Frequently Asked Questions

Installation over plywood and concrete should be treated as two separate areas separated by the caulk joint that allows movement. However, in residential, small installation, most customers will take an educated risk and treat this as one installation without the often ecstatically unpleasant caulk joint. This is entirely the customer’s call, and Brick It cannot be held responsible in case of failure even if the chances of that occurring are low.

The shipping method will depend on the order. Samples and small orders up to 150lb will be shipped using Parcel service like UPS or FedEx, most common orders will ship on pallets using LTL (less than a truckload) companies, and larger orders over 20,000 lb. will be shipped using FTL (full truckloads). We also can use Railroad and Sea Containers. Air shipping is rarely used due to the product weight. 

Like any other construction delivery service, most deliveries are limited to a “curb side” only.

Our products are available for online purchasing, or you can contact us for live person assistance Mon-Fri 8:00 am - 4:30 pm EST. 

Costs assessments heavily rely on accurate understanding that considers the product’s choice, its manufacturing plant, or all additional ship from warehouses, job site location, and the size of the order. 

Product quoting and fob bidding or budgeting:
Customers can build their product configurations on our website, get prices for their job bidding purposes, or contact us for live person assistance Mon-Fri 8:00 am - 4:30 pm EST. 

Currently, we collect Sales Tax for the following states:

1. California
2. Georgia
3. Illinois
4. Maryland
5. Massachusetts
6. New Jersey
7. New York
8. North Carolina
9. Ohio
10. Oklahoma
11. Pennsylvania
12. Virginia
13. Washington
14. Michigan
15. Tennessee 

We are monitoring economic nexus laws and adopt to all required changes.  

FYI,
Sales tax is calculated based on the "ship to" address. 

Brick It does not discriminate. Our product is available to everyone. No job is too big or too small. We greatly appreciate your business and will offer unsurpassed customer service.
 

Brick It sells to homeowners, weekend warriors, contractors, architects, end-users, etc. We are especially loved by chain stores, chain restaurants, where the same brick is specified in multiple locations throughout the country or the world. They simply place their orders in one place, and then it will ship to all their jobsite locations as per the client’s specifications. It eliminates the need for local material sourcing and assures consistency.

Note to all the customers not familiar with this industry:
Behind computer clicks or the phone, there are real people doing real jobs creating real financial obligations. Order cancelations are rarely the option and returns never make economical sense are on most products. This is a low margin product, not comparable to the fashion industry that has enormous margins, therefore, it can offer free shipping or build it into the price. Mesure twice click once! 

What's Brick It Return Policy?
We pride ourselves in our products, and we guarantee our customers new and high-quality goods. We recognize the fact that customers do not expect to receive materials that were returned or leftovers from previous projects. Therefore we do not accept returns on any of the commodity products we offer.

Due to the nature of commodity business such as economics, lot discrepancies, etc., all sales are final. Your order alteration might or might not be possible in the early stage (24-48 hours) and will depend on the product ordered, as all orders are being almost immediately processed through our system, materials being sourced, bricks being cut, etc. All orders not picked up or not delivered due to customer’s fault within 60 days of being “ready to ship” will be discarded and fully invoiced to customers.

This is a low margin industry selling heavy products that do not justify free returns or consequence-free cancelations. Please confirm to "Measure Twice Cut Once!" rule. 

If properly designed, detailed and constructed, minimal maintenance is required for thin brick applications. Brick veneer should be inspected periodically to ascertain performance and to identify any potential problems. Inspections are recommended on an annual basis at a minimum. Such inspections should address sealant joints, any loose units, plumbness of the wall, cracking, etc., to identify repairs and corrections before severe issues develop.

Thin brick veneers may experience differential movement as the brick expand and the substrate or mortar bed shrinks. To accommodate this movement, a system of movement joints should be installed through the entire layer of adhered thin brick veneer. If movement joints are not placed properly or are not used at all, cracking may occur.

