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.

Brick Jointers: Purpose, Patterns, & Practical Applications
January 2026

After leads have been built and bricks have been laid, it’s crucial to tool the joints before the mortar sets. The tool of choice for this task is a brick jointer, but it can be tricky to decide which one to use. This guide will walk through the purpose o

Laying It Straight: Line-Holding Accessories for Masons Who Demand Precision
January 2026

When it comes to laying brick, block, or stone, nothing replaces a good line. A tight, true mason’s line is the backbone of straight courses and clean elevations, and the hardware holding that line is every bit as critical. Bon Tool’s lineup of Line & Lin

The Importance of Eye Protection in Masonry
January 2026

There are few stereotypes more iconic than the image of a construction worker wearing a hard hat and safety glasses. Protective glasses are among the most common items worn by workers in the masonry field, second only to the hard hat. According to OSHA, w

2026 Skills Challenge and Fastest Trowel on the Block Winners
January 2026