In the Upper Tigris region of south-eastern Turkey, sun-dried mud was used to make the first known red bricks, which have a date of approximately 7,500 BC. Archeological proof shows the principal terminated blocks were most likely delivered in the third thousand years BC in the center east. Mud blocks don't confront extreme weather patterns, so the advancement of terminated blocks implied that super-durable structures could be developed in regions with high precipitation or cold or exceptionally sweltering climates. Red Bricks have the added benefit of being excellent insulators, storing heat during the day and slowly releasing it at night.
There is ample archeological evidence of their use throughout Europe and Asia by 1200 BC, and the Romans assisted in the spread of red bricks throughout the Roman Empire.
The development of transportation networks and automobiles much later, in the 18th and 19th centuries, led to more centralized and industrialized manufacturing of building materials. Up to that point blocks, being weighty in mass, would in general be made near where they were utilized for development. This industrialization of the cycle made shape and size more normalized too. Instead of requiring "jigsaw skills" to use stones of various shapes and sizes, this made construction faster and simpler for bricklayers. During the industrial revolution, quick construction was essential, so bricks became increasingly common.
So what's in a block? Clay is used most often to make bricks. Crude mud is blended in with sand (to lessen shrinkage). A hydraulic press is used to press the mixture into steel molds after it is ground and mixed with water. The blocks are then terminated to 1,000 centigrade, which secures their solidarity. Rail kilns are used in modern brickmaking, where Facing Bricks are fed through a kiln on a conveyor belt to ensure continuous production.
Naturally, not all bricks are created equal. For instance, some are paler or yellower, while others are redder. The variety is affected by the mineral substance of the mud utilized. Therefore, pale bricks contain more lime than red bricks. Meanwhile, red bricks contain more iron. Additionally, the bricks will become darker the higher the temperature at which they are fired. Concrete bricks of today are typically gray.
So what do bricklayers like in a block? First things first, bricklaying is a manual job, so it's important that bricks can be easily picked up and handled in one hand so that cement can be laid with a trowel in the other. Bricklaying goes more quickly as a result. But depending on the nature of the job, there are other things to think about. Red Brick size, color, density, thermal properties, and fire resistance may all be important. Bricklayers frequently use large concrete blocks for internal, unseen work. With only two bricklayers on the job, a wall can be built quickly because of its size. It goes without saying that the color or even the shape of decorative or exposed brickwork will be crucial to achieving the desired effect.
Bricks were developed as a first step toward the construction of stronger, more durable structures. However, bricklayers now use them not only for walls and buildings but also for paving and pedestrian plazas—the modern cobbles. Blocks are additionally utilized in enterprises requiring heaters. For the production of glass and metals, the bricks used in furnaces are subjected to constant, extremely high temperatures of 1,500 degrees Celsius. As a result, they need to be made specifically for that kind of environment.
Bricks are everywhere, but few people are aware of their characteristics, manufacturing process, or origin. The bricklayers who lay them have also been around for millennia. They are serious areas of strength for a building material that has changed very little for millennia and that will without a doubt continue protecting us long into the future.
Comments