When designing with textured bricks, the decisions you make beyond the brick itself often determine whether a façadesings or falls flat.
Mortar colour, joint profile, brick bond and the way natural light interacts with the surface all work together to define the character of brickwork.
For waterstruck bricks, with their distinctive handmade character and irregularities, these choices become even more critical.
This guide explores how to unlock the fulldesign potential of waterstruck facing brick, helping specifiers make informed decisions that balance aesthetic ambition with practical performance.
Waterstruck bricks are defined by their production method.Clay is pressed into moulds dusted with sand and water, creating a characteristically textured surface with subtle undulations and tonal variation.
Unlike wire-cut bricks with their uniform appearance, waterstruck varieties offer an authentic, handcrafted quality that responds beautifully to changing light conditions throughout the day.
The texture of brick faces in waterstruck products creates natural shadows and highlights. This three-dimensional quality means the same brick wall can appear dramatically different at dawn compared to midday, offering a dynamic façade that evolves with the sun's movement.
UK Brick's waterstruck range includes distinctive options that showcase this handmade character. These facing bricks deliver the visual richness architects seek while maintaining the durability and low water absorption essential for long-term performance.
Mortar selection fundamentally alters howbrickwork reads visually. Light mortars create striking contrast against darkerbricks, emphasising individual units and the chosen bond pattern. Darker mortars allow bricks to merge, creating a more unified mass where texture and colour become the dominant design elements.
For waterstruck bricks, mortar choice either amplifies or softens their inherent texture. A near-match mortar allows the brick face irregularities to take centre stage, while a contrasting mortar highlights the geometry of the bond pattern.
The joint profile you specify creates the micro-topography of your façade. Each profile interacts differently with light and the texture of brick surfaces:
Flush joints sit level with the brick face, creating clean lines suited to contemporary design. This profile minimises shadow lines, allowing the brick texture itself to provide visual interest. For projects requiring a refined, minimal aesthetic, flush joints complement waterstruck bricks without competing with their inherent character.
Recessed joints introduce deliberate shadow lines that accentuate the bond pattern. In masonry featuring textured bricks, recessed jointing creates a layered depth as shadows from both the joint profile and brick surface combine. This approach works particularly well on commercial buildings where façade presence and visual weight are priorities.
Bucket handle and weatheredjoints offer different shadow qualities. Bucket handle profiles create softer transitions between brick and mortar, while weathered joints cast directional shadows that change throughout the day. Both profiles suit projects where durability and weather resistance are paramount, as they shed water effectively.
Your choice of brick bond does more than create visual pattern; it affects structural performance, material quantities and how texture reads across the façade.
The most economical and widely specifiedbond, stretcher bond emphasises horizontal lines that can make buildings appear longer and lower. For waterstruck facing brick, this bond allows the eye to follow the texture across continuous courses. It's a versatile choice for various designs, from residential schemes to large commercial buildings.
Alternating headers and stretchers create a tighter pattern that suits traditional bricks aesthetically but works equally well in contemporary design when executed with careful detailing. The variation in brick face exposure means more of the textured surface is visible, creating richer visual interest across the façade.
Running courses are aligned vertically,creating a modern grid pattern with clean lines. This bond requires careful structural consideration but delivers strong visual impact. When used with textured bricks, stack bond creates a striking yet sympathetic contrast between geometric precision and organic surface variation.
Three or five stretcher courses followed bya header course, this bond offers pattern variation while maintaining structural integrity. It's particularly effective on brick walls where you want to break up large expanses without resorting to mixed materials.
Natural light transforms waterstruck brickwork throughout the day. The interplay between the handmade texture,mortar joints and bond pattern creates an ever-changing façade that responds to solar angles and weather conditions.
Morning light raking across a façadeemphasises texture through long shadows. Midday sun flattens this effect,allowing brick colour and tonal variation to dominate. Late afternoon light brings warmth, intensifying red brick tones and creating dramatic shadow playin recessed joints.
Consider orientation carefully.North-facing elevations receive consistent, diffused light that reveals subtle colour variation. South-facing façades experience the full range of light conditions, making them ideal for showcasing the dynamic qualities of textured brickwork. East and west elevations undergo dramatic transformations between morning and evening.
Designing with textured bricks isn't purely about appearance. The right characteristics ensure your project delivers peace of mind through its lifecycle.
UK Brick's waterstruck range combines aesthetic quality with robust performance credentials:
Low water absorption protects against freeze-thaw damage and maintains appearance over decades
Durability suitable for exposed locations and demanding applications
Low maintenance requirements reduce whole-life costs
Sustainability benefits from locally sourced materials and manufacturing processes designed for energy efficiency
These attributes make waterstruck facing bricks appropriate for everything from residential developments to large-scale commercial buildings where longevity and performance are non-negotiable.
When designing with waterstruck bricks,consider these practical factors:
Sample panels are essential.Build test panels showing different mortar colours, joint profiles and lighting conditions. Photograph them at various times of day to understand how your choices will perform in reality.
Coordinate early with your brick supplier. Lead times for handmade bricks can be substantial. UK Brickworks with architects from project inception to ensure the right brick types are available when construction begins.
Detail carefully around openings and corners. These junctions are where your design intent becomes visible. Consider how the bond pattern resolves at corners and how joint profiles terminate at reveals.
Think beyond the façade.Waterstruck bricks work beautifully in outside space applications, creating continuity between building and landscape. The versatility of these brick types extends to boundary walls, pavers and garden features.
Modern architecture increasingly embraces the richness of traditional bricks within contemporary design frameworks.Waterstruck facing bricks offer the authenticity many projects seek while meeting current performance standards.
Recent trends show architects combining conventional flush brickwork with recessed panel details, using joint profile changes to create pattern without introducing different building materials.This approach maintains material honesty while delivering visual complexity.
UK Brick understands that successful projects require more than quality products. Our team works with specifiers from concept through to completion, providing technical support, samples and guidance on achieving your design vision.
Our waterstruck range offers various designs and different tones to suit diverse architectural applications. Whether you're creating striking façades for commercial buildings or detailed brickwork for residential schemes, we provide the expertise and materials to realise your intent.
Contact UK Brick today to discuss your project requirements.Our team can provide samples, technical specifications and design support to help you specify with confidence. Explore our complete range of facing bricks or speak with our specification team about your next project.