Bricks are blocks made of ceramic, clay, shale, concrete, soft slate or calcium silicate. The most common bricks used are the ones made of clay that have a red-orange or grey color.

     Bricks are used for pavement and construction of the structure of buildings, and as decoration in the facades of different edifications. It also can be used for linning surfaces because it has a high melting point.

     There are basically 6 types of bricks depending of the method of manufacture wich they are made.

• Mud bricks: is the most common and economical method. It consists in the mix of clay, sand and water that is shaped and burned to obtain strenght.
• Rail kilns: they are made in a tunnel kiln. They have ash, lime and organic matter to speed up the burning.
• Bulls trench kilns: it consists in a oval or circular trench that is dug, with a chimney in the centre. The trench is filled with bricks so they can be burned.
• Dry pressed bricks: this method is similar to mud bricks but it starts with a much thicker mix so it forms more accurate bricks. It consists in pressing and burning the mix.
• Extruded bricks: most structural bricks are made with this method because it is mixed with little water making them hard dense bricks. In the process they are forced through a die that can produce holes and perforations in the brick.
• Calcium silicate bricks:  it consists in the mix of lime, quartz and crushed siliceous rock with mineral colourants. The mix is pressed into different shapes and the bricks can have white and pastel shades colours.

     Brick laying consists in the laying and joining of stones, building blocks and bricks to build a structure. It involves putting up walls and other structures like footpaths or driveways.

     Some advantages of bricks are that they increase the structures stability and strenght. Bricks are also known for having a good thermal shock resistance, a satisfactory porosity, a refractoriness under load and a high melting point, making the structures that use this constructive material more durable. They are fireproof, termite resistant, energy efficient, incredibly stable and they don't require maintenance.

     On the other hand, bricks have their disadvantages too. These disadvantages are related to the quality of the materiales used. Recycled bricks may be irregulary shaped and worn. In humid climates bricks can develop mold. As a constructive material bricks are not cost-effective.