Grey Dots on new Red Oakthorpe Bricks? All manner of questions and solutions to problems and issues surrounding the subject of brickwork, blockwork and stonework

[1deano87]

Hi,

I have just purchased the oakthorpe red multi stock brick for my new extension.

Can anyone advise what the large grey circles are for? They are only on one of the bricks faces?

Are they a design detail?

Are they used to determine which is the front or back of the brick?

If they are for the front face, they look like they are sprayed on like circles/large dots...will these fade over time to give character?

Any advice or answers would be appreciated. Thank you

[stoneyboy]

Hi 1deano87,
The grey areas are as a result of the firing process in the kiln. Depending where the bricks are stacked in the furnace some get hotter than others hence the discolouration. It's a feature of many types of brick. It used to be more variable when coal fired furnaces were used.
Regards S.