The Complete Guide to Brick Slips

Brick slips—also commonly called brick tiles—are thin sections of real brick used to recreate the appearance and texture of traditional brickwork without constructing a full brick wall. They offer the warmth, character and natural variation of genuine brick while requiring significantly less space and structural support.

Brick slips can be used on internal and external walls and, where the selected product is suitable, on floors. However, they must be installed using the correct substrate, adhesive, jointing and waterproofing system for the intended application.

Brick slips are thin slices of brick, generally cut from the face of a full brick. Because they are made from genuine brick, they retain the colour, texture, irregular edges, firing marks and natural variation of the original product.

Unlike imitation brick panels or printed surfaces, brick slips provide the depth and tactile character of real masonry.

Brick slips may be produced from:

• New handmade bricks
• New machine-made bricks
• Reclaimed bricks
• Waterstruck bricks
• Sandstock or sandstruck bricks
• Extruded and pressed bricks

The thickness of a brick slip varies between products. Some lightweight slips may be approximately 10-15 mm thick, while slips cut from reclaimed or heavily textured bricks may be considerably thicker, around 22mm.

A full brick forms part of a masonry wall system. A brick slip is a decorative or protective surface finish that is adhered to a suitable supporting substrate.

The performance of a brick-slip installation depends on the complete wall or floor system behind it—not simply on the brick slip itself.

Brick slips are extremely versatile and can be used in many residential and commercial applications.

Common applications include:

• Interior feature walls
• Fireplace surrounds
• Kitchen splashbacks
• Bars, restaurants and retail spaces
• Entry walls and reception areas
• Wine rooms and cellars
• Bedroom feature walls
• External façades
• Outdoor entertaining areas
• Columns and architectural features
• Floors, where the particular brick slip is rated for flooring

Not every brick slip is suitable for every application. External walls, wet areas, fireplaces and floors all have different installation and performance requirements.

The Appearance of Real Brick

Because brick slips are cut from genuine bricks, they provide the same colour, texture and natural variation as traditional brickwork.

Reduced Thickness

Brick slips are ideal where there is insufficient room for a full brick wall. This can make them particularly useful in renovations, internal spaces and projects where floor area is limited.

Lower Weight

Brick slips are substantially lighter than full bricks, reducing the load placed on the supporting structure. The substrate must still be strong, stable and suitable for the combined weight of the slips, adhesive and mortar.

Easier Integration

Brick slips can be incorporated into existing buildings without constructing a completely new masonry wall. They are often used to transform plasterboard, fibre-cement, concrete and masonry surfaces, provided the substrate and installation system are appropriate.

Genuine Reclaimed Character

Brick slips cut from reclaimed bricks retain the patina, residual mortar, lime, weathering, chips and imperfections developed during their previous life. This character cannot be convincingly replicated by printed or moulded imitation products.

Consider the following before selecting a product:

• Is it being used internally or externally?
• Is it for a wall or floor?
• Will it be exposed to moisture?
• Is it near a fireplace or another source of heat?
• Is the substrate strong enough to support it?
• Does the project require specific fire, acoustic or thermal performance?
• Are matching corner slips available?
• Is the natural colour and size variation suitable for the desired result?

Brick slips intended for walls are not automatically suitable for floors. Flooring products must be able to withstand foot traffic, impact, abrasion and cleaning.

Brick slips must be adhered to a solid, stable and appropriately prepared substrate.

Depending on the installation system, suitable substrates may include:

• Concrete
• Cement render
• Masonry
• Concrete blockwork
• Fibre-cement sheet
• Approved tile-underlay or floor-grade cement sheet
• Other substrates specifically approved by the adhesive and system manufacturer

Plasterboard may be suitable for some lightweight internal wall installations, but its weight capacity and the suitability of the complete wall system must be confirmed before installation.

External applications require particular attention to structural movement, moisture management, waterproofing, control joints and weather exposure. Current NCC provisions require external wall cladding systems to satisfy applicable structural and weatherproofing requirements. The complete system should therefore be specified by an appropriately qualified building professional. National Construction Code—roof and wall cladding

Correct surface preparation is essential. The substrate should be:

• Structurally sound
• Clean and dry
• Flat and stable
• Free from dust, oils, paint, curing compounds and loose material
• Properly primed where required
• Waterproofed where necessary
• Capable of supporting the total installed weight

Painted surfaces should not be assumed to provide an adequate bond. Paint may need to be removed so that the adhesive bonds directly to a suitable structural surface.

