Brick tiles are the easiest way to rejuvenate a room or wall with the warmth and character that bricks exude, without the fuss of laying real bricks. If you haven't heard of them yet, it's time to become familiar with how brick tiles can be beneficial to any home or flat dweller.
Brick tiles (also known as brick slips) are thin slices of brick that have been cut from a standard-sized clay brick. Roughly 22mm thick, brick tiles maintain the appearance of a traditional brick, and once on the wall, are indistinguishable from their full-sized kin.
Brick tiles are primarily used as a means of decoration, although they have some inherent protective properties that make them heat and weather resistant as well. They are predominantly used indoors, on feature walls or entire rooms, but there's no reason you can't use them on an exterior too.
Let's take a look at the top advantages of using brick tiles.
Who doesn't like the timeless yet chic allure of exposed brickwork? Whether you want to add an inviting touch of industrial modernity to your lounge or contrast your kitchen splashback with vintage brick tiles, exposed brickwork elevates the atmosphere of your abode.
Brick tiles are an excellent way to add an exposed brickwork accent to a kitchen, bathroom, fireplace, or feature wall. Use them outside to highlight a patio, or turn a rendered wall to brickwork. However you choose to use brick tiles, the results will look terrific.
One of the main reasons why brick tiles have become so popular is their ease of installation. Brick tiles can be applied to any pre-existing wall, floor or surface, both inside and outside. Best of all, you can install everything yourself!
Conventional bricks are laid in mortar and stacked on top of each other. Brick tiles, on the other hand, have more in common with regular tiles when it comes to installation. They are adhered to a panel or applied directly to the surface of a wall using glue or mortar.
While you can save yourself time by hiring a professional, installing brick tiles is a relatively straightforward DIY project. With the correct adhesives and preparation, you can create a wall with brick tiles up to ten times faster than a regular brick wall. However, the most challenging part will be cutting tiles to fit particular spaces and ensuring each course is completely level.
From modern sleek brick tiles to reclaimed look tumbled tiles, your brick tile options are just as vast as traditional bricks. Find the perfect brick tile to match a pre-existing standard brick wall or create a cosy breakfast nook with the look of a brick façade from days gone by.
Because brick tiles are cut from regular-sized bricks, they maintain the same colour, shape and texture as a full-sized brick. Colours range from traditional reds and buff bricks to greys and browns. The texture can be rough and worn or sleek and smooth. Use a whitewash effect brick tile to add a touch of country to your French-inspired bathroom, or create a smooth modern brick tile backsplash to instantly spruce up your kitchen.
Brick tiles are great for DIY projects because they're easy to install, but also because they're cost-effective. Although brick slips can occasionally cost more per-brick than standard bricks, when you factor in the savings on skilled labour, cheaper transportation costs, and the fact that brick tiles can be applied to walls without a strong foundation, you're looking at a big bargain at the end of the day.
By using brick tiles on your existing walls, you immediately avoid the labour and material costs associated with preparing the space for standard bricks, which require a much sturdier foundation.
While saving space in a home is important, it's doubly so for an apartment owner. Compared to adding a traditional brick wall, brick tiles require a fraction of the room, meaning you save valuable floor space. Four walls with 20mm brick slips would utilise 80mm of floor space, whereas the same design with new brick walls would need 480mm.
Brick tiles can cut delivery and transportation costs because they're lighter than traditional bricks. But their lightweight nature carries other benefits as well. Brick tiles can be installed on a variety of walls and surfaces, even those that are less foundationally sound.
Once you've installed your brick tiles, maintaining them is a pinch. Unlike wood or vinyl, you don't need to apply a protective coating to brick slips. You could paint them if that's the aesthetic look you are going for though. A simple dusting or scrubbing with warm water and detergent can have your brick tiles looking as good as new!