Brick slips are a great way to achieve the brick appearance without the fuss! Customers always ask us for guidance on installing Elastolith brick slips, so we've put together this blog, which details the benefits over other brick slips and how to install them.
What are Brick slips?
Several brick slips exist, including clinker, cement, and acrylic slips. They are all designed to do the same thing, though, and they mimic the look of brickwork. Real bricks aren’t used with modern construction methods, as they speed up the building process and are often cheaper. Brick slips can recreate the brick look regardless of the construction method.
Elastolith brick slips are made from acrylic, a type of plastic. They are lightweight, flexible, and durable. Still, perhaps more importantly, their finished appearance perfectly resembles a real brick, which is why they are a great alternative to achieving the brick aesthetic without the cost and time required to build a real brick wall. There are other benefits to using Elastolith brick slips; they are acrylic and can be cut to size with household scissors. This is particularly beneficial when working around corners. As the brick pattern is staggered, the corners inevitably require a smaller portion of brick slips.
Clinker brick slips
Clinker bricks are made from clay and are fired at very high temperatures, resulting in a dense, hard, and sometimes slightly irregular product. The high-temperature firing gives them a distinctive dark colour, often somewhat burnt. Clinker brick slips have a rough texture and a unique, rustic look, often associated with old industrial buildings. The colours can range from dark browns and reds to almost black, with a lot of natural variation. They are also highly durable and weather-resistant, making them suitable for interior and exterior applications.
Clinker brick slips are commonly used in restoration projects or to give new buildings a vintage or industrial look.
Cement brick slips
Cement brick slips, as the name suggests, are made from cement and other aggregates. They are manufactured to replicate the look of traditional bricks. These brick slips can be designed to mimic various types of brick finishes, including those of clay bricks, but they are often more uniform in appearance than clinker bricks. They can be made in a wide range of colours and textures. While generally durable, cement brick slips may not be as weather-resistant as clinker brick slips. However, they are typically more consistent in quality and appearance due to the controlled manufacturing process. Cement brick slips are versatile and can be used in modern and traditional designs. They are suitable for interior walls, fireplaces, or exterior cladding.
Preparing the wall
Clear all dirt and debris away from the substrate to prepare for installing Elastolith brick slips. The surface must be able to take the load and be free from stress. We recommend using our EWI-310 primer on any substrate before applying the acrylic brick slips because it creates a nice mechanical key to which the brick slip adhesive can adhere.
We also recommend covering any floors or surfaces to protect them before application. If installing internally, plug sockets can also be removed and reattached afterward, but we recommend an electrical professional do this. It is advised to have all your tools and products readily available as this will help with ease of application.
Planning the layout
Before starting the brick slip application, we suggest planning the layout and ensuring all measurements are correct so there are no uneven sides or large mortar joints on show. We recommend starting at the bottom and working horizontally, ensuring the distance between each brick slip is even.
Elastolith Brick slip adhesive comes ready to use
The Brick slip adhesive has been formulated to have a high bond strength, securing brick slips into place. It is a ready-to-use product sold in four different colours: anthracite, cement grey, light grey, and white. This allows you to choose the perfect coloured grout for your brick slips.
Sticking the Brick slips to the substrate
Once you have primed the wall with the EWI-310, it is time to apply the brick slips! Elastolith adhesive should be applied vertically using a 4mm notched trowel and flattened to 1.5-2.0mm. We recommend only applying the adhesive to a small area to ensure it does not dry out before the brick slips are applied. Once applied, press the brick slip into the wet adhesive, which should be fully embedded in the adhesive. If you want to check the adhesive coverage, pull the brick slip off whilst the adhesive is still wet and check that the whole surface is covered. Once the brick slips have been applied, it is time to grout! With Elastolith brickslips, the adhesive also acts as the grout; hence, it comes in different colours.
To achieve the ‘grout look’ between the brick slips, use a slightly damp brush to smooth the adhesive at the joins. This needs to be done promptly to ensure the adhesive is still wet and, therefore, workable. We recommend smoothing the outer joins first, then the inner join with long strokes. Ensure sufficient adhesive is on the sides of the brick slip to prevent water from getting behind them.
If brick slips are applied externally, they must be protected against wind and rain for at least three days after being applied to the substrate. Temperature and humidity may slightly impact this timeframe.
Learn more about Elastolith Brick slips
If you want to explore brick slips in more detail, why not check out our blog, ‘Advantages of Brick Slips’? You can always call our friendly sales team, who would happily discuss any products in more detail.