What's New: Week of 07/16/2023

On construction projects, tight deadlines are always an issue. Long lead times often won't work, and anxiously waiting for material is never good. Of course, some delays can't be helped but waiting for thin brick doesn't have to be one. For smaller orders – usually under 10,000 sq. ft. – we created the Fast Ship Program so these color and blend options ship fast to keep you on schedule.

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METROBRICK® is designed with a dovetailed back and strict size tolerances for superior installation and bond performance. METROBRICK offers a variety of standard thin brick sizes to choose from. Custom thin brick sizes are also an option to meet any unique design needs.

All Sizes are 5/8″ Thick

METROBRICK standard sizes include Modular, King, Norman and Utility. We also offer custom sizing to meet your design needs – contact us for availability, pricing and capabilities for your specific project. Call Customer Service – 1.888.325.3945.

The vintage texture features distressed edges and a heavily distressed surface for a worn, weathered appearance. Vintage textured bricks fit form liners.

Request Texture Board - Want to see a specific texture? Complete the form and we will send you a 13x13 sample board with your desired texture.

Ironspot can be added to our thin brick for additional surface activity. A metallic additive is mixed into the raw materials and blooms to the surface during firing.

Request Texture Board - Want to see a specific texture? Complete the form and we will send you a 13x13 sample board with your desired texture.

Thin brick wall systems enlarge the building's floor area, increase the project's R-value, contribute toward LEED points, reduce the total amount of required products, decrease the number of trade contractors and expedite the overall production schedule.

An exterior wall system's performance is critical to a building's life cycle cost and overall performance. When the project demands a brick appearance, a thin brick wall system may help balance desired performance, environmental advantages and the owner's budget.

To make a plain concrete wall more appealing, precasters turn to natural, kiln-fired thin brick for the timeless look of brick. Unlike walls incorporating a full brick facade, precast projects with thin brick offer the advantages of faster construction times, less site disturbance and more energy savings.

In precast construction using thin brick, concrete wall components are fabricated in a quality-controlled environment, delivered and installed on site. The process includes building a form, adding a form liner and adding reinforcement to the form. Thin bricks are then added to the liner front side down and concrete is poured into the form. Once cured, the form is stood up, the liner is removed and the bricks are pressure washed to clean off any residue from the concrete.

TBX grade METROBRICK Thin Brick is designed for the strict size tolerances required to fit into the precast form liners. METROBRICK is kiln-fired with a natural and pleasing appearance. Once installed, a METROBRICK-embedded wall gives any precast project an authentic brick finish. Choose from a variety of colors and textures to accentuate the project's architecture.

PCI STANDARD - METROBRICK Thin Brick meets or exceeds all standards for thin brick set by the Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute.

METROBRICK® is manufactured to strict size tolerances to fit the tilt-up construction form liners requirements. METROBRICK also offers a variety of color and texture options, including a distressed vintage texture.

METROBRICK® Thin Brick is used by tilt-up contractors to create an authentic kiln-fired finish on their tilt-up projects.

Architects know tilt-up offers many advantages, including cost savings and expedited construction. When designers include METROBRICK® as part of the tilt-up wall system, they add the appeal of brick to their project.

METROBRICK is a TBX Grade Architectural Thin Brick to ensure a snug fit in form liners. METROBRICK is also available with a waxed surface. Adding wax to METROBRICK thin brick aids in protecting the thin brick during the tilt-up installation process. For proper wax removal and best results, be sure to follow METROBRICK's wax removal guidelines.

All METROBRICK products meet the standards required for tilt-up construction. In addition, the bricks are tested for efflorescence, chipping, size, warpage and freeze-thaw and undergo other essential tests to ensure success.

METROBRICK is available in a variety of single-tone colors and range colors. Custom blending is also available. Use our online Blend Generator to find the perfect combination. Choose from multiple textures and sizes, all designed to meet the needs of tilt-up construction.

METROBRICK® IS 20% THE SIZE OF FULL BRICK

When a brick finish is desired, there are many environmental advantages in constructing an exterior wall that includes METROBRICK Thin Brick. At 5/8″ thick, METROBRICK is 20% the size of a full brick. That means significant energy savings when manufactured and shipped. There are also substantial savings in raw materials when mined.

METROBRICK Thin Brick is manufactured thin – waste in manufacturing is significantly reduced. Unfired and fired scrap is re-processed back into the manufacturing process. All METROBRICK colors contain a minimum of 23% pre-consumer recycled content.

At the construction site, using METROBRICK Thin Brick means less site disturbance when compared to using full brick. A wall system using METROBRICK can also enlarge the building's floor area and decrease the number of trade contractors. There is also less waste left behind when installing thin brick. A METROBRICK® wall reduces the number of products used and expedites the overall project schedule.

When combined with panel insulation, a METROBRICK wall will increase a project's R-value – one of many ways METROBRICK Thin Brick can improve a building's green footprint and help a building attain LEED Certification. All METROBRICK Thin Brick products are third-party certified for multi-attribute sustainability. METROBRICK products also have documentation for a Health Product Declaration and an industry-wide Environmental Product Declaration. METROBRICK has created a Sustainability Product Report that provides all environmental information as a PDF.

Thin brick weighs less than traditional brick and is designed to be thin, which saves energy and natural resources. Specifying METROBRICK® will help earn credits in green building certifications for LEED v4.1.

METROBRICK Architectural Thin Brick is a true kiln-fired thin brick made to stringent guidelines for use in all types of brick veneer applications and construction types.