The adhesive manufacturer’s instructions must always be followed, including requirements for primers, membranes, movement joints, curing times and environmental conditions.

A high-quality adhesive appropriate for the brick slip, substrate, location and expected movement must be used.

The correct adhesive will vary depending on whether the application is:

• Internal or external
• On a wall or floor
• Exposed to water
• Subject to heat
• Installed over concrete, masonry, fibre-cement or another material
• Exposed to vibration, movement or thermal expansion

Flexible polymer-modified adhesives are commonly used for many wall and floor applications, while specialised systems may be needed for difficult substrates or demanding environments. Product suitability must be confirmed with the adhesive manufacturer rather than selected on price alone. Australian adhesive manufacturers publish different substrate, location and movement limitations for each product.

Before fixing begins, open several boxes or pallets and lay out a representative selection of brick slips.

This allows you to:

• Blend the colour variation evenly
• Distribute darker and lighter slips
• Mix heavily weathered and cleaner faces
• Avoid concentrating similar bricks in one area
• Plan cuts around windows, doors and corners
• Confirm the preferred joint width

For reclaimed and highly varied handmade products, slips should be blended from as many boxes or pallets as practical throughout the installation.

Natural variation should not be treated as a fault. It is an essential part of the character of genuine handmade and reclaimed brick.

A typical installation process includes:

1. Inspecting and preparing the substrate.
2. Establishing level horizontal and vertical reference lines.
3. Dry-laying a section to confirm the bond, joint width and distribution of colours.
4. Applying the approved adhesive using the recommended notched trowel.
5. Back-buttering the slips where required to achieve adequate adhesive coverage.
6. Pressing each slip firmly into position.
7. Maintaining consistent joints using suitable spacers or setting-out guides.
8. Checking regularly that the work remains level.
9. Allowing the adhesive to cure fully.
10. Filling and finishing the joints with an appropriate mortar or pointing material.
11. Cleaning the face without damaging the brick or mortar.

Installation requirements vary between systems. Always follow the instructions supplied by the adhesive, waterproofing and pointing-material manufacturers.

Brick slips can be installed in most traditional brick bonds, including:

• Stretcher bond
• Stack bond
• Flemish bond
• English bond
• Herringbone
• Basket weave
• Soldier courses
• Vertical brickwork

The selected bond can substantially change the appearance of the finished wall.

Joint widths are a design choice but must also accommodate the size variation in the bricks. Handmade and reclaimed slips generally require a more generous joint than highly uniform machine-made products.

Attempting to force variable handmade slips into narrow, perfectly uniform joints often creates an unnatural appearance and makes installation unnecessarily difficult.

Matching corner slips are commonly used around external corners, window reveals, columns and openings. An L-shaped corner slip gives the impression that a full brick continues around the corner.

Where matching corner slips are unavailable, the installer may use mitred cuts or another carefully planned finishing detail. These decisions should be made before installation begins, as corner treatment affects the setting-out of the entire wall.

Mortar Colour and Joint Profile

Mortar colour and joint profile can dramatically affect the finished appearance.

Light mortar generally softens the brickwork and reduces contrast. Darker mortar defines each individual brick and makes the bond more prominent.

Common joint profiles include:

• Flush
• Flush and wet-sponged
• Shallow raked
• Ironed or tooled

The most appropriate joint profile depends on the brick, architectural style and degree of weather exposure. External work generally benefits from well-compacted, weather-resistant joints that do not create ledges where water can collect.

Brick slips can be used for flooring, but only where the product is suitable for floor use.

They must be adhered to a rigid, properly prepared base such as:

• A concrete slab
• An approved reinforced screed
• Floor-grade fibre-cement sheet
• Another flooring system specifically approved for the application

Brick slips cannot be laid loose on sand like brick pavers.

