{"id":20158,"date":"2017-09-15T15:00:00","date_gmt":"2017-09-15T15:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/architizer.wpengine.com\/?p=20158"},"modified":"2022-04-08T08:33:45","modified_gmt":"2022-04-08T12:33:45","slug":"eantka-panel-brick","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/staging.arc.ht\/blog\/product-guides\/product-guide\/eantka-panel-brick\/","title":{"rendered":"An Architect’s Guide To: Panel Brick"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Working with brick can be exhausting. Sure, bricks are among the most striking of architectural materials, but they\u2019re heavy and laborious and can be downright expensive. And so, why wrestle with brick when you can harness brick panel? Thin, panelized brick approximates the look and feel of masonry brick while occupying much less space and requiring less support. It also tends to be much less expensive, which makes it an attractive choice for budget-conscious projects.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Experimental Brick Pavilion<\/a> by Botteri-Connell<\/a><\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

There are a wide range of brick panel<\/a> products out there, ranging from the polyurethane panels available from your local building supply store to custom-made reclaimed-brick veneers. Some are specifically for interiors, some are virtually indistinguishable from traditional masonry brick and others celebrate their panel-ness by being able to be collaged in a variety of textures. Manufacturers of brick panels frequently make stone panels as well, so if you are in the market for stone panels, this guide may be helpful to you as well. <\/span><\/p>\n

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Mulberry House<\/a> by SHoP Architects<\/a><\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

Panel Brick Systems<\/h2>\n

Faux Brick: <\/b>Faux bricks are typically made of high-density plastic and come in ready-to-install panels that interlock to form a relatively seamless surface. They are usually glued or nailed to a backing substrate. These panels are the lowest-cost option.<\/span><\/p>\n

Thin Brick Veneer: <\/b>Thin bricks<\/a> are generally made of the same clay as traditional masonry brick, but they are much \u2014 you guessed it \u2014 thinner. This means that they can be individually applied to walls as though they were tiles or in large prefab panels that can be connected to a backing wall. As shown above, various systems attach a metal backing to structural sheathing, and then thin bricks are individually placed in supports on the backing panel. The system is then finished with a grout, as opposed to masonry mortar.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Precast concrete panel installation; image via\u00a0SlenderWall<\/a><\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

Precast Concrete Panels: <\/b>Precast concrete panels<\/a> can be finished to look like brick or can have brick or thin brick embedded in them. These panels can come as part of prefabricated wall assemblies that arrive on-site fully formed, as shown above, or they are simply large cladding panels installed into a larger wall package.<\/span><\/p>\n

Masonry Brick Panels: <\/b>Traditional masonry bricks can also be assembled off-site and installed as a premade panel. Although these are, in a sense, brick panels, such assemblies are typically available from traditional masonry brick manufacturers or contractors and are treated differently to veneer panels.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Cultural Center La Gota. Tobaco Museum<\/a> by Losada Garcia Architects<\/a><\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

Flexbrick: <\/b>Flexbrick<\/span><\/a> is an innovative product that connects thin bricks on long wires, creating something like a brick fabric. This mesh can be expanded to create a translucent screen, flexed to create a curved wall or embedded in another surface to create a brick veneer. More information on Flexbrick can be found <\/span>How Flexbrick Is Making It Easy to Create Large-Format Screen Fa\u00e7ades<\/span><\/a>, in which Architizer interviewed the creator of Flexbrick, Vicente Sarrablo.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Block A Noordstrook<\/a> by Dick van Gameren<\/a><\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

Aesthetics<\/h2>\n

Just as masonry bricks are available in an array of styles, so are brick panels. Below are some characteristics to think about when selecting masonry brick or panel brick.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Coursing:\u00a0<\/strong>Masonry units can be oriented in different ways to create patterns and visual styles. Common coursing patterns include:<\/span><\/p>\n