The familiarity and frequency of bricks in our day-to-day lives might lead some to think that finding the right brick for a project is a simple task—far from it. Projects that require brick matching for existing brickwork in particular requires many more considerations that go beyond the brick’s colour.
If you’re new to brick matching and you want to understand how to get the best brick match possible, this handy guide will share what brick matching is, the key questions you should prepare to answer and more tips from an industry expert.
What is brick matching?
Brick matching is the process of identifying and specifying a brick that closely (or exactly) matches bricks in an existing structure in terms of colour, texture and dimensions.
In some circumstances, specifiers might be able to source the same product from a manufacturer if the building is relatively new and if the specific product range is still being manufactured. In many cases, however, they need to search for the closest match they can find from alternative clays or sources.
What type of projects require brick matching?
Typically, if a project requires brick matching, it falls into one of the following categories:
- Private extensions or annexes: Homeowners and house builders often look to match a residential property’s existing brickwork when building extensions or annexes, creating a cohesive, harmonious aesthetic across structures.
- Listed building refurbishment: Whether it’s privately owned or part of a commercial scheme, listed buildings in the UK have specific rules for refurbishment. This is partly to preserve the historic value of the building’s appearance, but also to ensure that new products don’t affect the building’s structural integrity or ability to retain heat and regulate moisture.
- Preserving the local landscape: New housing or commercial developments may need to blend with or complement the local area’s brickwork vernacular, especially if it’s a conservation area.
Key factors in brick matching
When we spoke to Mark Wall, Southern Commercial Director for Michelmersh, he shared the biggest challenge in brick matching for today’s projects: “Hundreds of years ago, due to brickworks locations and transportation methods (horse drawn carriages), projects locally sourced their materials. Over subsequent years, a large number of brickworks closed down, so finding a suitable match has become more difficult.”
But with over 30 years of experience in the brick industry, Mark emphasised, “if you can ask the right questions, it’s feasible.” If you want to get the best brick match possible, these are the questions you’ll want to be able to answer:
What type of brick are you matching?
If the brickwork you’re trying to match was built in the last 10-20 years, it’s more likely you’ll be able to source the same brick, or at least identify the manufacturer. This will help you narrow down the aesthetic and technical qualities of the brick you need.
Many brick manufacturers (including Michelmersh) will put an identification in the frog or, as part of Blockleys’ quality-assurance process, for example, an identification number at the rear of the brick.
Where is the brick going to be used?
“Brickwork on older properties may have been extended many times over the years,” says Mark. When requesting a brick match, it’s important to know which part of the brickwork will be left visible and which part will be covered by new brickwork. This ensures you’re matching with the correct brickwork.
You need to measure existing bricks for the best match—some manufacturers can supply bricks in various dimensions to match imperial sizes.
Location is also imperative for understanding the technical requirements a brick needs to meet, for safety, longevity and appearance. If the new brickwork is severely exposed to frost it needs to meet the high level of freeze-thaw resistance (F2) set by European standards. This requirement will somewhat limit the range of bricks you can specify for your project.
Is the existing brickwork going to be cleaned?
Brick matching takes time and care to get right, so it’s important to think ahead. If the brickwork you’re trying to match is likely to be cleaned before the new building work, this needs to be factored into the brick matching. Spot cleaning a small area of the brickwork will help achieve a more accurate match.
What brick bond, mortar and joint profile will be used?
While the brick itself is the main ingredient in brick matching, there are other factors you need to take into account. You will need to consider the type of brick bond, the mortar and joint profile that you’ll be using, as these all have an impact on the overall perception of a brick’s colour and texture. “Twenty percent of the appearance of brickwork is mortar,” explains Mark. “Getting the mortar right will ensure the appearance is as desired, including texture in some older buildings.”
More tips for the best brick match
Answering these questions will help you achieve a desirable brick match, but to achieve the best match possible, here are a few more tips from Mark, one of our experts:
- Take close-up and distance photographs: If you’re working with a builder’s merchant, distributor or manufacturer and you can’t show them the bricks in person, sending photos via email is the next best option. Most smartphone cameras will do the job well, but it helps to share both close-up and distance photos of the brickwork you’re trying to match as this gives experts a more accurate impression of the brick’s colour and texture.
- Submit multiple samples for approval: You might find two or more bricks which are a good match to your existing brickwork and look indistinguishable from one another. But they may differ in terms of their technical aspects, particularly water absorption, which can affect the brick’s appearance over time as it weathers from the elements. It is also recommended that once a brick has been chosen, a sample panel is constructed on site with the correct mortar and brick bond for final approval.
- Consider bespoke blends: Some manufacturers (including Michelmersh) offer bespoke blends of bricks to help provide the closest brick match possible. You can see this in action at Battersea Power Station, where we provided a bespoke blend of five Michelmersh products to seamlessly fit with the historic building’s existing brickwork legacy.
- Speak to experts: The brick industry is keeping pace with demand for originality and innovation, from advanced building information modelling (BIM) files for individual products to more sustainable brick-making methods. Yet experience still plays a vital role, particularly in brick-making. A sure-fire way to ensure your best brick match is to work with companies and professionals who have seen industry changes over the years and know about older bricks.
Find the perfect match with Michelmersh
If you’re looking for expert advice on brick matching for your project, our expert team are here to help. You can start by browsing our full product range or ordering our swatch book to identify potential colour matches on location. But we can also provide physical samples and, when you’ve made your selection, a metre-squared panel’s worth of bricks free of charge to check colour, texture, mortar and more in situ. Simply contact our team today to get started.
