In between clay brick and fly ash brick which one to choose for residential building construction purpose?

So this is a very common question that confused a common man while constructed their own dream house.

In fact in our construction site a lot of people basically the client is asking me about selecting the brick in between these two. So let’s start about this and finish the doubt about this topic!

1.Let’s talk about Basic Concepts

• Fly ash bricks is less in weight and it is cheaper than common brunt clay bricks.

• Fly ash bricks are made upon from wastes material and clay bricks are made upon by collecting from fertile land or the top soil.

• In terms of Density, compressive strength, absorption, dimensional stability, wastes during transit and plastering Fly Ash bricks has better performance as compared to Clay Bricks.

• Also the weight of the Fly Ash Bricks has lighter than Clay Bricks.

3. Some practical things & selecting the Bricks between these two for House Construction

• While i am mentioned these bricks and talked about the basic concepts, what i am concluded that Fly Ash Bricks has better performance as compared to Clay Bricks.

• But in practical these are not same. There are n numbers of manufacturing plant for fly ash bricks now a days. The manufacturer are not maintained the proper composition which is based on the IS standard to achieve the strength of bricks.

• They are using some local brands of cement, the quality of the bricks are reduced and also if you weight these bricks, it is heavier than clay bricks.

• Normally the weight of the clay bricks is about 3–3.5 k.g.. But the poor quality of fly ash bricks is about 4–4.5 k.g. in weight. While it should be in the range of 2.3–2.7 k.g.

• Due to the bad composition in Fly ash bricks the water absorption, thermal expansion are heavily affected. So the seepage and cracks are developed at early age of structure.

4.The Conclusion

• In my point of view you should take clay bricks in first priority as a common man can identify the quality of bricks and it has certain advantages for your house.

• If it is not available then go for Fly Ash Bricks and i will recommend to visit the manufacture plant and check these parameters and purchasing it.

• As for now in market clay bricks are not available. In certain State, Govt. banned these bricks as it reduced the quality of soil. So it’s depend upon you.

Hope i answered your question in a better way. Any suggestion for correction are highly recommended. Please share if it helps you.

Thank You. Have a nice day.