Bricks or blocks: besser, concrete block and when to use them

Bricks and blocks are both masonry, but they are not interchangeable. Knowing when to use which saves money and headaches.

Blocks (besser and concrete)

Big hollow or solid units laid fast. Strong, cost effective for height and structure, and easy to reinforce by core filling with steel and concrete.

• Great for: retaining walls, structural walls, garages, anything getting rendered.
• Less great for: a wall you want to look like finished brick.

Bricks

Smaller and slower to lay, but that is the look. Face brick is the finish in itself.

• Great for: facades, fences, feature walls, anywhere on show.

The common combo

Lots of jobs use both: a core-filled block wall for strength with a brick skin on the face for looks, or block where it is hidden and brick where it shows. We will spec the right mix for your job and budget.