As one of the most crucial building element, the materials used for wall construction, such as cement and bricks, should be considered carefully. The strength and durability of your wall depends on the cement, because cement will help the bricks stay in place and reduce the risk of damage to the wall structure. Therefore, make sure that you are using premium quality cement, such as Semen Merah Putih. As for the bricks, there are a lot of stone types that you could use for wall construction, such as red bricks, concrete bricks, and clay bricks. Clay brick is an alternative building material that is often used as a substitute for red bricks and concrete bricks. This kind of brick has its own advantages and disadvantages, and it is worth to be considered for house wall construction. Then, what is a clay brick?
Clay brick is a building material made of clay soil which consists of 50 to 60% amount of clay and has the shape of block, just like red brick. The difference between clay brick and red brick is that clay brick does not go through firing process during its making. Clay brick is molded, compacted, and dried naturally. The molding process allows clay brick to be produced in various shapes according to construction needs. Besides, the main material of clay brick is easier to obtain compared to red brick. Clay brick also has adjustable tensile strength. The strength depends on its main material’s contents, additional material composition, as well as brick density, so the tensile strength could be adjusted according to its intended use.
During the process of making red brick, there are often problems occuring to the bricks, such as damages found on the bricks and bricks that are not properly baked. This will result in wasted bricks. Meanwhile, clay brick has very small damage risk because it is made through molding and compacting processes.
Red brick and concrete brick tend to have rough and uneven surface. On the contrary, clay brick has a more even and smoother surface. This allows clay bricks to be arranged into a specific structure without having to apply any finishing plaster. Besides, the color of clay brick is also attractive and looks natural, so this kind of brick is very suitable for exposed wall look. Its natural color also makes clay brick suitable for use in buildings with various architecture layouts.
Even though clay brick is easier to produce and its production cost is cheaper compared to red brick, this kind of brick could also be used in buildings with elegant and luxurious concept. To create an elegant appearance, you could combine clay brick wall with the correct furnitures and lighting.
Beside the advantages mentioned above, clay brick also has some disadvantages. Clay brick could be damaged if it is exposed to excessive amount of water, molds, mildew, and salt water. To minimize the risk of clay brick damage, you could use some chemical materials as a protector, or you could also arrange the placement of clay bricks in places without exposure to water, molds, and mildew.
