Whether used for a housing project or a boutique infill development, choosing the right facing brick impacts everything from planning to long-term kerb appeal. As we look toward 2026, brick styles reflect evolutions in planning, sustainability, and materials technology.
Here’s an updated guide to the top five facing brick types to specify this year and how to use them wisely.
1. Soft Red Bricks
Nothing says ‘British housing’ like soft red facing bricks. The warm tones, ranging from muted burgundies to heritage terracotta, define urban streetscapes and work well in conservation-led renovations, infill sites in Victorian or Edwardian districts, and garden suburbs.
They contain higher embodied carbon than some modern alternatives and, when used with lime mortar, offer breathability on retrofits while enhancing character overall.
They are commonly found in both local authority estates and private developments, owing to their adaptability and accessibility from locally-sourced clay, which adds to their authenticity.
Modern versions often feature wire-cut or weathered textures for depth, while slimmer ‘urban weathered’ versions aim to be sustainable through reducing material use.
2. Buff Bricks
Buff bricks deliver a clean, bright, and light-filled finish that blends in well with suburban and mixed-use aesthetics, school-led development, outer London, and East England. The creamy, beige, and soft yellow hues reflect more natural light than darker tones, making them popular in low-rise housing and compact streets.
The palette fits into traditional London buildings but has evolved with sharper formats and smoother textures in modern facades.
Some notes to keep in mind:
- They are favored in South East England planning due to regional architectural identity.
- You can get them in stock, pressed, and linear variants.
- They are low maintenance, weathering to a mellow tone as time goes by.
You can match them with a light grey or natural mortar for a uniform finish or contrast with darker pointing for definition. Buff bricks pair beautifully with pale timber cladding and zinc roofing.
3. Grey and Charcoal Bricks
You will mostly see these used for contemporary infill projects, riverside apartments, minimalist private homes, urban regeneration initiatives, and so on.
They are favoured for their sleek, architectural look as it lends neutral tones that allow for clean, graphic elevations, and are often combined to showcase contrast in mixed-material developments.
Increasingly seen in longer, slimmer formats such as liner or Roman bricks, they bring rhythm and elegance to contemporary builds.
Some important things to note about them include:
- They are available in water-struck, smooth, or lightly-textured finishes.
- Darker colours may need additional sealant to prevent water staining or efflorescence.
- Sustainable options with low embodied energy are now available.
You can use them in combination with large windows, corten steel, or pale render for a striking contrast. Grey bricks work particularly well in recessed jointing, enhancing shadow play.
4. Multi-Blend Bricks
High-end residential developments, placemaking-led schemes, brownfield regeneration, and village concepts tend to use these bricks. They combine tones like red, brown, cream, and even purple or grey to offer a dynamic, textured finish that breaks monotony.
The bricks are increasingly gaining attention among premium residential projects that want to display warmth, depth, and uniqueness, without losing the brick’s familiar feel.
- They can be found in tumbled, handmade, or waterstruck textures.
- They often appear in feature panels, banding, or as a way to break up facades on multi-unit developments.
- You can use them to mask weathering and staining over time.
Use multi-blends in Flemish bond or with soldier courses to bring additional variations and richness. Consider pairing them with traditional-style windows or standing seam metal roofs for contrast.
5. Glazed and Textured Feature Bricks
Glazed and textured bricks have gone mainstream and can be seen on stairwells, podium levels, retail and cultural locations, and other shared spaces.
You can find them in high-gloss blues and greens, to ribbed or combed textures, which introduce movement and visual interest where monotony would otherwise set in. Some of the things that set them apart include:
- High resistance to graffiti, staining, and weathering.
- You can find them in a growing range of colours and formats.
- Excellent for BREEAM and public developments due to durability.
Use these bricks sparingly and with clear intent, especially around doors, stair cores, signage zones, or shopfronts. When mixed with matte base bricks, they produce an appealing contrast and reduce glare.
Conclusion
Facing bricks are cladding, but also state your identity, intent, and are practical. You can use them to anchor a heritage plot with soft reds or introduce bold contrasts with glazed variants.
Your choice sets the tone for how a development is approved and perceived. Find the best combination of sustainability, aesthetics, and functionality. Choose wisely and let the bricks speak for themselves.
Looking to specify facing bricks for your next development? Brick Wholesale is one of the UK’s largest brick suppliers of high-quality facing bricks for residential and commercial projects.
Whether you’re after classic soft red bricks, warm buff tones, or contemporary glazed finishes, they offer developer-grade products with reliable nationwide delivery. Explore their curated selection to match your design intent, planning requirements, and sustainability targets.
