Facing Brick
PBM Facing Bricks are precast concrete bricks pigmented through the body for use as exposed wall cladding and decorative screen walls. The series is supplied in two distinct formats – a standard solid brick for general facing applications, and a 4R format with rounded edges and two through-holes designed for woven lattice screen walls. Both formats are available across four colours: Charcoal, Rust, Red, and Mustard.
Standard Facing Bricks are specified where a finished, coloured brick face is required without secondary plastering – common in boundary walls, garden walls, and feature facades. The 4R series enables a different architectural language altogether: by threading vertical steel rods through the brick holes and stacking bricks in alternating, rotated positions, contractors can build perforated screen walls and brise-soleil facades that admit light and air through a woven brick pattern.
Applications
- Boundary, compound, and perimeter walls — exposed face provides finished cladding without plaster
- Garden walls and landscape features
- Residential and commercial facades - feature brickwork
- Heritage-style and traditional architectural schemes
- Decorative banding within larger split face or render-finish wall assemblies
Key Features
- Two distinct formats — standard solid brick (210/215 × 65 × 100mm) for general facing applications, and 4R format (300 × 100 × 75mm with 4 rounded edges and two through-holes) for decorative woven screen walls
- Solid (non-cavity) construction in the standard format provides the full brick face when laid
- 4R format's rounded edges enable bricks to be alternated, rotated, and stacked into woven lattice patterns without sharp visual transitions between courses
- Vertical steel rods threaded through the 4R brick holes hold the screen wall structure together while leaving deliberate gaps between bricks for light, air, and visual rhythm
FAQ —
What is a facing brick?
A facing brick is a brick designed for use on the exposed (visible) face of a wall, providing both structural function and a finished architectural surface in a single unit. PBM Facing Bricks are pigmented through the body – meaning the colour goes through the full brick section, not just on the surface – so no secondary plastering, painting, or coating is required to achieve the finished face.
Can facing bricks be load-bearing?
PBM Facing Bricks are designed primarily for facing applications. Standard solid bricks (FB 350-380) have inherent compressive strength suited to typical low-rise facing wall construction. The 4R series is designed for decorative screen walls and is not intended as a structural element – the woven lattice installation does not provide load-bearing capacity. For load-bearing structural walls, refer to the PBM Hollow Block range, which is dimensioned and engineered for structural use.
What causes the white deposits I sometimes see on coloured concrete bricks?
Those white deposits are called efflorescence – they form when soluble salts within the concrete migrate to the surface as moisture passes through the brick. Efflorescence is a normal characteristic of all cementitious products and is not a manufacturing defect, but it is considerably more visible on pigmented coloured bricks (Charcoal, Rust, Red, Mustard) than on plain grey concrete because the white salt contrasts strongly against the coloured surface.
Key points to know:
- Efflorescence typically appears in the first weeks or months after construction
- It usually diminishes naturally over 6–12 months as the soluble salts deplete
- It can be removed with a stiff dry brush, or washed off with water and a mild detergent
- Applying PBM Water Repellent 0012 to the wall after full curing significantly reduces moisture migration and limits future efflorescence
- Avoid acid-based cleaners – they can damage the pigmented surface
For high-visibility coloured Facing Brick installations (commercial facades, hospitality entrances, signature walls), specify the water repellent treatment as part of the construction sequence and inform the client that initial appearance may show efflorescence that diminishes over time. Setting expectations upfront prevents unnecessary concern from clients and end-users seeing the wall in its first months.
How do I clean a facing brick wall?
Routine cleaning with water and a stiff brush is sufficient. For stubborn stains, use a mild detergent — avoid acid-based cleaners as they can etch the surface and accelerate colour change. Pressure washing should be at moderate pressure (below 100 bar) and at least 300mm from the wall face to avoid surface damage.
Important specifier note: Coverage areas are calculated based on 10mm mortar joint thickness. A dimensional tolerance of ±3mm should be expected and accommodated in the construction set-out.
On efflorescence (please read before specifying coloured bricks): White salt deposits (efflorescence) may appear on the surface of any cementitious product as moisture migrates through soluble salts during curing and weathering. This is significantly more visible on pigmented coloured bricks (Charcoal, Rust, Red, Mustard) than on plain grey concrete — the white deposits contrast sharply against the coloured surface and may briefly affect the visual appearance of the wall during the first months after construction.
Efflorescence is a normal characteristic of cementitious products and is not a manufacturing defect. It typically diminishes naturally over the first 6–12 months as the soluble salts deplete. Applying PBM Water Repellent 0012 (matt finish) to the wall after full curing significantly reduces moisture migration and limits future efflorescence — recommended specification for any high-visibility coloured Facing Brick installation.
On colour matching: Pigmented concrete colours show normal batch variation. For consistent colour in single-project facing brickwork, order the full project quantity in a single delivery where possible. Final colour selection should always be made from physical product samples rather than website images.