The way you lay a facing brick is just as decisive for the final look as the brick itself. The technique determines the joint thickness, and therefore the colour intensity of your facade. Below, we explain the three most common methods, from classic to ultra-modern.
Traditional brickwork (with joint)
This is the classic method we all know. The bricks are laid in mortar and pointed at a later stage.
- The effect: The joint is approximately 12 mm thick and determines 15% to 20% of your facade’s look. A light or dark joint makes a world of difference.
- Why choose this: This is the most flexible technique. You can still play with the joint colour and type (for example, recessed or flush) afterwards to add specific accents.
Special attention for coated bricks (Koloro)
Have you chosen a brick from our coated range (such as Koloro)? If so, traditional brickwork requires extra care to avoid damaging or staining the coating.
Thin-bed mortar
This technique uses a special mortar applied in a thinner layer (±6 mm). Unlike traditional brickwork, the joints are usually not pointed afterwards; the mortar is 'joint-finished' as the work progresses.
- The effect: The joint is much less prominent than in traditional brickwork, making the colour of the brick more intense.
- Why choose this: It is the perfect middle ground. You get a sleeker, more modern facade than with classic brickwork, but the process is closer to traditional masonry for the contractor than bonding.
Brick bonding (glued look)
In this method, the facing bricks are bonded (glued) together using a very strong adhesive mortar. The joint is minimal, only ±4 mm.
- The effect: Because the joint is almost invisible, the facade appears to be one solid mass of brickwork. The brick plays the undisputed leading role, uninterrupted by wide joints.
- Why choose this: For the sleekest, modern architecture. Technical advantage: because less water is used compared to traditional masonry, the risk of efflorescence (white lime staining) is significantly lower.