Brick Matching: Why It Matters

Brick is one of the UK's most widely used façade materials, valued for its durability, versatility and ability to respond to the character of its surroundings. But when a new building, extension or refurbishment needs to sit alongside existing brickwork, selecting the right product can be more complicated than simply finding a similar colour.

Differences in colour, texture, size, manufacturing method, mortar and brickwork bond can all affect how a façade looks once installed. Getting the right match therefore plays an important role in creating a cohesive finish, whether the objective is to blend new brickwork seamlessly with an existing building or deliberately combine different bricks to create architectural interest.

Why does brick matching matter?

When extending an existing building or developing a site alongside established brickwork, the new façade needs to respond to what is already there.

A brick that looks similar in a small sample can appear noticeably different when installed across a larger elevation. Variations in tone, texture, firing characteristics and surface finish can become more apparent when materials are placed next to one another.

Matching is particularly important for extensions, infill developments, refurbishment projects and schemes within areas with a strong local architectural character. A well-selected brick can help new work sit comfortably alongside existing buildings, while a poor match can make the addition appear disconnected from its surroundings.

Brick matching is not always about finding an identical product either. Where an original brick is no longer manufactured or an exact match is unavailable, selecting the closest suitable brick or developing an appropriate blend can provide a cohesive result while meeting the design requirements of the project.

What makes a good brick match?

Colour is often the first characteristic considered when matching brickwork, but it is only one part of the process.

Texture, size, shape and manufacturing method can all influence the appearance of a brick. The way the brick is laid, alongside the mortar colour and brickwork bond, can also have a significant impact on the finished façade.

Understanding these details is particularly important when matching older brickwork, where weathering and changes in appearance over time can make identifying the original product more challenging.

This is where specialist knowledge can make a difference. Rather than selecting a brick based solely on a photograph or colour, a more considered approach looks at the existing brickwork as a whole and compares its characteristics with available products.

How Taylor Maxwell supports brick matching

At Taylor Maxwell, our brick specialists help architects, developers and contractors identify bricks used on existing buildings and find suitable products for new developments. With advisors based across 12 regional offices in the UK, our teams have extensive knowledge of local architectural styles, existing brickwork and the products used across developments in their areas.

The process can begin with photographs of the brick itself, the surrounding brickwork and, where possible, the wider building. From these images, our team can identify an exact match where possible or recommend the nearest suitable brick or blend to achieve the required finish.

Where a brick cannot be identified from photographs alone, our area sales teams can arrange a site visit to assess the existing brickwork in person.

Samples can then be provided to help architects, developers, clients and planning committees assess the proposed material before it is specified.

This approach can be particularly valuable when working with older buildings, where identifying an existing brick may require a combination of product knowledge, local experience and an understanding of how brick characteristics change over time.

Brick matching in practice

While brick matching is often associated with creating a seamless extension or refurbishment, combining different bricks can also be an important part of the architectural design.

Different colours, textures and formats can be used to define parts of a building, highlight entrances and windows, create visual hierarchy or give individual elevations their own identity.

At Welbourne, Tottenham Hale, Taylor Maxwell worked with architects Pollard Thomas Edwards to develop a façade with greater tonal depth. A blend of three different red bricks was selected alongside bespoke red cast stone, creating a cohesive palette across the building while giving the façade its own identity. The combination of varied brick tones and textures helped bring depth to the elevations, with the red cast stone reinforcing the connection between the different materials.

The Hoxton Hotel in Shepherd's Bush demonstrates another approach. Taylor Maxwell worked with EPR Architects to develop a bespoke blend of three red bricks, complemented by light grey and dark grey brickwork in different areas of the façade. The changing brick palette helps define different elements of the building while responding to the surrounding streetscape.

At Hambrook House, contrasting brick choices were used across the residential blocks to help distinguish different elements of the development. A classic red brick and grey multi were selected to create variation while complementing the cast stone features and the surrounding Conservation Area.

These projects demonstrate that selecting more than one brick does not necessarily mean creating a fragmented façade. When carefully considered, contrasting brickwork can provide structure, depth and identity while maintaining a coherent overall design.

Adding character through brick selection

Brick matching is ultimately about more than finding a similar-looking product. It is about understanding how a material will relate to the building around it, whether that means matching an existing façade, responding to the local vernacular or deliberately introducing contrast.

At 80 Charlotte Street, Taylor Maxwell worked with the project team to source bricks that matched retained areas of the original brick façades, helping new elevations sit alongside the existing buildings. The project also incorporated bespoke brick-clad lintels and other prefabricated brickwork elements, demonstrating how careful material selection can extend beyond the brick itself.

With access to a wide range of facing bricks from leading UK and European manufacturers, as well as bespoke brick blends, Taylor Maxwell can support projects where the right brick needs to be identified, matched or developed.

From extensions and refurbishment projects to large-scale new developments, careful brick selection can help create façades that feel considered, cohesive and appropriate to their surroundings.

At Taylor Maxwell, our brick specialists provide support from material identification and sampling through to specification and supply, helping project teams make informed decisions about their brickwork from concept through to completion.

Want to find the right brick match for your project? Learn more about our brick matching services.