Things to Know about Interlocking Bricks

Let us know about Interlocking Bricks : Nowadays, most of the families in rural areas dreamt of living in a house made up of bricks. As we all know, the construction process of a building is very expensive and it takes a lot of time. However, Bricks are not manufactured and transported to many rural areas. 

This bricks can be manufactured in local areas. The cost of an interlocking brick is reasonable and fulfills the dream of living in a brick house of many poor families. Accordingly, we can also call Interlocking Bricks as Compressed Stabilized Earth Bricks (CSEB).

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Introduction of Interlocking Bricks

Generally, the structural formation and the masonry works take a lot of time and money.  Several methods and developments are enhanced in the construction field. So, it can withstand the difficulties which arise during the process of construction. Nowadays, construction materials and equipment are employed to improve the excellence of work. We can say that this is a kind of development in the advanced construction field.

Interlocking bricks are the improved shape and structure of traditional bricks made up of clay. It is manufactured in an exclusive way. Each brick gets locked itself with another brick laid one after another without using any mortar or binding material. The self-locking features of  bricks (CSEB) are developed by using a shear key and lock mechanism.

Inter-locking Bricks are formulated by blending and squeezing Sand, Soil, and Cement in a machine. It can also be formulated from fine particles of stone and cement. 

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Design of Interlocking Bricks

As per the design, the structure of the shear-key will differ from one another and a lock is facilitated on the contrary side of the brick. It is designed in such a way that load transfers by shear transfer and gravity.

Interlocking bricks (CSEB) manufacturing processes are done by compressing and stabilizing earth bricks. So, it can enhance the strength and quality of the structure. It is not made by baking like ordinary bricks. 

Also Read: Manufacturing of Bricks

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Size of Interlocking Bricks

Inter-locking bricks come up with various shapes and sizes. It’s locking mechanism also varies and depends on the supplier. 

The normal interlocking brick size is approximately 230x100x75mm (9x4x3 inches).

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Cost of Interlocking Bricks

Interlocking bricks cost differ from 0.5$ to 2$. If we talk about Indian Currency, then it’s cost varies from Rs. 30 to Rs. 150. It depends on the area, size, and pattern.

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How are high-quality Interlocking Bricks made?

High-quality interlocking bricks are made by mixing sand, cement, and fine particles of stone together in proper ratios. These are the basic ingredients of this bricks. The basic materials are mixed properly and the mixture is prepared. After that, it is compressed by utilizing hydraulic compression equipment. The structure is formed using inter-locking contours and then cured for 7 days.

Once the process of curing is completed, the cement with the sand increases the strength of the brick. Whereas the soil reduction increases stability and consistency to the brick. The interlocking bricks have several designs, textures, and patterns.

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What are the Benefits of high-quality Interlocking Bricks?

Here, we are going to discuss some of its advantages which we usually consider before starting any construction activities.

Let’s dive into the main part of the blog post.

Interlocking bricks are the tested Earthquake resistant Construction Material.

Nowadays, Disasters like earthquakes are very common and occur periodically. At that point, there are lots of stresses and pressures affecting the structure. Traditional bricks are not designed to bear the seismic loads and transfer them to the structure. The primary means of seismic load transfer is the mortar. And once the mortar fails to transfer the load, the complete structure gets affected by the seismic forces and stresses.

This bricks are constructive and tested earthquake-resistant building material. The self-locking structure of the bricks allows the seismic forces to scatter the stresses and seismic loads across the entire structure.

Interlocking Bricks does not require Plastering.

During the process of Conventional wall construction, Plastering is one of the most time-consuming tasks and expensive. 

If you are utilizing fair-faced bricks in the wall construction, there is no need of plastering the walls. It can be completely ignored and you can save the cost of plastering by using inter-locking bricks.

Instead of plastering, you can apply a thin layer of paint to give the smooth finish and attractive looks. It also minimizes the maintenance cost and plastering cost and the most important thing, it saves lots of time. Interlocking bricks are formulated that facilitates with smooth finish and texture.

