| Although brick and tile are two of the oldest | | | | facing brick is used on visible parts of buildings where |
| construction materials, they remain favorites among | | | | kiln bricks are reserved for non-visible parts - just like |
| homebuilders and home improvement specialists | | | | the common brick. You will typically find the common |
| today. And there's a good reason for it! Not only is | | | | brick along sidewalls. As decoration, brick veneer is |
| brick and tile beautiful, they're strong and resistant to | | | | thinner (shallow) than the others and is used (with |
| high winds and they're responsive to temperature - | | | | mortar) to surface interior walls. |
| making them premium textiles for shelter and | | | | Brick veneer isn't the only type of brick that's used |
| insulation. | | | | for aesthetic purposes however. You can create an |
| Brick and Tile Have A History | | | | interesting atmosphere within your home with |
| Brick has a history that's at least six thousand years | | | | tapestry brick, which is impressed with a design, or |
| old. Made of clay, bricks are made by burning them in | | | | with molded brick, which is shaped into interesting |
| a kiln for a specific length of time. The end result is a | | | | forms (curves, arches, etc.). |
| collection of 2 1/4 Ã- 3 3/4 Ã- 8-inch | | | | Tile Types |
| blocks of heat resistant, strong, and hard block of | | | | Interestingly, you'll find a lot more different kinds of |
| building material. Their simple production is what lends | | | | tile than you'll find of brick. We've already introduced |
| to this material's historical and cultural expansion. | | | | terra cotta, but we haven't touched on facing tile |
| Tiles of the past were made of clay as well. Only | | | | (otherwise known as flooring or wall tile). Like facing |
| recently have we begun tile production with synthetic | | | | brick, facing tile is meant for visible areas. |
| plastic. Historically, facing tile is the most common and | | | | Italian Faience tile is known for it's opaque glazes |
| you've surely seen this style of tile as a flat glazed | | | | whereas Spanish Majolica tile is known for its bright |
| square. Another style that you might be familiar with | | | | surfaces. Dutch Delft tile shows off an oriental |
| is terra cotta - hard-unglazed brownish-red | | | | appearance with white or blue hues. |
| earthenware. Terra cotta is usually applied to brick or | | | | You Have A Wide Assortment to Work From |
| plaster. | | | | As you can see, you have a wide selection of both |
| Brick Types | | | | tile and brick to pick and choose from when you're |
| Different types of brick serve different purposes. | | | | thinking about laying out a new floor or wall or even |
| The most widely recognized brick is a reddish clay | | | | counter top. You're limited only by your imagination |
| and sand combination that might have a hole in the | | | | and your contractor can help you decide which type |
| middle of it. This kind of brick is known as a Kiln Brick. | | | | of tile or brick is suitable for your climate, lifestyle, or |
| Facing brick is kiln-burned also; however it has a | | | | creative goals! |
| smoother and more attractive surface. As a result, | | | | |