EH Smith

Precast Brickwork

Brick-faced precast concrete panels are concrete units faced with traditional brickwork. Brick-facing works equally well on structural elements, such as spandrels and columns, as on flat cladding panels.

Benefits
Brick-faced precast

Combines a traditional, unpanelised appearance with the durability and other benefits of precast concrete panels.
Speeds up construction time - not affected by weather or labour shortages.
Improves buildability - no need for scaffolding.
Alleviates challenges of bricklaying in hazardous places - reduces potential for accidents.
Produces a high standard of workmanship in factory conditions.
Enables a cleaner, tidier site environment by eliminating one of the "wet" trades.

Process
Brick-faced units are formed by placing the bricks face-down on the bottom of the mould into a pre-formed grid to suit the bond. The bricks are cut to two-thirds of their thickness through the extrusion holes to form a key as shown opposite. Any normal brick bond or stack pattern can be provided. The panels can be pointed at the factory or on site after erection.

This process has been successfully employed on a number of projects, including The Trafford Centre in Manchester, one of the largest masonry contracts of its' time.

Please do not hesitate to contact us on specifications@ehsmith.co.uk for further information.