How are bricks made?

There are two common methods for creating bricks . The first is extrusion, which is used at all PGH Bricks & Pavers' production sites. The other is the dry pressed method.

Extruded bricks and our Morada range

Extrusion involves forcing clay through a die. This method creates the holes that are commonly seen in a brick. The holes reduce the weight of the bricks, making them lighter, and assisting in the drying and firing processes.

Extruded bricks can have a variety of textures and additives added to the face of the brick, as different techniques produce different textures. Textures range from smooth face to wire cut and even rougher textures. Rough textures make it easier to apply finishes such as paint or cement rendering.

Dry pressed bricks

Dry pressed bricks are made by pressing clay into individual moulds at a very high pressure, which produces highly desirable, solid, and premium bricks. After forming, extruded bricks and dry pressed bricks are both dried to remove their water content. They are then fired in kilns to temperatures greater than 1,000°C. The colour of the clays and shales, the maximum temperature, and other techniques used during firing determine the fired colour of the brick.