When you decide that you want to work with stone and brick within your home, it’s important to understand the benefits of the materials you’re going to work with. Particularly as you choose flooring, you’re going to want to consider cement bricks or red bricks: which is better?
The reality is that both types of bricks have their advantages. However, many believe that concrete bricks are better for a few reasons. To understand why concrete bricks are better than red bricks, it’s best to look at both and what they have to offer.
Red bricks are some of the oldest construction materials still being used today. They’re made of clay, therefore, can be quite heavy. They’re abundant, though, so they’ll be easy to find – and that can be important if you’re looking for a fast turnaround on your project.
Red bricks are going to be found on virtually every masonry construction site. They are not going to be uniform in size and the texture can vary from brick to brick. However, they are popular – and many people like the aesthetic that is offered.
When you’re looking for something unique and a little quirky, red bricks can be a great addition to your home. They can add in a dark red color and may contain lime, iron, and magnesia – all of which can have an impact on the color.
If you’re looking for a uniform block, you’ll want to consider concrete blocks.
Concrete blocks are strong but relatively lightweight. They’re considered an eco-friendly building material. The reason for being eco-friendly is because less carbon dioxide is emitted during the manufacturing process. Based on the way that the blocks are constructed, they’re cut to provide a uniform size. In addition to cement, there’s also gypsum, ash, and lime in the mix. This can have an impact on the color as well as the various other properties. This is why it’s important to know what it is that you’re getting – and when you can get all of the blocks cut from the same lot, it will help to offer uniformity.
Due to the uniformity offered within concrete blocks, they’re used heavily throughout construction projects. This includes being used in internal and external walls as well as load-bearing walls.
What is the difference between concrete bricks and red bricks? Well, concrete is not only stronger but it also won’t absorb as much water. You’ll want to consider this as you choose your flooring material.
Concrete blocks tend to be easier to handle and they can be cut using simple cutting tools. Generally, it’s easier and faster to work with concrete blocks, which means it becomes the more popular material between the two. Concrete blocks are also earthquake resistant because of their lightweight properties.
Concrete is also a more affordable option. Much of this is not because of the bricks themselves but rather the use of mortar. Since red bricks have an irregular surface, they’ll use considerably more mortar. Concrete blocks don’t require as much because of the flat surface.
Think about what happens on your floors from day to day. Heavy furniture will sit on top of them – and you don’t want your flooring to collapse under the pressure. Additionally, there may be spills from time to time, especially in wet areas like the kitchen and bathrooms. Although your floors may be properly sealed, it’s important that the raw flooring material is up to the challenges of everyday life inside of your home.
If you have the pleasure of exploring floors made with both, you’ll see why concrete bricks are better than red bricks. And with the use of various dyes and coatings, you can get your floors to look as though they’ve been made with red bricks.
Talk to the professionals based on your project. They’ll be able to tell you more about the pros and cons of the two materials. Further, they can make recommendations so you know which one will work best inside of your home.
Once you’ve chosen your flooring, you’ll want to ensure you understand the maintenance requirements. At Prestige Stone Restoration, we can offer you a wide array of services to include cleaning, epoxy coating, sealing, and more. Whether you choose red brick or concrete block, we’ll be able to provide a restoration to ensure your floors, counters, and other surfaces in your home look beautiful year after year.
