The coarser and dirtier bricks on the sides and backs of many Chicago buildings are known as the Chicago Commons. They're created from Chicago River clay, and when burned, they may change a variety of hues, including buff yellow, salmon pink, and deep red. Chicago bricks age nicely and have a lovely patina. Over time, they will darken in color due to the presence of iron oxides in the clay.
Chicago bricks were originally made by taking mold samples from working bricklayers and using those patterns to make molds that could be used over and over again. As part of their training, young bricklayers were often assigned jobs on existing structures, so they would learn what types of materials were used where before they started their own businesses. This is why you often see commons brick on older buildings with hand-worked features: decorative corner blocks, window trim, etc.
Today, most bricks used in Chicago construction are machine made, but some special order bricks still exist. These can be seen on newer buildings that use design elements not available through machine making. For example, there are no standard colors for special order bricks, so each batch comes up with a different hue for you to choose from. Or, if you prefer your bricks to be completely unique, you can have ones made with your favorite color combinations or designs.
Common brick was originally sold by the truckload to builders who had their own brickyards.
Prior to the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, Chicago was primarily made of wood. The fire destroyed nearly 17,000 buildings, and following another fire in 1874, citywide building laws were altered to prohibit new wood structures. This led to a need for alternative building materials, including brick.
Brick is the material from which Chicago's streets are paved. It's made by mixing clay with sand or stone to form a paste, which is rolled out into large sheets and dried at room temperature or in an oven. The resulting solid is broken up into small pieces and used as a base for buildings or playgrounds. Brick manufacturing began in Chicago but was moved east after World War II because of pollution concerns and labor issues related to Vietnam War protests. Today, most brick used in Chicago construction is imported from China, India, Turkey, and Tunisia.
The first buildings in what is now Chicago were made entirely of wood. By the time the last one went up in 1872, almost 17,000 buildings had been burned down in two fires. Not even the great Chicago Fire of 1871 stopped the city from growing right away-after all, it took place during the winter, when many people were out of town-and soon there were enough resources around to build more than ever before. By 1880, there were over 800 builders operating in Chicago checking off boxes on construction sites across the city.
But why is Chicago brick used? Once again, history has the solution. Hundreds of people perished and almost four square miles of the city was burned in the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. Following the fire, the city was rebuilt, with much of it made of what is now known as Chicago Common Brick. This helped the city to recover from such a devastating event - no other bricks on the market were quite like it.
The city's reputation for quality construction materials came about because of this common brick. There are two main types of brick used in Chicago: standard brick and terra cotta. Both are durable products that can last for hundreds of years if properly constructed. However, only common brick can be used in walls more than three feet high or roofs thicker than one inch. It is this characteristic that gives Chicago its nickname as the City of Brick.
Common brick is made by mixing clay with sand and water, then adding straw or wood fibers to give it strength. The mixture is put into molds and left to dry, after which it is taken out and fired in a kiln at temperatures of up to 900 degrees F for several hours. When cool, the brick can be painted or stained for decoration. They can also be left natural if you want a simple white or brown brick.
Brick was once the most popular building material in America.
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