CHOOSE THE RIGHT THIN BRICK FOR COMMERCIAL PROJECTS

All thin bricks are not the same. Thin brick products can vary significantly in many ways, including the manufacturing process, testing, usage requirements, installation and materials. The following are some features to look for when choosing a thin brick for your next commercial project. METROBRICK meets these requirements.

Down to Earth® is an indoor/outdoor, naturally slip-resisting unglazed quarry paving tile from Metropolitan Ceramics® combining earth's elements and components for captivating commercial and residential installations. Down to Earth® is 1/2″ thick, has through-the-body flashed colors and a textured surface – perfect for a balcony, patio, walkway, pool surround, mudroom, sunroom, entryway or courtyard.

Aesthetically Pleasing
Down to Earth® is offered in four earth tone colors. The 4″ x 8″ Velour Texture is standard; other sizes are available by special order.

Unique
Down to Earth adds a natural paving brick element to any hardscape design. Since Down to Earth is a ceramic tile, you can install it over any adequately prepared substrate including concrete slabs – indoors and out.

Slip Resisting
Slip falls are a concern in any setting. Down to Earth has a dynamic coefficient of friction ≥.60 wet – well above the industry threshold of .42 for ceramic tile.

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Royal Thin Brick® is a decorative unglazed thin brick. The bricks have a classic wire-cut texture. They are tumbled for a distressed, worn appearance that works well for adding a traditional brick aesthetic in both residential and commercial settings. Depending on how the bricks are fired, there are both shade variation and single tone colors in the palette. Colors range from light gray and beige to rich reds and dark browns and near black. Royal Thin Brick is available in select blends for even more design options. The blends create a pleasing natural color range.

Royal Thin Brick is available in Queen Size, which is a broader face than modular brick. The Queen size (2 ¾' x 7 5/8") adds character to the bricks, making them more engaging for residential and high-end commercial installations. Royal thin brick is 5/8" thick. Royal Thin Brick can be installed just like ceramic tiles, following the same tile set methods. You can use Royal on any substrate suitable for ceramic tile for the flexibility to create a brick application and change the look of any area.

Use Royal Thin Brick for a variety of interior and exterior installations on both floors and walls. Think of Royal Thin Brick for accent walls, backsplashes, walkways, patios, bar areas, mudrooms, home exterior and around a fireplace. With Royal Thin Brick, there are unlimited options for adding the look of real brick to your home or business.

Queen Size
A taller brick than standard size, for a more dynamic presentation.

Kiln Fired
Extruded and hard fired - durable enough for use outdoors.

Tumbled After Firing
The bricks are drum tumbled for a weathered appearance.

Low Absorption
Resists soiling, suitable for exterior applications such as outdoor tiles for patios.

Goes Where Full Brick Can't
Installs like ceramic tile on surfaces suitable for tile.

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METROBRICK®  thin brick veneer is fast becoming one of the most attractive finishes available. You can Install thin brick in a variety of areas using straightforward tile setting methods and quickly achieve a brick finish in remodeling and new construction projects. When installing thin brick, we recommend using a 3/8″ grout joint. Use thin brick in areas where full-face brick is often not practical and without additional construction work required with full face brick.

METROBRICK offers high-quality, low absorption, real kiln-fired thin brick for use in all types of commercial and residential brick veneer applications.

METROBRICK includes nine colors and seven blends. Please call for availability and lead times 1-800-325-3945. The METROBRICK Colors are available in the modular brick size (2 1/4″ x 7 5/8″) and a traditional brick wire cut texture. Corner and edge cap pieces are also available.

With METROBRICK you can create a brick wall finish over any adequately prepared vertical surface. METROBRICK has been installed throughout the United States in various applications including schools, hospitals, hotels, restaurants, retail, residential projects and multi-use facilities. Use METROBRICK anywhere a brick finish is desired, both indoors and out.

Modular Size Brick
The standard brick size for a more traditional appearance

Flashed Colors Available
Random shade variation from brick to brick adds a classic appeal

Blends Available
There are seven color blends to choose from

Low Absorption
Use both indoors and out to change the look of a space

Goes Where Full Brick Can't
Installs like ceramic tile on surfaces suitable for tile

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Metropolitan Ceramics® quarry products are one of the longest lasting flooring products available. In fact, a study conducted by the Tile Council of North America found quarry tile to be the best value among competing floor covering products based specifically on the price and longevity of the product.

Cradle to Cradle is fast becoming the standard by which the sustainability of building products is measured. This concept puts focus on the entire life cycle and re-use of a product. Metropolitan® quarry tile is an excellent cradle-to-cradle product because it is mined at close proximity to the manufacturing site and it can last for many years and even centuries. At the end of a building's life, it can be removed and reused as tile or recycled as a roadbed material with no negative impact on the environment.

Ironrock has been a member of the United States Building Council (USGBC) since September 2006. We are dedicated to manufacturing products that fit the requirements of LEED V4.

You Have Questions and We Have Answers.

What is the difference between quarry tile and ceramic tile? Can quarry tile be used outdoors? Is quarry tile right for both commercial and residential use? Choosing the right flooring is a big decision and with big decisions come many questions. We have compiled a list of our most frequently asked quarry tile questions. Can't find what you're looking for? Contact us and we will be happy to answer any additional questions you may have.

Mike Augustine
National Technical Director & Architectural Representative for SAFTI FIRST
Mike Augustine has over 27 years of architectural sales experience, specializing in Division 8 products.

Phone: 415-230-6708
Email: maugustine@safti.com