Installing Brick Slips

How do I go about Installing brick slips?

This is common question which we see time and time again, methods and installing brick slips can vary from project to project.
Fundamentally the products need to be treated as a tile, and applied to the same guidelines.

Installing internally and externally is not a problem as long as the substrate is structurally sound and you are using the correct adhesive.

Adhesive

To most, selecting the right coloured or textured brick slip be the most important part of the installation.

And although from a design point of view this may be the case, from an installation point of view it is certainly not.

Adhesive is the most important part of your installation.

The adhesive will ensure that your installation is solid and without compromise.

“What adhesive do I use?”  I here you say…

Do not use Mortar as adhesive!

Brick walls are constructed using a conventional sand and cement mortar.

Please note that this is not recommended for installing brick slips.

The bond strength of the mortar will not be enough to ensure safe installation.

What about an epoxy?

Epoxy is an expensive product and notoriously difficult to work with. Whilst epoxy is capable of developing bond strengths of the high level they are temperature sensitive and liable to give poor strength if used incorrectly.

Cement based Adhesives work best!

Capable of bond strengths as high as epoxy. Cement based adhesives are on the whole the most reliable. Due to the ease of use and when in rapid set format initial grab, they offer the best performance across the installation.

What if I am installing brick slips on steel?

If you require to install across steel or tensile structures that are prone to vibration then we would recommend a rubber latex based adhesive.

Adhesive companies almost always offer technical advice and technical data sheets on their products.

If you are in any doubt then it is important that you seek the advice of the adhesive manufacturer.

Installing London Weathered Yellow Brick slips

What is the best method of installation?

Common sense rules always. Brick slips are a design feature which offer a decorative solution to internal feature walls and external brick slip cladding projects.

It is worth mentioning that brick slips are not structural, they offer no strength and should never be used as a structural part of any build.

Just think of them as brick tiles.

Here are a few installation tips which we have put together for you.

• As with any installation the level of workmanship and quality should be of a high of a high standard.
• The substrate should be structurally sound and be able to carry the weight of the brick slips, adhesive and mortar.
• The substrate needs to be clean and dry and must be dust free.
• Adhesive is not instant so you will need to support the first few courses until the initial grab has cured. This can be done with a timber batten fixed directly to the substrate or if working from ground level the support from the ground.
• Subsequent courses may be conveniently spaced using our brick slip tile
  Spacers.
• Bed thickness is something that will vary from manufacturer to manufacturer. We would always recommend you follow the products installation guide when coming to install.
• Post installation pointing can be done using traditional sand and cement mortar or you can use a gun injected mortar.
  The slips should be coated completely with adhesive being careful to avoid any voids in the bed. If this is not done when installing externally water can collect and force the slips to come loose especially under freezing conditions.
• A manufacturer’s instructions should always be strictly followed.

Every scenario is different and planning regulations and permissions can differ from local council to local council.

If in doubt then please give us a call. One of our dedicated team will be able to advise you further.

If we cannot give you the advice you need we will hopefully be able to point you in the right direction.