid from the start will really make all the difference.

Skilled Workmanship: The Key To a Quality Finish

Face brick is only as good as the hands who lay it. Precision, expertise, and a deep understanding of the material are going to assist in bringing out the full potential of your face brick project.

A skilled bricklayer knows how to blend batches for colour consistency, achieve precise mortar joints, and keep lines clean and level. The difference between a good build and a great one lies in the details: symmetry, flow, and finish.

Blending Face Brick: A Creative Process

It’s not as simple as laying brick upon brick. There’s a special artistry involved to ensure a visually harmonious flow of tone and texture across your creation. Because you are using a clay product made from the earth, there will be a natural colour variation between bricks.

Using bricks from different pallets as you go (at least 3) will help distribute these colour variations evenly across your project. You can also draw bricks vertically or diagonally, instead of just horizontally, to further distribute variations. Laying your bricks out in a ‘sample wall’ can provide a visual reference to how your project will look after blending, allowing you to make any changes if needed. The result is polished and intentional design.

More Than a Material: It’s an Investment

Choosing face brick is choosing an appreciation for craft, tradition, and timeless design. It’s warm, enduring and full of character. Klay’s face brick range is designed to bring together beauty and durability, made from natural clay, fired using energy-efficient processes, and built to last for generations. When combined with proper face brick blending techniques, these bricks create a visually seamless and harmonious facade, further elevating an architectural design.

Whether you’re building your forever home, a contemporary commercial space, or a feature wall for guests to admire, face brick lays the groundwork for something truly lasting.