What is sawn brick?
Sawn brick is a brick that has been machine-cut after the firing process to create one or more flat, smooth sides. The sawing produces a clean surface with sharp edges, resulting in a modern, sleek facade appearance with minimal joint widths.
Production process
Brick sawing takes place after the bricks have been fully fired and cooled. Diamond saws are used to cut the bricks to exact dimensions. Depending on the desired result, a brick can be sawn on one, two, or more sides. The sawing process removes the natural outer skin of the brick, revealing the internal structure and colour of the clay body.
Characteristics
Sawn bricks are distinguished by their smooth, flat surface and precise dimensional accuracy. Tolerances are considerably tighter than with conventional bricks, allowing for very thin joints (sometimes as narrow as 3 to 5 mm). The sawn surface often displays a different colour and texture compared to the outside of an unprocessed brick, as the core of the brick is exposed.
Application
Sawn brick is widely used in modern new-build and renovation projects where a clean, minimalist facade is desired. The bricks are particularly well-suited for adhesive application, where they are bonded with a special adhesive mortar rather than laid in traditional mortar beds. Sawn bricks are also processed into brick slips: thin slices of brick that are glued onto a substrate as facade cladding, offering the appearance of full brickwork at reduced weight and cost.
Advantages and considerations
The primary advantage of sawn brick is its clean, uniform appearance combined with the authentic properties of fired clay. One consideration is that the sawn surface can be more porous than the natural outer skin, meaning a water-repellent treatment may be advisable. Costs are higher than standard brick due to the additional processing step.
Related terms
- Brick slips
- Adhesive masonry
- Mortar joints
- Facade finishing
- Masonry
- Brick formats
- Thin-bed joint
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