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.UNBAKED BRICK is a recent development. Because they are not baked
but formed in moulds of cement and sand and allowed to dry out until
they are completely set, these are usually most precise in size and
admirably square-edged. They are quite uniform in color, too, because
the color can be controlled in the mixing, but to our mind they are less
interesting for this. Some types are made as substitutes for baked Fire-
bricks and seem to be quite satisfactory. The common un-baked bricks
are well suited for use in walls either as backing-up or as facing bricks.
To some, their texture as well as the absolute uniformity of color is less
pleasing than that of baked bricks, but, if the joints are well raked and
if the wall is to be painted, this objection might be overcome.
.USED BRICKS salvaged from razed buildings are perfectly good to use
provided that they are well cleansed of mortar and the edges have not
been too chipped or damaged. Such damaged bricks are all right for
backing-up if they are sound and well cleansed. It is sometimes poor
economy to buy salvaged bricks when the cost of new brick is balanced
against the price of salvaged brick and against the effort required to
clean, examine, and sort each brick for use. Of course if the brick comes
from a building or wall on your own property which is being demolished, or from some structure being razed nearby where the only cost
involved is in the hauling, it may save you considerable money to clean
and re-use them.
The method of cleaning is this. Grasp a piece of broken brick about
half the size of a regular brick (this is called a "brickbat") and rap it
smartly against the mortar on a brick held in the other hand. This chips
and dislodges most of the mortar, and the rest can be rubbed off with
the brickbat. We would be the last to say it is an easy job or an interesting one, but it can save money if the conditions are as detailed above.
.PAVING BRICK is much harder and usually larger than ordinary types of
brick. All the edges are rounded and each face of the brick is smooth.
It is sometimes possible to buy used paving brick from salvage yards for
paving walks or traction strips in a concrete driveway. They will be
too large and heavy to use for wall-building but are perfect for paving
walks, terraces, and driveways.
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