Elephant Brick Co.

Handmade Bricks

Handmade bricks fall principally into two categories, sandstrucks and waterstrucks.

Sandstruck Bricks

Sandstruck bricks or sandstock brick, is often a misunderstood term and is unfortunately applied to bricks that are not sandstocks. Sandstock bricks are produced using the sandstruck method in which clay is hand pressed into a mould dusted with fine sand. Sandstock bricks have a regular rectangular "brick shape" but have highly textured elephant skin creasing with slightly ragged/chipped edges, this is their defining characteristic.

Waterstruck Bricks

Unlike sandstocks, waterstruck bricks have smoother textures, this is achieved but using wetter clay and the moulds are lined with water. Waterstruck moulding is sometimes referred to as "slop" moulding. Bricks produced using this method can be misshapen with deformed edges, this along with their smoother texture is their defining characteristic. Waterstruck bricks are still a very popular European style.

Comparison with Conventional Bricks

Handmade bricks are still just standard bricks, they have to meet all the same standards that conventional mass produced bricks do. The main difference between a handmade brick an a conventional mass produced extruded brick is character. Handmade bricks have an individuality than can not be achieved via mass production.

Are handmade bricks for you?

We would like to think that the answer is a resounding yes. But simply, if you are after a brick with character and individuality in colour and texture, then handmade bricks are for you. If you are after a highly uniform looking brick in terms of colour and texture, then handmade bricks may not be for you. All handmade bricks will have a certain aged appearance and will be perfectly imperfect.

Pressed Bricks
Pressed bricks are machine pressed into single moulds, as the pressing force is greater than hand pressed bricks, pressed bricks tend to have less texture on the face of the brick and a more regular shape.

Extruded Bricks
Extruded bricks are made by forcing clay through a shaped aperture (called a die) to produce a long continuous sausage of shaped clay and then cut into individual bricks. Extruded bricks tend to have smooth faces.

Extruded+ Bricks
Extruded+ bricks are unique to a few bricks we make, produced in the same fashion as a regular extruded brick but followed extensive post firing modifications to the brick surface, typically involving dry tumbling and german smearing.

Brick Commons
Brick commons are extruded bricks that are typically only used for rendering or applications where the brick is not seen.

Reclamation Bricks
Reclaimed bricks are just bricks that have been used previously and have be salvaged during building demolition, for this reason they offer both aesthetic appeal and practical benefits, making them a compelling option for those looking to build sustainably.

Bricks are often the first defence against the harsh elements of the environment, therefore bricks need to be crafted to ensure they can withstand all weather conditions. As our handmade and pressed bricks are currently sold into 46 different countries our bricks have to meet a wide range of standards.  All our bricks exceed Australian Standards and exceed what can be considered the gold standard.......the stringent European Standards, and this is why our bricks are currently used in so many countries.

COMPRESSIONAL STRENGTH
Our bricks are selected from a production batch and each brick is subjected to a uniform pressure in a testing frame. The pressure continues to increase until the brick fails. The average pressure is calculated for all bricks and then recorded as the compressive strength for that product. All our bricks exceed Australian standard for unconfined compressive strength as per AS/NZS 4455  along with European Standard BS EN771-1:2011. All our bricks are classified as General Purpose building bricks.

FREEZE-THAW
Australian standards don't require a test for freeze thaw durability, however we test our bricks to European Standard BS EN771-1:2011 to ensure our bricks are optimal quality. The testing procedure consists of a brick panel being saturated for seven days before being frozen to -15°C, then thawed to +20°C. This process is repeated 100 times and the level of frost resistance is recorded. All of our bricks meet European standards for freeze-thaw durability.

WATER ABSORPTION
Water absorption is measured by how much a brick increases in weight after it has been soaked in water for 24 hours. Results are given as a percentage, so for example a brick with a water absorption of 15% will take on 15% of its dry weight in water.

DIMENSIONS
20 bricks are randomly sampled and measured with a bespoke measuring device in millimetres for length, width and height, and the mean values are calculated. We then declare which tolerance categories each of our brick types fulfil. This is done in accordance with the method as described in AS/NZ4456.3. Our bricks are in accordance with Australian Standard AS/NZ 4455.1 and European Standard BS EN771-1:2011.

FIRE
No Australian Standard exists for reaction to fire for individual clay masonry units. However, we test our bricks to the European Standard EN 13501-1 and are rated A1 - No contribution to a fire.

SALT
No Australian Standard exists for the soluble salt content for masonry units, however, we test our bricks for their active soluble salt  according to the European Standard BS EN771-1:2011 and are classified as S2 - Limited Soluble Salt Content.

Many of our brick styles can be blended together or adjusted to meet the colour palette you are trying to achieve.

Common blends are generated between and within the following brick styles.

