Brick Slips - Brick Effect Tiles for your Home
Brick slips are commonly used during full renovations and small interior decorating projects. They are commonly referred to as brick veneers, brick effect tiles and thin bricks.
What are brick slips?
Our brick slips are tiles that are produced to look just like the face of a real brick. The tiles that we sell are manuafactured using
concrete to give them durability and a more authentic look.
Can brick slips be used on external walls?
Yes. All of the brick slips we have on our website are suitable for use outdoors. This is because they are weatherproof and can withstand elements such as frost and UV-rays.
If you wish to install our brick tiles outside, we recommend you use a strong adhesive suitable for exterior applications.
How do you fit a brick slip?
We have a page about fitting brick slips and other tiles here.
As long as a strong tile adhesive is used and both surfaces (wall and rear of tile) are cleaned, the brick slips will attach to the surface easily.
How far should I space the brick slips apart?
10mm joints / gaps between brick work are the industry standard. This should also apply to your new brick slips. Experienced builders and tilers can measure this by eye but if you are planning on a spot of DIY, we have a few tips for spacing brick slips.
10mm T Spacers - these are very easy to use and some types can even be left in should you be pointing between the brick slips using grout (best way to acheive the look of a real brick wall).
Self-made Spacers - if you have any materials lying around from past DIY projects (MDF, timber, etc.), you can cut these to 10mm and use them as spacers between your brick slips.
Levelling Line - it can be difficult to make sure each row is perfectly straight and level on your wall but once the first line is complete, the task is much easier. Using a spirit level or laser level should be a must to make sure the finished product is professional.
Should I need to, how do I cut a brick slip?
Cutting brick slips is pretty easy but should be done very carefully as not to shatter the edge. Always make sure you have the correct protective clothing and gear on before attempting to cut the tiles.
Angle Grinder - for the best results, we recommend a handheld angle grinder. Not only will you get clean and precise cuts, less slips will be lost due to irregular bricks (bolster and hammer method for instance).
Once installed, how do I point the brick work?
After the installation of your brick slips is complete, you may want to point the brick work to get a more authentic brick wall look. Although this can be the most time consuming part of the entire project, it can have a massice impact on the finished product.
Please note: Voids in the pointing can be disasterous to your external feature wall. Water can gather in the voids and should it freeze, it expands and can cause the pointing to crack and fall away from the wall. It is essential that there are no voids in the pointing.
Pointing Guns and Piping Bags - these tools pump the mortar into the gaps and is the least time consuming method for pointing. The mortar should be very wet when using this method so that it flows from the tools easily. This method ensures that there are no voids as the mortar is pumped into and fills the gaps efficiently.
Trowel Method - this can be one of the most time consuming methods, even to an experienced builder. The trowel is used to push the pointing mortar into the joints. It is best to try and be as neat as possible and avoid getting the mortar on the face of the brick slips as it can be very difficult to remove when set. Once the gaps have been filled sufficiently, you should use a finishing tool to produce the common pointing finish. The most common tools used are a bucket handle or a joint raking tool. The bucket handle will give you an inset curved finish and the raking tool will give you a recessed finish. A stiff wire brush should be used to remove the excess mortar once your joints have all set.
Ready to take on your next DIY project and build yourself a feature wall? Check out or range of brick slips and choose a colour that suits you best.
Comments