Spacing. The distance between movement joints should not be more than 18 ft (5.5 m) either vertically or horizontally. Areas between movement joints should not exceed 144 sq ft (13.4 m²). Veneer areas between movement joints should preferably be square in shape but may have a maximum length-to-height or height-tolength ratio of 2½ to 1. Where thin brick veneer is adhered to a masonry or concrete substrate, the movement joints through the veneer should be installed directly over and aligned with movement joints in the substrate. Where thin brick veneer is installed on studs, the movement joints through the veneer are not necessarily required to be aligned with movement joints through the sheathing on the studs. Where lath or mesh are used, attachment should allow free movement of the veneer between movement joints.

Construction. Movement joints should extend from the exterior surface of the adhered veneer to the substrate beneath the thin brick. Alignment of movement joints with those in the substrate is more easily achieved when they are formed during installation of mortar beds. A compressible filler strip set during mortar placement can provide the space needed for the joint as well as aid in keeping the joint free of mortar or other obstructions. At the exterior surface, a backer rod and sealant prevent water penetration, as shown in Figure 7. Movement joints must be at least as wide as joints in the substrate that they are placed directly over. The minimum recommended width of movement joints through adhered veneer is ⅜ in. (10 mm). In thick set applications, lath or mesh reinforcement should stop on each side and not continue through the movement joint, as shown in Figure 8.

Flashing is a material that collects water drained from the veneer assembly and directs it out of the wall through weeps. Building codes require flashing and weeps at the following locations:

• Beneath the first course of veneer above final grade. The IRC requires the flashing (or weep screed) to extend a minimum of 1 in. (25 mm) below the foundation plate line for exterior applications over stud walls. To promote drainage, install the first course of veneer directly above the flashing or screed, without a mortar/grout joint.
• At points of support, such as shelf angles, lintels and structural floors.
• At wall and roof intersections.
• At the heads, jambs and sills of exterior window and door openings.
• At the intersection of chimneys or other masonry construction with frame or stucco walls.
• Under and at the ends of copings and sills.
• Where exterior porches, decks or stairs attach to a wall or floor assembly of wood or steel stud construction.

The flashing or weep screed should extend to the exterior wall surface or beyond, with the back edge (attachment flange) turned up at least 3½ in. (89 mm) vertically. The water-resistive barrier should lap over the flashing or weep screed. In assemblies with two layers of water-resistive barrier installed over a wood-based sheathing, direct the flashing between the layers. Extending flashing beyond the wall surface to form a drip is recommended. When using a flashing that deteriorates with UV exposure, a separate drip edge or weep screed can accomplish this. When a drip edge/weep screed is not used, such flashings should stop, or be cut, flush with the face of the wall. Typical head, jamb and sill flashing details are shown below.

For thin brick veneer with a substrate of masonry or concrete, deflection is not a concern, because the flexural stiffness of the veneer is similar to that of masonry and concrete. When the substrate wall is wood or steel stud framing, out-of-plane deflection of the framing must be considered, because the stiffness of the veneer can be substantially greater than the stud framing. The IBC limits the deflection of stud framing to a maximum of L/240 when rigid finishes like thin brick are applied. For interior adhered veneer applications supported by wood floors, the IBC limits the vertical deflection of the floor system to L/600. To decrease potential cracking and the potential for the veneer to separate from the stud framing, a wall deflection limit of L/360 is recommended when a wood or steel stud framing substrate is used.

We have a large library of bricks to choose from, but not all bricks are available in a thin brick. Thankfully we have the brick cutting option that is very helpful, and it allows us to cut any full brick into a thin veneer. The success of the match will depend on the criteria and material sent to us listed below: 

• We'll need three photos of brick in the existing wall
  • First photo - close-up to recognize texture (1-2 feet away)
  • Second photo - close range to understand the variety of brick color variation (4-5 feet away)
• Dimensions of the brick (H x L x D)
• Quantity of brick needed
• Estimated project start date

Recycling Content for Brick products is 16% of the material value.