• Heritage Red + Reclamation Heritage Red + Weathered Reclamation Heritage Red
• Reclamation Heritage Red + Weathered Reclamation Heritage Red
• Heritage Red + Midnight Red
• Ochre - the blend can be adjusted between a more red and a more cream version.
• Totally haphazard, throw them all together, it's quite an amazing look.

The number 1 rule when brick blending is that 1 brick needs to be overwhelming dominant with the other being very minor.

Get in contact with us if you would like to curate your own blend of bricks, we can help you create a unique brick blend that is perfect for your space.

​We currently offer a number of reclaimed bricks, these include Cottage Reds, Prague Greys, Sculptured Reds, Wellington Multis and Original Fire Bricks. These should not be confused with our new handmade bricks.

1. Reclaimed bricks are just bricks that have been used previously and have been salvaged during building demolition, for this reason they offer both aesthetic appeal and practical benefits, making them a compelling option for those looking to build sustainably. According to ‘SUSTAINABILITY STRATEGY & ROADMAP’ commissioned by Think Brick Australia there is 0.7kg of carbon dioxide emitted for each brick produced. Every time you use a reclaimed brick you are helping to reduce the emission of CO2 into the atmosphere.
2. Reclaimed bricks are still just bricks and can be used for both the construction of brick walls and for paving.
3. Residual mortar on reclaimed bricks is normal; and part of the charm of reclaimed bricks, but please be aware that the amount of residual mortar is entirely random.
4. ​​Reclaimed bricks will have an aged and tumbled appearance, however, the intensity of this effect is random. Reclaimed bricks will be perfectly imperfect and will include cracks, chips, an aged/weathering patina, residual mortar and in some cases residual paint which they have acquired from their prior use. Sensible face selection is suggested when using reclaimed bricks. If you do not like this type of tumbled character, reclaimed bricks are not suitable for you.
5. Reclaimed bricks may contain residual calcium sulfate which appears as a white powdery residue on the brick surface. This residue is harmless and will wash away over time.
6. Loose demolition dirt/lime will also be present on reclaimed bricks, this is normal and is washed off during the brick cleaning stage using standard washing techniques. All pictures seen on our website of our reclaimed bricks have been washed, washing is done during brick wall construction, our reclaimed bricks do not come pre-washed.
7. Due to reclaimed bricks coming from different buildings, blending from multiple pallets when building is important for managing variations in colour, residual mortar and patina intensity.
8. All our reclaimed bricks can be cleaned via low or high pressure washing techniques. Acid washing can also be done but please be aware acid washing will remove some of the residual/original mortar on the bricks and much of the original lime. As this residual mortar is for many a large part of the appeal of using reclaimed bricks, we typically advise against acid washing for this reason, however, if you want them with less mortar............go for it.
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9. If you are concerned about using reclaimed bricks (you really should not be), you may wish to use our "reclamation style" bricks, which are new bricks made to look like reclaimed bricks (i.e. Reclamation Heritage Red).

We don't want to make standard bricks.........what would be the point of that, there are plenty of brick makers who can sell you a standard machine made extruded brick. While all of our bricks exceed Australian and European Standards, our bricks are anything but standard. We think the standardisation of brick production has had a detrimental impact on the character of bricks. This is why we use traditional techniques such as sandstruck and waterstruck moulding to bring back the character of brick.

We currently produce bricks in 5 sizes:

• Imperial: 230mm x 68mm x 108mm
• European: 215mm x 65mm x 102mm
• Roman: 330mm x 50mm x 102mm
• Conventional: 230mm x 75mm x 108mm
• Ultra Linear: 550 x 50 x 110
• Brick facings in the above sizes

Types of bricks

We currently produce both sandstock, waterstruck, pressed and extruded bricks and other clay products plus we supply genuine reclaimed bricks.

Ordering, lead times and delivery

It's important to be aware that we are not a mass producer of bricks, what we do takes time. Please keep this in mind. We try to stock our most popular brick styles in both a full sized brick and brick tile. However, other styles are made to order. So as not to be disappointed and to guarantee that you get the bricks you want, we suggest you start talking to us 12-14 weeks before your build is set to start. If you are less than 12 weeks away from build start, don't despair, give us a call and we can see what can be done, you might get lucky.

Samples

We are always happy to send samples to customers, samples can be ordered from here.

House Builds - Full Sized Bricks

Avoid Disappointment with This Key Rule!
Our bricks are one-of-a-kind; unlike mass-produced extruded bricks, our handmade bricks require time to craft. To ensure you get what you need, please place your orders 12-16 weeks in advance of your required date. We can't emphasize this enough: the bricks you choose will significantly impact your home's curb appeal, so don’t wait until the last minute. Every week, we hear from customers who waited too long and ended up settling for their second choice. Why compromise on your materials?

