Masonry Magazine June 1997 Page. 21
GLAZED BRICK
Another Medium to Express
Architectural and Artistic Achievement
by Kathy Gayhart Gonser
Glazed Brick (glaz'd brik') n. High quality loadbearing or veneer clay masonry product with a ceramic finish that is an integral part of the unit. Offering permanent, attractive, vandal-resistant, easy-to-clean walls. Installation done completely by your local skilled mason contractor.
Glazed brick have been around for thousands of years. The Egyptians made glazed brick during the burning process of brickmaking then used these special brick for decorative use. In China, the Ming Dynasty built walls of decorative ceramic glazed brick as artistic statements on the exterior of buildings for all to enjoy. These are some very early examples, some of which are standing beautifully today. In the United States there are also many examples even though much "newer", such as, the Dickinson House in New England, which was built in 1754, with its west wall in a very decorative glazed brick pattern.
In today's marketplace we acknowledge the long lasting durability and cleanability values of glazed brick. The manufacturing processes have, of course, been refined and quality standards established over the ancient brickmaking process. Today you find many buildings using entire glazed brick exteriors.
There are many other reasons for using glazed brick. Graffiti is a major concern and vandal-resistant glazed brick can be the answer. Where growth is eminent in building program projects as with hospitals, schools, airports, etc., the owners, architects and masons can enjoy the close color matches that glazed brick will give them. Better color control over the glazes and no patination over time gives it a better chance of color matching whenever the expansion(s) take place. Using the many sizes, shapes and colors as a design tool, glazed brick also give designers a way to express a particular person-
Oak Brook Center, Oak Brook, Illinois. Product Type EN/SP Economy Norman Glazed Brick..
Color-Shade 1200 Winter White.
ality or feeling in a building. The masonry contractor is the important key in bringing this architectural concept to reality, from blueprints to brick-and-mortar to the finished masterpiece! I want to talk about the basics of this age-old type of brick and its construction as some may not be that familiar with the methods and differences compared to regular face brick handling and installation.
What Is A Glazed Brick?
Glazed brick, by today's ASTM standards in C-126 (Ref. 1), is a brick made of clay, shale, fireclay, or mixture thereof, that has a fired-on (over 1500° F) ceramic glazed finish. This finish is permanent and impervious. It will not fade, peel, flake, craze or patinate over time. The standards used for body durability are the same as regular face brick. The grade and type of glazed brick body will be
Kathy Gayhart Gonser is the Marketing & Technical Services Manager for the Elgin-Butler Brick Company, with the manufacturing plant in Elgin, Texas, and company headquarters and local sales office in Austin, Texas. Kathy offices in North Canton Ohio. She fields the technical questions for the company, gives on-site training classes and also covers the Midwest, East and Southern states as the manufacturer representative making calls with distributors to architectural and engineering firms. She has extensive knowledge of the structural glazed tile and glazed brick industry and is currently active in the new Ceramic Glazed Masonry Institute. To reach the organization for questions about glazed brick or structural glazed tile you can call 330.966.5115.