The facade of a brick building of the same color is dull and dull. To give originality, the construction can use the so-called Bavarian brickwork. This is a kind of mosaic of rectangular elements of various color shades.
Most often, bricks of two different colors are used, although sometimes there may be more (up to nine inclusive). A similar technique is used not only for outdoor decorative work, but also when laying stoves, fireplaces, footpaths, etc.
From the history of the subject
From the name of the style it immediately becomes clear where it originated. Of course, this is Germany. And this happened, according to the estimates of architectural historians, a long time ago, back in the 16th century. Only very rich people (tycoons) could afford such a luxury. And the cost of producing brick in special shades was simply prohibitive.
On the territory of the country, quite a few masterpieces of castle architecture using Bavarian masonry have been preserved. And photos of German houses of the 19th and 20th centuries are silent witnesses of the incredible boom of using this technique in the design of the facade in the construction.
Currently, the technology is undergoing its rebirth and is increasingly used in the decoration of the facades of luxury homes. Such a masonry looks harmoniously absolutely everywhere.
Brick manufacturers and builder reviews
The technology for the production of bricks for decorative masonry is quite heavy, requiring expensive equipment and the highest qualification of engineering personnel.
In Russia, only four enterprises can offer high-quality brick for Bavarian mosaics: the Golitsinsky factory in the Moscow region, the BRAUR factory, the Brick factory in the city of Stary Oskol and two LSR plants.
According to experts, the quality of finishing bricks of a domestic manufacturer is in no way inferior to eminent foreign firms. But the price is much lower. Therefore, it can be safely taken and used in facing.
Golitsinsky Plant (Moscow Region)
The enterprise was founded in 1882 by the merchant Maximov. And over its long history it has gained authority thanks to the traditionally high quality of its products.
The assortment of this company includes five collections of facing bricks. Products are competitive, of good quality.
BRAUR Plant
Geographically located in the Tula region. Products are in demand. The main market is the European part of Russia.
In addition to the glossy surface, the plant can offer a brick with a texture on the front surface, with imitation of the bark of valuable trees, with various patterns.
LSR (Pavlovsky Posad and Petersburg)
It produces bricks for various purposes: facing, building (both solid and hollow).
They produce a wide range of bricks of various color shades. At their disposal 10 collections, including 8 colors.
Factory in Stary Oskol
The products of this company belong to the premium class. The plant was completely modernized, the most modern equipment was imported from abroad. Therefore, the products meet the highest standards and are even partially exported to foreign countries.
The bricks of the Old Oskol factory are very durable (M200).
The cost of one brick last year was 40 rubles, which is much higher than the prices of competitors. Nevertheless, the products are in stable demand.
The requirements for the design of the Bavarian masonry
There are no strict rules to follow. But if you lay a brick arbitrarily, then hardly anything worthy and attractive will come out of it. Although there are also works in which colors are mixed randomly, without any system.
At the same time, these walls came to be known as almost masterpieces of world architecture. The likelihood of repeating such a success is negligible. Therefore, it is better not to risk it and not rely on chance. It is advisable to follow the advice of experienced craftsmen, whose work is highly valued and has many positive reviews. Brick Bavarian masonry is implemented taking into account the following recommendations:
- Bricks adjacent to each other on the left and right should not be of the same color.
- As can be seen from the photo, the Bavarian brickwork is characterized by equal color shares, in other words, one shade should not dominate and suppress the other.
- It is advisable not to allow the pattern to repeat naturally.
- A positive impression will be created by a masonry in which vertical rows are repeated at a certain interval (most often after one).
- The classic version of the masonry has two colors and two shades (brown and red, and dark brown and dark red, respectively).
- It is advisable not to allow the use of more than nine shades and colors: this will adversely affect the perception of the ornament.
Factory production of bricks of various shades
The technology of artificial aging of clay products and giving them a dark color was invented and successfully tested in ancient times. To obtain this effect, carbon is introduced into the furnace at the annealing stage. Coal ignited at such high temperatures, and combustion products (soot) settled on the surface of the processed products, giving them a characteristic color.