What Information Do We Need?
To provide you with a quote, please let us know your chosen brick and the square meterage of the brickwork needed. With this information, we can handle the rest for you.

Brick Tile Orders

We typically stock most of our brick tile products so we "typically" can supply brick tiles relatively quickly. But, don't be complacent, once you know what you are after get in contact with us straight away, leaving things to the last minute is a recipe for disappointment.

What we need to know?

In order to give you a price we will need to know, what brick tile you have chosen and the square meterage of brick tiles required, from this information we can work the rest out for you.

Delivery

Delivery details will vary based on what we are delivering (e.g. are we delivering a small order of brick tiles or are we delivering pallets of bricks for a house build). Below we outline the broad details of what occurs depending on what and how much you are ordering.

What happens when we ship samples?

Samples are typically shipped in boxes with a maximum weight of 15kg and sent via courier or post. If you purchase samples in excess of 15kg, samples will be boxed and strapped to pallets. Shipments under 15kg can be shipped to either residential or commercial addresses and will be sent with "Authority to Leave" authorisation. Shipments over 15kg can only be shipped to a local depot for pickup (i.e. for residential customers) or to commercial addresses with suitable (as determined by the transport operator) ground floor unloading facilities. When we ship samples using a courier, you will receive a tracking number (via email) which will allow you to track the progress of your package, the courier company will never call you to advise of a delivery day, it is your responsibility to track the consignment. Commercial locations must be open Mon-Fri 9am to 5pm. Construction sites are not considered as "open" commercial addresses. Please note that businesses operating from residential addresses are not considered commercial locations.

What happens when we ship brick tiles?​

Nearly all orders of brick tiles will be in excess of 15kg in weight. Brick tile orders are boxed and strapped to pallets for transport and are typically (not always) shipped via courier.  Bricks tiles will be shipped to any commercial address you specify as long as this address has suitable ground floor unloading facilities (i.e. fork truck), if not they will go to the closest depot for customer pickup. Orders for residential addresses will go to the closest depot for customer pickup and must be picked up from the depot within 2 days. If you would like us to organise fork truck delivery to either a residential or commercial address please contact us directly. When we ship brick tiles using a courier, you will receive a tracking number (via email) which will allow you to track the progress of your order, the courier company will never call you to advise of a delivery day, it is your responsibility to track the consignment. Commercial locations must be open Mon-Fri 9am to 5pm and must have a fork truck to allow unloading. Construction sites are not considered as "open" commercial addresses. Please note that businesses operating from residential addresses are not considered commercial locations.

What happens when we ship full sized bricks?​

Delivery of full-sized bricks for builds is typically arranged by us. Pallets of bricks are delivered with trucks with on board fork trucks (i.e. 3 wheel Moffat style). It is critical for these deliveries that a site contact is nominated to help facilitate delivery and this person must be on site for the delivery. As brick pallets typically weigh ~1600kg to 2000kg it is the customers responsibility to ensure that the delivery location is ready/prepared for delivery, this includes ensuring adequate clearance for the operation of fork trucks and that ground conditions are suitable for the operation of heavy machinery. Frustrated deliveries due to inadequate site preparation will likely incur additional charges. Typical reasons for frustrated deliveries are poor ground conditions, site contact not being present or lack of site access. Pallets can not be unloaded and left on foot paths, sidewalks, verges or any other public area. Please note, we do not accept any responsibility for pallets being placed in the wrong location if the site contact is not physically present at the site at the time of delivery.​ The day of delivery is organised in advance between us and the customer. Please be aware, transport companies plan their daily run each morning and their day is typically impacted by site and traffic delays, consequently we can never guarantee a specific time on the day or advise an estimated time for delivery, what we can advise is that the delivery driver will call the site contact on approach.​

Safety & Accessibility of Delivery (All Delivery Types)

Delivery of bricks and/or brick tiles is done by third party providers and we are all bound by the providers terms and conditions, the biggest impact of this is on safety & accessibility. Bricks and brick tiles can only be delivered to locations in which it is considered safe to do so and a location that is accessible. Determination of the safety and accessibility aspects of delivery is not up to us, it's not up to the customer, it's at the sole discretion of the transport provider. If the transport provider deems the location for delivery to be unsafe or not accessible, freight will either need to be rescheduled for delivery (and at the customers expense) once safety and/or accessibility issues have been resolved or will need to be collected from a depot nominated by the transport provider by the customer, this will normally be the closest depot to your delivery address. Please note that for any shipments greater 15kg in weight, all unattended locations and all locations with non-ground floor unloading are deemed to be not accessible.

• SEDEX Members Ethical Trade Audit (SMETA) Report
• Anti-Modern Slavery Policy
• UKCA/CE Mark – CPR Compliance in Clay brick products
• ISO 9001 – Business Quality Management System
• ISO 14001 – Environmental Management System
• ISO 45001 – Health and Safety Management System