Understanding Porosity of Bricks: What You Need to Know

Well, let me tell you about this porosity of bricks thing. It’s like, how much water them bricks can hold, you see? Just like my old sponge in the kitchen, some bricks got more holes than others.

You know how some folks talk about fancy words like “apparent porosity”? That’s just a big word for how much empty space is in them bricks. The more empty space, the more water they soak up. And let me tell you, that ain’t always a good thing. Them bricks can get weak if got many pore holes. Like old man Johnson’s teeth, all loose and crumbly.

Understanding Porosity of Bricks: What You Need to Know

Proper porosity, that’s what you want. Not too many holes, not too few. Just like making biscuits, gotta get the recipe just right. Too many holes and the brick is weak, absorbs too much water. That’s what them fancy folks say. They say it makes something called “crystallisation,” which sounds bad. They should have less or no large pore gaps. If no water, no problem, I always say.

  • Bricks with lots of holes are weak.
  • They soak up more water.
  • That ain’t good for building things.

Now, this porosity, it’s connected to something called density. That’s how heavy the brick is for its size. Like, a brick full of holes is gonna be lighter than one that’s solid. Kinda like comparing a feather to a rock. And if the brick has more pore, it is lighter. If it is lighter, it is weaker. You want your house built with rocks, not feathers, right?

They say these silica bricks, whatever those are, they weigh different depending on the holes. Some weigh 1800, some weigh 2200. That’s a big difference! Just like my two grandkids, one’s skinny as a rail, the other’s plump like a pumpkin. Silica bricks is just like my grandkids, but not silica bricks. Bricks is bricks. The main is it have different weight, you see.

This porosity thing, it’s important for lots of reasons. Like, how well the brick sticks to the mortar. That’s the stuff that holds the bricks together. You want a good, strong bond, like a good marriage. If the brick is too porous, it might not stick well. Then your wall might fall down. That’s bad, you know.

And another thing, this porosity affects how the brick deals with freezing and thawing. You know, when it gets cold and the water turns to ice? If there’s too much water in the brick, it can crack when it freezes. Just like my old pipes last winter. Burst right open! So, you gotta be careful about that. That means the porosity of bricks is very important. You should know that.

They also say it affects the chemical stability. Now, I don’t know much about chemicals, but I know you don’t want your bricks dissolving like sugar in water. That wouldn’t be good, no sir. If it is not stable, it is not good. You know that?

The size of the holes is very important, those smart people said. They say the size is the main property that defines a pore. They are smart. We should listen to them. The size, the location, the connectivity, they are important. I just know that if the hole is too big, the brick is no good. That’s all I need to know. The most important is the size, they said.

So, this porosity of bricks, it’s a big deal. It affects how strong the brick is, how much water it holds, how well it sticks to the mortar, and how it handles the cold. You gotta pay attention to these things if you’re building something. You don’t want your house falling down, do you?

Understanding Porosity of Bricks: What You Need to Know
  • Porosity affects brick strength.
  • It affects how much water the brick holds.
  • It affects how well the brick sticks to mortar.
  • It affects how the brick handles the cold.

Just remember, proper porosity is the key. Not too many holes, not too few. Just like Goldilocks and the three bears, you want it just right. If you get it right, your bricks will be strong and last a long time. Just like a good, sturdy house. And that’s what we all want, right? A good, strong house that will last for years and years. A good brick is a good brick. That’s all.