Summary

Brick matching is genuinely difficult and is often underestimated on extension and repair quotes. Getting it wrong results in a visually jarring extension that reduces property value and may fail to satisfy planning conditions. Getting it right takes research before ordering — not after the skip has arrived.

The challenge is that UK brickmakers have produced hundreds of different brick types over 150 years, many now discontinued. Regional clays produce distinctive colours: yellow London stock brick, red Staffordshire blue, buff Kent stock, multi-coloured Leicestershire Brindled, white Suffolk whites. The manufacturing method also affects appearance: handmade, soft-mud, stiff-mud, wire-cut, and sand-faced bricks all look different, hold mortar differently, and weather differently.

Planning conditions for extensions in conservation areas and many design guides for general extensions will require the use of matching or sympathetic brick. Even where there is no formal planning condition, a good builder will get this right because it protects the client's investment and the tradesperson's reputation.

Key Facts

  • Standard brick sizes — Modern metric: 215×102.5×65mm coordinating to 225×112.5×75mm with 10mm joints. Imperial (pre-metric): 9×4.5×3 inch (229×114×76mm). Victorian stock: various, often thinner at 57–64mm
  • Specials — Bullnose, cant, plinth, squint, and splay bricks are available to order from most manufacturers for corners and details
  • Engineering brick — Class A (BS EN 771-1, water absorption max 4.5%) and Class B (max 7%). Used below DPC, manholes, paving
  • Facing brick — Decorative, wide variety of colours and textures, not rated for engineering use
  • Handmade vs wire-cut — Handmade bricks have characteristic creasing and irregular texture; wire-cut have clean sharp arrises. Mechanically very different appearance
  • Reclamation premium — Reclaimed facing bricks typically cost £600–£1,500/1,000 (vs £500–£1,200/1,000 new). Engineering bricks cheaper from reclamation
  • Brick factor — Standard metric: 60 bricks/m² for single-skin stretcher bond. Half brick (solid wall) uses same formula — 60 bricks/m² per leaf
  • BDA Brick Matching Service — The Brick Development Association maintains an archive of discontinued bricks and can help identify manufacturers
  • Regional colour guide — London: yellow/grey stock. Midlands: red/blue engineering. East Anglia: red and buff. Yorkshire: red Accrington. South Wales: red and engineering blue
  • Mortar must also match — Brick matching without mortar matching looks wrong. Order sand sample before committing

Quick Reference Table

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Era Typical Brick Type Format Colour/Texture
Pre-1850 Handmade stock Imperial variable Yellow, buff, red — irregular
1850–1900 Pressed/machine-made Imperial 3" Red, blue, buff — sharper arrises
1900–1939 Pressed/wire-cut Imperial/transitional Red, multi, sand-faced
1945–1965 Wire-cut metric Metric 65mm Red, buff, light brown
1965–1980 Fletton (London Brick Co) Metric 65mm Pink/red, 'Furlong' texture
1980–present Wire-cut/handmade Metric 65mm Wide variety
Conservation area Often reclaimed Variable Must match original
Format Nominal Size (incl. joint) Actual Brick Size
Metric standard 225×112.5×75mm 215×102.5×65mm
Imperial standard 229×114×76mm 219×104×66mm
Victorian stock (thin) Variable 57–64mm high
Handmade stock Variable ±5mm each dimension

Detailed Guidance

Identifying the Original Brick

Step 1: Measure the brick. Measure the height of 6 brick courses including joints to establish the brick height. Count from DPC level where possible (bricks at eaves or gable are often weathered or of a different batch). Standard metric = 450mm for 6 courses (6×75mm). Imperial = 457mm (6×76mm). If you get neither, you have an unusual format.

Step 2: Assess the texture. Handmade bricks have creasing (horizontal folds in the clay from pressing). Wire-cut have a striated texture from the wire and clean edges. Sand-faced have a granular surface. Smooth bricks have a pressed or rubbed face.

Step 3: Note the colour. Look at the core colour (visible in a broken brick or inside a cut), surface colour, and any blooming or multicolour variation. Photograph in natural light.

