CalStar’s Brick Products

Words: Dan Kamys

Spring 2015

New Products

CalStar

www.calstarproducts.com

CalStar’s brick products
CalStar’s brick products
CalStar’s brick products

CalStar’s brick products, including its specialty line, can significantly reduce a project’s environmental impact, the company says. For example, CalStar says that for a 100,000-brick project, specifying CalStar brick can:
Divert more than 85 tons of landfill waste
Avoid 210 tons of new raw material mining
Reduce CO2 emissions by more than 80,000 lbs (40 tons)
Save 500 million BTU of energy

The difference between these bricks and others is CalStar’s manufacturing process. These composite bricks are produced using less than 20 percent of the energy required to make clay brick. The specialty brick, including the Ambassador (3 5/8 x 2 1/4 x 15 5/8), Norman (3 5/8 x 2 1/4 x 11 5/8), and Roman (3 5/8 x 1 5/8 x 11 5/8) all are available in CalStar’s premium smooth finish in sizes that not all clay manufacturers can produce, the company says. The Ambassador also comes in a split face finish. CalStar reports that many architects like the modern look these sizes are able to achieve.

Masonry Repair and Retrofit: Materials and Systems for Long-Term Performance
May 2026

Masonry has defined architecture for centuries, prized for its strength, durability, and timeless aesthetic appeal. From historic sites to modern designs, masonry buildings are durable and visually distinctive. However, exposure to moisture, freeze-thaw c

Rethinking Shelf Angle Design for High-Performance Masonry Walls
May 2026

If you've been around masonry construction long enough, you know the shelf angle is one of those details that’s easy to take for granted. It’s been used the same way for decades, set it at the slab edge, support the veneer, move on. But as building requir

When Schedules Tighten, Experience Shows
May 2026

In construction, schedules rarely open up; they tighten. Weather delays, trade coordination, and last-minute scope changes all add pressure, even on jobs that were planned down to the minute. When that happens, experienced masons don’t start cutting corne

Shelf Angles and Their Impact on Wall Performance
May 2026

Shelf angles have long been a standard component in masonry construction. Installed at the slab edge, they provide support for brick veneer and are often treated as a routine detail. However, as building performance requirements evolve, particularly aroun