Thickness variation is common, particularly with reclaimed and handmade products. This variation must be accommodated within the adhesive bed during installation.

A brick-slip floor will not have the perfectly flat, uniform surface of a porcelain tile floor. Slight variation in height, texture, edges and surface character should be expected and is part of the appeal of using genuine brick.

In wet or trafficable areas, slip resistance, waterproofing, drainage, sealing and cleanability must also be considered.

Brick slips can be used around many fireplace surrounds, but this does not automatically make them suitable for the inside of a firebox or areas exposed to direct flame and extreme temperatures.

Fireplace internals normally require purpose-made refractory fire bricks, refractory mortar and a compliant construction system.

Clearances to combustible materials and the fireplace manufacturer’s installation requirements must always be followed.

External brick slips must be installed as part of a properly designed façade or cladding system.

The design must consider:

• Wind loading
• Structural movement
• Moisture penetration
• Drainage
• Flashings
• Damp-proofing
• Waterproof membranes
• Control and movement joints
• Exposure conditions
• Freeze-thaw conditions where relevant
• Compatibility between the slip, adhesive, substrate and pointing mortar

Brick slips themselves do not waterproof a wall. The wall behind them must be designed and constructed to manage moisture correctly.

The safest cleaning method depends on the brick, mortar and type of contamination.

During installation:

• Remove excess adhesive before it hardens.
• Avoid smearing mortar across highly textured faces.
• Dry-brush mortar residue once the mortar is no longer tacky but remains workable.
• Do not allow pointing material to dry heavily across the brick face.
• Test every cleaning method on an inconspicuous area first.

Acid cleaning should never be treated as the default solution. Acid can alter brick colour, damage mortar, remove desirable lime and residual mortar from reclaimed bricks, or create additional staining if used incorrectly.

High-pressure washing can damage brick faces and joints. Where pressure cleaning is approved, use a diffuse spray, maintain an appropriate distance and follow the brick supplier’s recommendations.

Brick slips do not always require sealing.

A suitable breathable sealer may be helpful in areas exposed to:

• Cooking oils
• Food and drink
• Frequent touching
• Bathroom moisture
• Dirt and pollution
• Heavy foot traffic
• Difficult-to-clean contaminants

Sealing can change the colour, sheen and moisture behaviour of brickwork. Always test the selected sealer on spare slips or an inconspicuous section before treating the entire area.

No two genuine handmade or reclaimed brick slips will be exactly alike.

Variation may occur in:

• Colour
• Size
• Thickness
• Shape
• Texture
• Edge profile
• Residual mortar
• Lime deposits
• Firing marks
• Chips and surface weathering

This variation is not something that should be completely designed out of the finished work. It is the quality that gives genuine brickwork its warmth, depth and individuality.

Samples should be treated as an indication of the product rather than an exact representation of every brick that will be supplied.

• Installing slips onto an unsuitable or unstable substrate
• Using an adhesive that is not approved for the application
• Assuming all wall slips are suitable for floors
• Treating brick slips as structural masonry
• Failing to blend from multiple boxes or pallets
• Setting out the wall without planning corners and openings
• Ignoring movement and control joints
• Using narrow joints with highly variable handmade bricks
• Allowing adhesive or mortar to dry across the brick face
• Using acid or excessive pressure without testing
• Assuming the brick-slip surface will waterproof an external wall
• Expecting handmade or reclaimed slips to look completely uniform

Brick slips allow the authentic character of real brick to be introduced into places where full brickwork may be impractical. They can transform a plain wall, add warmth and texture to an interior, reproduce historic brickwork or create a contemporary architectural façade.

A successful result depends on more than choosing the right brick. The substrate, adhesive, setting-out, blending, mortar, joint profile, workmanship and cleaning method all contribute to the finished appearance and long-term performance.

Take the time to understand the product, plan the installation and engage an experienced professional where required. Genuine brick slips are naturally varied and perfectly imperfect—and that individuality is exactly what makes them so appealing.

This guide provides general information only. Substrate preparation, structural support, waterproofing, fire compliance, adhesives and installation requirements must be assessed for each project. Always follow the National Construction Code, relevant Australian Standards and the written instructions of the product and installation-system manufacturers.