Step 4: Check for manufacturer's name. Some older bricks have the brickyard name pressed into the frog (the indentation on the underside). This can help trace the manufacturer and its successors.

Step 5: Count the frogs and holes. Single frog, double frog, perforated (holes through), solid (no frog), or frogged only on one face — these help narrow down manufacturer and era.

Sourcing Strategies

Reclamation yards: The first port of call for pre-1970 brickwork. Reclaimed bricks have the same weathering and patina as the originals. Look for yards within 50 miles of the project — local yards are more likely to have local brick. Online reclamation searches: Salvo (www.salvo.co.uk), ReclamationMart.

The original brickmaker: Many historic UK brickworks are still in production or have been absorbed into larger groups. Ibstock, Wienerberger (formerly Redland), and Michelmersh are the largest UK producers and between them cover hundreds of historic brick types. Contact their technical teams.

Brick development association: BDA Technical Services (www.brick.org.uk) has a comprehensive archive and will help match discontinued bricks.

New bricks from specialist manufacturers: Manufacturers such as Northcot, Charnwood, and Traditional Brick & Tile Co. produce handmade and sand-faced bricks to match historic styles. More expensive but available new.

Weathering new brick: New brick almost never matches weathered brick immediately. For conservation and planning purposes, accept that the match will look similar in type and colour but will weather in over time. Some reclamation yards can supply pre-weathered or antique bricks.

Ordering and Quantities

Calculate the quantity required:

  • 60 bricks/m² for stretcher bond single skin
  • 10% waste allowance for standard work
  • 15–20% waste for intricate shapes, quoins, and arches

Always order 10% more than calculated — running short and needing a second delivery means a potential colour batch variation even in new brick.

For reclaimed brick, buy all you need in one purchase — reclamation yards have one-off lots.

Visual Mock-Up

Before committing to a large order, build a small sample panel (at least 300×300mm, 4–6 bricks) with the candidate brick and matched mortar. Leave it 2–4 weeks to dry and weather before making a final decision. Photograph the panel next to the existing wall.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does brick have to match exactly for planning permission?

For most extensions under permitted development, there is no planning condition. However, many councils request details of materials. In conservation areas or designated areas, matching or sympathetic materials are required — planning may impose a condition requiring approval of brick samples before work starts. Always check the decision notice conditions carefully.

Can I use reclaimed bricks in new cavity wall construction?

Yes, but with care. Reclaimed bricks must be free of old mortar (clean thoroughly), structurally sound (reject any that are cracked, spalled, or soft), and comply with relevant standards if the wall requires it. Reclaimed engineering bricks may be used below DPC. Get a certificate of conformity from the supplier if possible.

How do I deal with a situation where an exact match is impossible?

Where an exact match is genuinely unavailable, there are two approaches: (1) use a contrasting brick deliberately — if you can't match, make it a design feature with appropriate planning consent; (2) use the closest available match and accept that weathering will blend it over time. Discuss the options with the client and get written approval before ordering.

What about brick slips?

Brick slips (thin veneers of brick glued to a substrate) can be cut from actual matching bricks, giving a perfect colour and texture match. Useful for reveals, infill panels, and structural-steel clad beams where full-depth brickwork is impractical. Adhesive and substrate must be suitable for the location (external grade for external use).

Regulations & Standards

  • BS EN 771-1:2011+A1:2015 — Specification for clay masonry units (facing and engineering brick)

  • BS EN 772-1 — Methods of test for masonry units (water absorption, compressive strength)

  • PD 6697:2010 — Recommendations for the design of masonry structures

  • Approved Document A — Structural requirements for masonry walls

  • NPPF (National Planning Policy Framework) — Design quality and local character requirements

  • Brick Development Association — Brick identification, matching, and technical guidance

  • Historic England: Practical Building Conservation — Brickwork — Heritage brickwork matching and repair

  • Salvo Reclamation Directory — UK reclaimed materials database

  • repointing — Mortar matching alongside brick matching

  • planning permission — Permitted development limits for extensions

  • conservation areas — Material requirements in conservation areas

  • brick quantities — Brick quantity calculation guide