The principle of aging has remained the same, but the process itself can be controlled and get a strictly specified shade. Modern technological equipment allows you to control the flow of raw materials into the furnace, the amount of combustion products. Moreover, it became possible to obtain characteristic stains on the outside of the brick. Bavarian masonry made of such material gives the overall picture an even more extraordinary look and catches the eye of people.
How to choose the right color scheme of bricks
Today, the texture of the Bavarian masonry "boast" of many country houses. Such technology is trending and very in demand. And as you know, if there is a need, the market instantly responds to it and provides with an offer. And therefore, when buying building materials, it is important not to get confused and not to get a frankly low-quality cheap fake. If the material is of poor quality, and the bricks themselves have the wrong color, then this certainly will not give charm and sophistication to the house. The Bavarian masonry in this case will only aggravate the situation.
The color of the brick should not be very saturated and sharp. For bricks with a glossy surface, this rule is critical. Such a facade will look tasteless.
At the same time, limiting oneself only to red and brown is also not always correct. All sorts of shades of gray and white are perfectly combined with each other. Black individual blotches are allowed.
But still there is one thing: for smooth glossy bricks this color is unacceptable. You can experiment on a matte surface.
Mosaic planning
The construction work is preceded by the creation of a detailed sketch and a thorough analysis. The development of the concept of Bavarian masonry is best left to the designer. The specialist, as a rule, provides a choice of several options for masonry.
But it is also possible to lay out the brick without adhering to any strict canons and rules. Many believe that this method is the simplest and does not need to be worked out. It's a delusion. Even chaos may have to be thought out. It is desirable that, using special software, a spatial model of the building be created that has the texture of the Bavarian masonry proposed for implementation. This will minimize the risks and possible costs of fixing errors.
Some features of bricklaying
Typically, Bavarian masonry is used for decorative finishes. To use such expensive material for the construction of houses is entirely impractical. Decorative brick cladding is started at the end of the main construction. But it is also allowed, in order to save time, to make the cladding parallel to the construction of the bearing wall.
A decorative wall is never attached close to the building: it is necessary to leave a gap of at least 30-40 millimeters. The space between the walls is most often filled with insulation. But it is permissible to leave it hollow.
The decorative layer of brick is laid out in one row. Such a thin wall alone will not be able to withstand significant external loads. Therefore, a rigid connection is required between the facing wall and the supporting structure of the brick house. Bavarian masonry is also used for cladding wooden houses. For reliable bonding of the decorative layer to the wall, use special nails or a perforated strip of thin rolled metal.
With the simultaneous construction of the main and facing walls, they can be fastened through a certain step to implement the so-called "pokes". This technique is preferable and most reliable, but for its implementation it is necessary that the bricks have the same geometry.
What to do with defective bricks?
The process of laying decorative bricks does not fundamentally differ from the construction of an ordinary wall and does not cause any particular difficulties. But working with a brick is only pleasant if it meets the stated parameters. Unfortunately, there are frequent cases of violation by a manufacturer of production technology in an effort to earn as much money as possible.
For example, a damp brick that has not had time to dry out can be removed from the kiln ahead of the set time, as a result of which its geometry is disturbed. And then when suddenly such a defective brick is taken up, it takes a long time to think what to do with it and where to stick it. The best solution is to put it aside and not risk it, as in this case there are increased requirements for appearance.
But experienced craftsmen are able to skillfully hide flaws from prying eyes. To do this, a twenty-millimeter layer of cement mortar is applied (the thickness of the seam is about 10 millimeters). To align the brick, a T-shaped rail is used, one strip of which touches the end surface of the brick, and the second to the top. The tool moves from one brick to another, eliminating excess mortar, which significantly reduces grouting labor.
A brick is placed on the mortar layer, which is leveled by tapping on the top with the handle of a spatula. If the defective brick is much shorter, then it is installed exactly in the middle, leaving uniform gaps on the sides. The deviation of the shape of the horizontal surface is eliminated by applying the solution. In this case, the neighboring bricks without deviations serve as reference points.
In the photo, the Bavarian masonry seems incredibly complex. In fact, such a facade can be laid out independently, it will take only a little zeal and desire to understand the topic. And with a great desire, you can create something special, exclusive. Everyone will admire this house without exception, secretly envious of the owner of such beauty.