Well, let’s talk about them brick things, ya know, the size and all. Folks call ‘em by all sorts of names, but it’s all just bricks to me.
What’s the Big Deal ‘Bout Brick Size Anyways?
Now, I ain’t no fancy builder or nothin’, but even I know them bricks gotta be ’bout the same size. Otherwise, your wall gonna look like a dog’s breakfast, all crooked and wonky. See, if they ain’t the same size, you gotta do a whole lot more work, cuttin’ and fittin’. Waste of time and bricks, if you ask me.
Them Regular Bricks, The Ones Most Folks Use
Seems like everywhere you go, them bricks is a little different. Over in India, they got their own way of doin’ things. They say a regular brick over there is ’bout this big
(holds up fingers to approximate 190 x 90 x 90 mm)
, without that cement stuff they stick ’em together with. With the cement, it’s a bit bigger, like
(holds up fingers again, approximating 200 x 100 x 100 mm)
. They burn ’em in a big ol’ oven, they call it a kiln. Sounds hot!
Then you got them folks over in England. Their bricks used to be all sorts of sizes, but then the government, they started chargin’ tax on each brick! Can you believe that? So, them brick makers, they started makin’ ’em bigger, so they wouldn’t have to pay so much tax. Smart, I guess, but made things confusing for regular folks like me.
Here in the States, It’s a Whole ‘Nother Story
Over here in America, they got their own sizes too. I heard tell one of them regular bricks is ’bout 8 inches long, 3 and a bit inches wide, and 2 and a quarter inches high
(gestures with hands)
. That’s what I heard, anyways. But then you got all these other fancy names for bricks, like modular, or Norman, or Roman, or even king-size! Sounds like somethin’ you’d find in a fancy store, not a brickyard.
- Modular Bricks: These are supposed to be a common one, easy to work with, I guess.
- Norman Bricks: I ain’t sure what makes these so special, but they got a fancy name.
- Roman Bricks: Now these sound old, like somethin’ from them history books. Probably longer and skinnier, I reckon.
- King-Size Bricks: Well, these gotta be the biggest, right? For big jobs, I suppose.
Sometimes they talk about inches, sometimes they talk about millimeters… Makes my head spin! Why can’t they just stick to one way of measurin’ things?
Why Them Sizes Matter, Even to an Old Woman Like Me
Like I said, I ain’t no builder, but even I can see why them brick sizes gotta be kinda the same. If they ain’t, buildin’ a wall is gonna be a whole lot harder. You gotta cut ’em, and that makes more waste. And waste ain’t good, not for bricks, not for nothin’.
Don’t Forget Them Skinny Bricks and Them Paving Bricks
And it ain’t just them regular bricks neither. They got them thin bricks, for fancy stuff, I guess. And them paver bricks, for walkin’ on. All different sizes, all different shapes. It’s enough to make a person dizzy! Makes me wonder how them builders keep it all straight. They must have good heads on their shoulders, unlike some folks I know
(chuckles)
.
So, What’s the “Standard” Size, Really?
Well, from what I can gather, there ain’t no one size fits all. It depends on where you are and what you’re buildin’. But most of them regular bricks seem to be somewhere around 7 to 9 inches long, 2 to 4 inches wide, and 2 to 3 and a half inches high. Give or take a little. Seems like a lot of fuss over a little bit of difference, if you ask me.
It’s All About Makin’ Things Easier, I Reckon
But I guess them brick sizes bein’ kinda the same makes things easier for the builders. They can plan things out better, they don’t have to do as much cuttin’, and they don’t waste as many bricks. And that’s a good thing, ‘cause nobody likes wastin’ nothin’. Especially not good bricks.
So, there you have it. That’s about all I know ’bout brick sizes. More than I ever thought I’d know, to be honest. But now you know too. And if you ever need to build a wall, well, you know a little somethin’ ’bout them bricks you’re gonna need. Just remember, they gotta be ’bout the same size, or you’re gonna have a heck of a time!
Anyways, that’s enough talk about bricks for one day. My throat’s getting dry. Time for a cup of tea, I think.
