How to Make Bricks

History of bricks

Bricks have been around for centuries and was first used as a building material in the Middle East. The brick is made from clay, which is fired in a kiln to make it hard. Bricks are often used for walls, foundations, and pavements.

Famous Buildings Made of Brick

Bricks have been used to build some of the most famous buildings in the world, including The White House and The Colosseum.

Mud Bricks

Mud bricks are made from wet, sticky mud that is mixed with straw. The mud is packed into wooden frames called molds and then left to dry.

Cement Bricks

Cement bricks are made from a mixture of cement, sand, and water. The ingredients are mixed together and then poured into brick molds. Cement bricks are more expensive than mud brick but last longer.

Advantages of Mud Bricks:

• Cheap to make
• Easily available materials (mud and straw)
• Easy to build with bricklayers tools

Disadvantages of Mud Bricks:

• You need materials nearby: mud – a lot of it if you want to build anything large and straw is needed as well
• Mixing it carefully can be challenging
• Messy
• Reliant on sun for drying (unless you are using another method)

Advantages of Cement bricks:

• Easily purchased at any hardware or construction store
• Durable
• Available in different colors and shapes

Disadvantages of Cement bricks:

• Can be expensive if buying
• If making them yourself, you’ll need the right materials
• If making them yourself, they need to be cured for 28 days for full strength

So now that you know a bit about the history and types of bricks, let’s take a look at how to make them best bricklaying tools and levels!

How to Make Bricks

Tools Needed:

• Brick molds
• Brick trowel
• Sandpaper (helps smooth bricks)
• Kiln (to fire the bricks) or plenty of sun!

Materials:

• Mud brick made of wet clay and straw (mud) in proportions of 30% clay and 70% straw.
• Cement brick made of sand, cement, water.

Step by Step on Making Mud Bricks

Step One: Mixing the Clay

In order to make a brick, you need to mix the clay with water. Add enough water so the brick can be molded without it sticking to your hands or tools. Also add some straw (about 30% of total mixture). This will help to make the brick stronger.

Step Two: Molding the Brick

Once you have mixed the clay, place it in a brick mold and press down firmly on all sides of the brick until it has formed into shape. If your brick is too thick, use a knife to trim it down.

Step Three: Drying the Brick

Once the brick has been molded, leave it to dry in the sun. You can turn it over every few hours so that both sides get an even amount of sun exposure.

Step Four: Finishing Touches

Your brick is now finished and can be used for bricklaying. If you want, you can paint or decorate the brick with a sealant to make it look nicer.

Home teaching projects with mud brick to try!

We think making bricks and building models at home is a fun project to try with the kids. Here are a few ideas of what to try! Please comment and send us any of your ideas of experiences.

• Brick tower
• Brick pyramid
• Brick arch bridge

Conclusion: You now know how to make bricks for bricklayers using the sun drying method. You can use these bricks in your own bricklaying projects or sell them on to others who need them! Good luck and have fun bricklaying 🙂

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