Details are in the link below: 

https://brickit.com/files/product_files/BIA-Recycled-Content.pdf

1. Product contains pre-consumer recycled content
2. Product contains post-consumer recycled content
3. Product is recyclable or biodegradable after use
4. Product contributes to USGBC LEED-NC v2.2 and LEED 2009 credits, www.usgbc.org

Materials and Resources

• MR Credit 3 - Resource reuse
• MR Credit 4 - Recycled content
• MR Credit 5 - Local/regional materials

Indoor Environmental Quality

• EQ Credit 4.1 - Low-emitting adhesives and sealants

Innovation and Design Process

• ID Credit 1 - Innovative design features

Yes. Unless the job is performed for an organization that is exempt from sales and use tax.

Laws may vary depending on the state, but here are some details from the instruction page from ST-124 capital improvement form for NY state:

If a contractor performs work that constitutes a capital

improvement, the contractor must pay tax on the purchase

of building materials or other tangible personal property, but

is not required to collect tax from the customer for the capital

improvement. No credit or refund is allowed for the tax paid

on the cost of materials by the contractor. See Tax Bulletin

Contractors – Sales Tax Credits (TB-ST-130).

For guidance as to whether a job is a repair or a capital

improvement, see Publication 862, Sales and Use Tax

Classifications of Capital Improvements and Repairs to Real

Property.

A contractor, subcontractor, property owner, or tenant, may

not use this certificate to purchase building materials or other

tangible personal property tax free. A contractor’s acceptance

of this certificate does not relieve the contractor of the liability for

sales tax on the purchase of building materials or other tangible

personal property subsequently incorporated into the real property

as a capital improvement unless the contractor can legally issue

Form ST-120.1, Contractor Exempt Purchase Certificate. (See

Publication 862 for additional information.)

The term materials is defined as items that become a physical

component part of real or personal property, such as lumber,

bricks, or steel. This term also includes items such as doors,

windows, sinks, and furnaces used in construction.

• Always anchor grid to substrate securely with adequate fasteners. Concrete and masonry walls require fasteners and adhesive on rear of metal grid.
• Always use a waterproof covering to protect substrates before installing gird in all your exterior applications.
• Always stagger grid vertical joints. Leave minimum 1/8” space between panel joints and stop metal panel short 1/2” at ends.
• Always allow at least 24 hours for adhesive to dry before mortaring joints.
• Always use CLEAN COLD water to mix mortar. Flush hoses especially during warm weather.
• Always slightly dampen bricks before mortaring. Especially during hot weather.

• Brick Face Height - 2¼” (MOD, STA, NOR, SAX), Panel Height 8” x 48” Long, Covers 2.66 sq ft
• Brick Face Height - 2½” (Cultured Brick & Modified Standard), Panel Height 9” x 48” Long, Covers 3.00 sq ft
• Brick Face Height - 2⅝ & 2 ¾ (MST, MNR, QUE, KIN, EMD, EST, HMO, KGS), Panel Height 9.6” x 48” Long, Covers 3.2 sq ft
• Brick Face Height - 3⅝ (CLO, UTI, TIT, SQU, DUT), Panel Height 12” x 48” Long, Covers 4 sq ft

1. Please visit Florida DBPR website: https://www.floridabuilding.org/pr/pr_app_srch.aspx
2. Enter code version 2014
3. Enter FL# text box with 14427
4. Click Search

If you notice any damage, you must document it. Please use the driver as your witness, take pictures, make notes on a bill of lading, and have the driver initial or sign them. Once you’ve documented it, please notify our customer service department. With your proper documentation, we will send you replacement as soon as possible, and deal with the shipping company ourselves later on. Please accept the delivery and do not discard any damaged material.

By default, we cut all our veneer to 3/4”. Upon request we can adjust the thickness to meet customer’s request. That especially becomes useful for architectural details such as decorative rowlock bands, coins and chimney details, etc.

Both are equally good products. We always say; if it’s available in thin brick, don’t cut it!