It facilitates an incredible cooler interior.

Traditional bricks and high compacted bricks consist of higher density, which results in higher thermal mass. So, the walls constructed using high compacted bricks facilitate a high thermal interior.

If we talk about the inter-locking bricks, these are very less heat-intensive in nature. The trials have demonstrated that bricks offer a much cooler interior that ranges from 3°C to 5°C. This promotes lesser or even no usage of air conditioners ensuing s energy consumption and more expense saving.

It requires inexperienced and less labor as working with interlocking bricks is very easy.

In Traditional bricklaying experienced labor is needed for reviewing the water, spirit level, and several other undertakings. Accordingly, unskilled labor might confront difficulties in working with conventional methods of construction. It’s not easy to learn as it seems for unskilled labor. If we talk about the laying of bricks, it can be done by even unskilled labor easily. 

It minimizes the cost of various activities and manpower.

If we are using this bricks in our construction process, then you don’t need to use mortar. Even the expense of purchasing cement, sand, stone dust, and mortar can be disregarded. It minimizes the expense of experienced labor as you can employ unskilled labor to lay the interlocking bricks. This bricks does not require Plastering. Less amount of cement, and hence minimizes the overall maintenance cost of the construction process.

It is demonstrated as the most time-efficient means of construction.

The normal conventional bricks require curing of about 21 days. But the selflocking bricks need only 7 days of curing. In accumulation to that, the time needed for forming and curing of the building can be reduced exclusively. By eradicating all the time-consuming chores, the undertaking can be finalized sooner.

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What are the Disadvantages of Interlocking bricks?

There are limited disadvantages of Interlocking bricks. Let’s discuss some of them.

• As this bricks do not require plasterwork rainwater might develop a prisoner for insects and other unwanted things. 
• Due to the action of climate, breakdown of the bricks might also arise particularly in the corners of the structure. There is brick storing water in the gaps.
• The interlocking bricks independently can’t bear all the loads acting on the building. 
• It is warned not to build more than two stories.

Also Read: Properties of Bricks

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Interlocking Bricks vs Normal Bricks

Interlocking bricks cost differ from 0.5$ to 2$. If we talk about Indian Currency, then it’s cost varies from Rs. 30 to Rs. 150. But normal bricks cost differ from Rs. 4 to Rs. 6 per piece.

Inter-locking bricks come up with various shapes and sizes. It’s locking mechanism also varies and depends on the supplier. 

The normal interlocking brick size is approximately 230x100x75mm (9x4x3 inches). But the standard size of normal brick is approximately (9×4.5×3 inches).

Traditional bricks and high compacted bricks consist of higher density, which results in higher thermal mass. So, the walls constructed using high compacted bricks facilitate a high thermal interior.

If we talk about the interlocking bricks, these are very less heat-intensive in nature. The trials have demonstrated that bricks offer a much cooler interior that ranges from 3°C to 5°C.

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Tips to check the quality of the interlocking bricks

• You need to make sure that each batch of Interlocking bricks finalizing from the manufacturing plant is examined for stability and consistency.
• It is not favorable to have Interlocking walls in those areas like bathrooms get damp repeatedly.
• Plastering towards the underside of the foundation will stave off moisture from seepage.
• The Inter-locking bricks can be saved without destruction when the building is being disassembled in the future.

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Conclusion 

Interlocking Bricks is the trending improvement in the construction of walls. This bricks are ‘locked’ against each other without the usage of cement mortar, to shape a structurally strong wall that diminishes the half cost and time of construction. Whether Sand is coming to be increasingly insufficient and cement rates are rising day by day, inter-locking bricks arrive as a welcome option for the homebuilders and construction industry. Each Interlocking Brick has holes and latches on its sides which can be suited with each other to shape a block wall that does not require cement paste for adhesion.