ᐅ Which facing material should I choose?

Hello everyone,

We are now quite advanced in our planning: the house design is finalized (a column house with a gable roof), and we thought we had also made our choice of building materials.

We consulted a specialist retailer about facing bricks and chose an impregnated clay brick (about €660/ton), which we especially like for its appearance. I have little to no knowledge about the material properties—my only concern is to avoid unsightly efflorescence if possible.

By chance, I got in touch with an acquaintance who works at a brickworks, and he mainly discouraged me from using a clay brick (even impregnated) because of its water absorption. We then took advice directly at the brickworks and found a nice brick there as well (about €820/ton).

Now I’m uncertain: is the clay brick really that inferior compared to the facing brick—meaning, is the higher price of the facing brick justified? That would be around €2,000 to €3,000 more in cost.

Could you please define what a brick is? Aren't facing bricks also bricks?

What deteriorates is the mortar – especially when horizontal damp proof courses have been neglected.
I still don’t know exactly what a "backstein" is. Facing bricks vary in price from 30 cents up to 1 euro.

Whether you choose clinker bricks or another type of facing brick is, in my opinion, a matter of personal taste. It is true that clinker bricks absorb less water. However, you likely won't notice any difference in durability. The impregnation by Olfry is said to completely prevent efflorescence.

Ok, that doesn’t sound too bad. Thanks!

I’m just worried about efflorescence. But I’ve also read from Röben, for example, that it can be dealt with relatively easily without acid if it does occur.