We carry very large selection of manufactured Real Thin Brick veneers, but in order to extend the offerings to more unique colors and textures, we offer Brick Cutting Service.

Note: not all brick types can be manufactured in Thin Brick version.

We are environment friendly company. We recycle all of our brick waste. Some is used as base in road construction, and some is ground down and used as clay in baseball fields, tennis courts, etc.

When purchasing Thin Brick products in general, overages should be at about 3-4% on straight forward projects. Perhaps a bit higher for cut brick, and definitely at least 5-6% for machine molded, and 7-10% for hand molded  and reclaimed/used products.

Depends, Extruded bricks produce only one Thin Brick or one Thin Brick Corner out of one Full Brick. Molded, Handmade and Reclaimed yields two Thin Brick Slabs or one Thin Brick Corner.

Yes. In fact, our Brick Cutting Service is called BYOB – Bring Your Own Brick.

… or you can purchase it from us.

Yes. We cut all bricks to thin veneers regardless of the hardness. Some will cut easier than others.

Every day, Industry professionals cut bricks on jobsites themselves. On a small scale, it is not a complicated process. However, if your job requires hundreds or thousands of cuts, we wouldn’t recommend it. You will run into issues with brick cut off waste, blade configurations and wastewater disposal. Depending on what equipment you will be using, each cut can take up to one gallon of water. This just does not compute to a reasonable outcome.

Some brick will break during cutting more than others due to microscopic cracks that naturally exist in a body of full brick created during firing process. Recovery is never a 100%. When we cut brick, all the ones that break into two pieces are packaged for shipping. You can use them for your cuts or in the case of a Reclaimed products, you can slide both pieces together, and install them on a wall.

We cut high volumes of full brick into a thin veneer using fully automated equipment. Our innovative process makes brick cutting very competitive to a manufactured thin brick. Especially, when we cut molded brick that yields two thin bricks out of a full one. Detailed quote will prove that to you.

Yes, we can. It will require a specialized quote. Please contact our staff for details.

Yes, but this is rarely is beneficial to a customer.

Remember, in the event of material damage or shortage you’ll have to deal with the shipping company you have hired yourself. They will not discuss anything with us since we are not the party that hired them.

Yes, but this might not work in some cases. Please ask…

Note: if the product is picked up at our NY location and third-party shipping company is not used, you are subjected to NY State Sales Tax.

Unfortunately, there is no simple answer to that question. It will depend on the size of your order, distance that it has to travel, ship from location which is often determined by your choice of brick order size etc.

Every shipping rate is customized to each customer’s quote and specifications. Each quote is entered into a bidding pool where shipping companies compete for customer's business assuring the best possible price.

Please inspect the shipment. Look for any signs of damages that could have occurred during shipping. Locate packing slip pouch, remove shipping documents and check quantities.

Everything leaves our warehouse in perfect condition.

If you have purchased our cut brick:

Masonry wet saws are used to cut the veneer and due to that process, some moisture might be present. Therefore, this specific product is always cut to a specific order, shipped immediately, and its intended to be unpackaged and installed by customer asap, allowing proper and natural exposure to the surrounding environment.

Brick It issues account statements bi-weekly. You will only receive it if there are is an open balance on the account.

Account activity statements can be obtained by request.

Order conformation confirms the material quantities and agreed price of your order. It might be delivered to you in the form of a print, pdf or an email.

Picking Slip is Brick-It’s internal warehouse’s document that orders are packed from. This document generally doesn’t concern our customers.

Invoice is issued based on materials shipped and not on prepayments. Even if the order has been prepaid, invoice will be generated for each shipment.

Packing Slip is a document created in our warehouse upon order shipment. It confirms quantities shipped; NOT ordered! Those are two different things that do not always match.

Upon request, you can receive a “Pro Forma Invoice”. This is just a different name for a Quote or an Order Conformation. All final Invoices will still be generated and sent to you for each shipment that occurs, and if anything changes during the sell process, those might not match the Proforma one.

