Salvage brick is reclaimed brick removed from an older structure, cleaned, and reused, valued for matching the color, size, texture, and wear of existing period masonry that current manufacturers no longer produce.
Brick made decades ago was often a different size, color, and hardness than what's manufactured today, so when a repair needs to blend into an older wall, salvage brick from a matching era is sometimes the only real option for a seamless match. It's typically sourced from demolished buildings of a similar age and region, then sorted for units that are still structurally sound, since old brick that's already spalled or crumbling on one face isn't worth reusing.
Salvage brick comes with a real tradeoff: it was made before modern grading standards existed, so it wasn't necessarily rated for severe weather exposure even if it's held up fine so far in a sheltered spot. When we use salvage brick on a visible repair, we're usually matching appearance on a section that isn't taking direct weather, and using newer SW-rated brick where freeze-thaw exposure is worse, so the patch looks right without repeating the same failure a few winters down the road.
More masonry vocabulary from the glossary.
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Chelo's Brick & Stone serves Hillsville, Galax, Wytheville, Fancy Gap, and Independence, VA. Call for a straight answer and a free on-site estimate.
