Brick Cladding vs. Brick Slips vs. Full Masonry: A Specifier's Comparison

Three terms, three different products

Brick cladding, brick slips, and full masonry are frequently used interchangeably in construction conversations, but they describe genuinely different products with different structural roles, installation methods, and performance characteristics. Getting the distinction right matters when specifying a commercial facade.

Full masonry

Full masonry (traditional bricklaying using full-depth bricks in mortar) is a structural or semi-structural system. The wall has meaningful weight (180–220kg/m²) and depth (typically 110mm), and the mortar joints provide the connection between units.

In commercial construction above three storeys, full masonry as a non-structural facade becomes increasingly impractical due to weight, the structural support required, and the labour intensity of installation.

Brick slips

Brick slips are thin sections of real brick, typically 20–25mm deep, that deliver the visual character of full brick at a fraction of the weight and depth. How they are fixed to the substrate determines their performance and application range.

Adhesive-fixed brick slips are simple on flat surfaces but rely on adhesive bond long-term and are not suitable for soffits or significant curved geometry. Mechanically fixed brick slips (like those used in Nexbrick™) are engaged into a rail system, making them structurally independent of adhesive and suitable for any orientation including inverted soffit applications.

Brick cladding

"Brick cladding" is a broader term encompassing any brick-finish facade system where the brick does not carry structural load. This includes full-depth brick veneer tied to a backing wall, adhesive brick slips, mechanically fixed brick slip systems, and prefabricated brick panel systems.

In practice, when architects specify "brick cladding" for a commercial project, they are typically asking for a lightweight brick-finish system, which means the comparison is between adhesive slip systems and mechanically fixed systems like Nexbrick™.

Which is right for your project?

• Structural masonry requirement: Full masonry. Rare in commercial facades above ground floor.
• Flat facade, budget-sensitive, modest scale: Adhesive brick slips are viable.
• Any curved geometry, soffits, complex angles, or high-rise: Mechanically fixed brick slip system (Nexbrick™).
• Large-scale commercial with programme priority: Nexbrick™ prefabricated panels.

Understanding what you're specifying

The terms matter because they carry different structural assumptions, different NCC compliance pathways, and different long-term performance profiles. A specification that reads "brick cladding" without further definition leaves too much open to interpretation at the tender stage.

For NCC 2025 specifics, visit our compliance page. To discuss your specification, contact our team.