We advise against usage of Pro Forma Invoice as your final Invoice. In order for your paperwork to match ours perhaps you should consider to:

1. Issue a Purchase order to Brick It for the correct material quantities and price.
2. Based on that PO, generate a Prepayment to Brick It
3. Physically count the material upon arrival and compare it to Brick-It’s Packing Slips.
4. Upon Brick It’s Invoice arrival, apply all collected information and documents to each other.
5. This practice will ensure proper material and tracking through the entire process.

Brick It issues Invoices based on what is shipped (not ordered). We typically Invoice every shipment separately. Other arrangements can be made in advance. Please inform our staff of your special requirements.

Estimates are typically none binding and not exact, presented verbally or by written document. They might change at anytime. Typically, we issue them when all details of the projects are unknown such as: exact product quantities, delivery quantities, delivery dates, etc. We do not accept prepayment on Estimates.

Quotes are prepared based on specific known facts and details. Those can be prepaid, converted to orders, and processed through our system. Quotes expire, and need to be updated after 30 days from issuing date.  

Any changes or adjustments to your current order will be confirmed by new/current order conformation document. Multiple smaller shipment created from one order is a good example of that.

Overall services provided be Brick It are unmatchable by anyone in the country. Even though small and limited thin brick selections can be at times found in other places, they rarely meet customer’s satisfaction or time frame. Thin brick is a specialized product and other building supply yards are busy selling regular brick, cement, sand and other more popular masonry products. Further, finding a direct supplier that can provide large selection of thin brick, brick cutting service, installations system and great logistical solution to customers is something we didn’t find in the country. We even search it internationally. Remember, we manufacture the installation systems. Most desired Thin bricks by our customers are the ones cut out of full brick, and since we cut it ourselves, we have control over the process. We are Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) for majority of the products we sell and distribute.

Thin Brick Showroom and Phone support is open Mon-Fri 8:00am to 4:30pm.

Walk in Contractor’s Store is open Mon-Fri 7am to 4:30 pm, Sat 7:00am to 1:00pm.

Ron Trezza created a prototype of the system in 1985, filed for the patent, and Brick It was formed.

Brick It has a 3,000 square feet showroom in Hauppauge NY, and extensive website for all of our distant customers. Often physically visiting customers end up browsing the website anyway as it is very informative.

It is a bad business practice to tell customers what they need and sell it to them at this same time. We recognize a conflict of interest here. Customers are required to provide us with a basic job information such as square footage of the job and linear footage of outside corners, and we will help with calculations of each system’s installation component.

Basic material quantity requirements are the responsibility of the person who is financially responsible for the job’s contract (typically a contractor).

Brick-Its goal is to provide answers and solutions to thin brick industry customers, and to make products more accessible to everyone.

In the early 80’s, Ron Trezza, a local cladding contractor with an Accounting Degree and football player along the side of legendary Jim Brown conceived an idea of creating thin brick panel system. What prompted him to do so, was his constant struggle of thin brick installations. He created a prototype of the system, filed for patents and trademarks, and in 1985 thin brick panel system was officially on the market.           

Most of our resellers do not sell enough of the product to keep it in stock. Some even order samples from us online on per request bases as the need arrives. In most likely scenario your order would ship from the same “ship from” point anyway.

You have obviously found us and visiting our website. Wouldn’t be easier just to order a sample yourself, and eliminate that extra level of complexity of having another “middleman” and additional cost?

Thin veneers and full veneers have their own separate, well respected place in the construction industry. We always say that thin brick should never be viewed as a cheaper alternative to full brick veneer. It should be used in areas where full brick cannot be used or where installation of a brick shelf (steel or concrete) is challenging and/or very expansive. Thin Brick can deliver a lot of solutions to your structural challenges.

We do not Install. It is highly unethical to compete with our own customers.

FYI, we have experience in masonry contracting field. Brick It panel system was originally developed for our own use. We don’t just sell it. We have used it ourselves before we started selling it. It works!