Superior Construction

Advantages of the Mbrick™ Systems in Precast and Tilt-Up Concrete Panels.

The MBrick™ Systems provide premium brick finishes in premium building methods. Precast, prestressed, and tilt-wall building methods are fast becoming the preferred method for constructing quality buildings in North America. From schools and hospitals, to parking garages and office buildings, the old conventional building methods just can't come close to these in quality, design diversity, and speed of construction.

Innovative Brick Systems is proud to be members of both the Precast, Prestressed Concrete Institute, and the Tilt-Up Concrete Association.

Save Money
With an average cost of $7.00 per square foot, using Mbrick™ can shave dollars per square foot off the cost of many buildings which would use conventional brick, and make brick exteriors possible for many buildings which otherwise could not afford it.

Save Time
Another advantage of using the Mbrick™ System is the time savings that are realize. Because the brick is installed as structural panels and are cast either on-site or off-site, the brick veneer is complete as soon as the structure is erected. This avoids the painstaking and time-consuming process of conventional laid-up masonry and can save up to two months off the duration of a typical building construction cycle.  This not only benefits the contractor, but all parties involved.

Avoid Moisture Problems
Mbrick™ is cast in hard-rock concrete instead of mortar and because of this, water does not travel through the brick and mortar system the way it does in conventional masonry.  This eliminates the efflorescence and periodic acid washing. Since the brick is cast integrally into the concrete wall, no lintel angles, building paper, flashing or weeps are required to channel water back to the exterior of the building as would be needed with conventional masonry. Since water never goes beyond the face of the brick, none of the moisture problems associated with failure of the paper, flashings, and weeps systems of conventional brick occur with the Mbrick™ System.

Unrestricted Use in High Seismic Zones
Because Mbrick™ is embedded in concrete, not mortar, the strength and structural integrity of a faced wall is that of the reinforced concrete, not the collection of bricks held together by mortar.  In testing done by several agencies, the bond of the veneer brick used in the Mbrick™ System has never failed.  In a major earthquake, most, if not all engineers would choose to be in a reinforced concrete building designed for a seismic event, over a conventional masonry building designed for a seismic event, or otherwise.

Reduce Maintenance
With the Mbrick™ System being embedded in hard-rock concrete, moisture does not migrate through the brick and "mortar" units as it does in conventional laid up masonry. For this reason, periodic pressure washing, brick sealing, and tuck pointing are not required to maintain the masonry veneer. Most important from the standpoint of many building owners is the elimination of any unsightly efflorescence.

Improve Job Safety
It takes seven Mbrick™ to equal the size and weight of one conventional modular brick. This means reduced materials handling. In addition there is no messy mortar mixing operation on-site. Also, Mbrick™ is installed on the ground requiring no scaffolding, and minimal forklift activity; no mortar mixers, sand piles, running water hoses, mortar cleanup and other aspects of laid up masonry are required, reducing exposure to potential accidents and occupational injuries such as back problems.

Reduce Weather Delays
Mbrick™ can be placed in rain, wind, heat or other weather extremes that might stop the installation of conventional masonry, which typically requires dry weather and 40 degrees Fahrenheit and warmer temperatures.