Bonding on ETICS
Bricks bonded directly to the ETICS reinforced render with suitable adhesive mortar. The most common system — combines thermal insulation and brick finish in a single operation. ETAG 004 compliant.
Facing — Adhesive-bonded bricksFacing
Facing
bricks
Vandersanden, Feldhaus Klinker, Wienerberger Terca, MBI — authentic brick appearance on insulation, without load-bearing masonry. QUASART installs and specifies in Luxembourg and the Greater Region.
A1 RatingIntegrated ETICSBonding + fixingBrick appearance
A1Non-combustible
50+ yrsLifespan
300+Shades
Why facing bricks?
The brick appearance without masonry.
Facing bricks are clay or concrete tiles of 14 to 22 mm thickness, bonded to insulation or to a masonry substrate. They reproduce the appearance of traditional facade brickwork — including joints — without requiring a load-bearing brick wall. It is the ideal solution for achieving an authentic brick finish on timber frame, concrete or steel constructions.
QUASART, based in Crauthem (L-3327), installs adhesive-bonded facing bricks on ETICS (external thermal insulation) and on masonry substrates. We work with the four leading European manufacturers — Vandersanden (Belgium), Feldhaus Klinker (Germany), Wienerberger Terca (Austria) and MBI (Netherlands). We operate in Luxembourg, Moselle and Belgium.
Facing brick · Material sheet
Données certifiéesFire resistanceA1
Frost resistance9.5
Durability9.0
Authenticity9.5
Maintenance requiredNone
Shade range300+
CompositionFired clay or through-body tinted concrete
Thickness14 mm (standard), 17 mm, 22 mm (clinker)
Format (L × H)240 × 71 mm (WF), 240 × 52 mm (DF), 290 × 52 mm (NF)
Weight25 to 45 kg/m² depending on thickness and joint type
Water absorption3 to 8% (fired clay), < 3% (clinker)
InstallationAdhesive mortar bonding on ETICS or masonry
DTU 41.2EN 13501-1 (A1)EN 14411NF EN 771-1NF EN 998-2RE 2020
Brick types
Four families for every appearance
The choice of brick depends on the desired appearance, budget and technical performance.
01 / BRICK TYPES
Hand-moulded clay
WF 240 × 71 mm — artisanal lookAuthenticity10.0
Uniformity5.0
Price6.0
Each brick is unique — shade variation, irregular texture, sharp or soft edges. The most authentic appearance, indistinguishable from traditional masonry. Vandersanden and Wienerberger lead this segment.
Traditional02 / BRICK TYPES
Extruded clinker
DF 240 × 52 mm — high densityAuthenticity7.5
Uniformity9.0
Price7.0
Extruded brick fired at high temperature (> 1,200 °C). Water absorption < 3%, maximum frost resistance. Smooth or textured surface. Feldhaus Klinker world reference. Ideal for exposed facades.
Performance03 / BRICK TYPES
Through-body tinted concrete
Various formats — economicalAuthenticity6.5
Uniformity9.5
Price9.0
Through-body tinted concrete brick — economical alternative to fired clay. Stable colours, regular formats. MBI market leader. Ideal for large-scale projects where cost per m² is decisive.
Economical04 / BRICK TYPES
Glazed & coloured
Vitrified surface — contemporary effectAuthenticity5.0
Uniformity10.0
Price5.0
Brick with glazed or coated surface — bold colours (blue, green, black, white). Contemporary effect that breaks with the traditional brick appearance. Vandersanden and Feldhaus offer the most accomplished ranges.
DesignFinishes & appearances
From Flemish red to charcoal black.
Over 300 shades and textures — each brick tells a story of earth and fire.
Flemish
Flemish redBenelux classic, warm variations
Smoked
Smoked brownReduction firing, aged look
Cement
Cement greyTinted concrete, contemporary urban look
Lime-washed
Lime-washed whiteLimewash, Scandinavian effect
Charcoal
Charcoal blackHigh-fired clinker, graphic look
Glazed
Glazed blueVitrified surface, design effect
Referenced manufacturers
Four manufacturers. Brick expertise.
QUASART works with the European leaders in facing bricks.
Hand-moulded · BelgiumBelgium · Hand-moulded · Carbon neutral
VANDERSANDEN
Graphite · Lithium · Zero · TerraBelgium’s leading brickmaker. Hand-moulded specialist — each brick is unique. Zero range (carbon neutral), Graphite (anthracite), Terra (authentic reds). The reference choice in Benelux for high-end residential facades.
Hand-moulded — maximum authenticity
Zero — certified carbon neutral
Impression range — screen printing on brick
200+ shades and textures
Extruded clinker · GermanyGermany · Clinker · High performance
FELDHAUS KLINKER
Sintra · Vascu · Geo · ClassicGerman manufacturer specialising in high-performance clinker. Fired > 1,200 °C — absorption < 3%, maximum frost resistance. Sintra range (German hand-moulded), Vascu (mineral textures), Classic (standard).
Sintra — hand-moulded, artisanal look
Vascu — textured mineral surface
Clinker — absorption < 3%, frost guaranteed
Argon system — integrated bonding profiles
Volume & availability · AustriaAustria · Volume · Availability
WIENERBERGER TERCA
Agora · Natura · WasserstrichWorld’s largest brickmaker (Wienerberger group). Terca range of facing bricks — widest availability in Luxembourg and Benelux. Optimal quality/lead time ratio for volume projects.
Agora — hand-moulded, warm tones
Natura — raw natural clay
Wasserstrich — water-struck finish
Wienerberger Luxembourg/Benelux network
Tinted concrete · NetherlandsNetherlands · Concrete · Economical
MBI
GeoStylistix · GeoCeramica · StandardDutch manufacturer of through-body tinted concrete bricks. Economical alternative to fired clay with perfect dimensional regularity. GeoStylistix range (design) and standard products for large volumes.
Through-body tinted concrete — stable colours
GeoStylistix — contemporary design
Perfect dimensional regularity
Budget-friendly for large projects
Installation systems
Bonding on ETICS, on masonry, pre-fabricated panels.
Bonding on masonry
Bricks bonded to concrete, blockwork or existing brick wall. Double buttering mandatory for formats > 240 × 71 mm. Renovation or overcladding solution.
Pre-fabricated panels
Bricks pre-assembled in factory on insulation panel — installation by full panels, jointing on site. 3× faster than unit laying. MBI and Feldhaus offer these systems.
Joints & bond patterns
Full joint (pointing mortar), recessed joint (raked) or flush joint. Joint colour: grey, white, anthracite, stone tone. The bond pattern (stretcher, Flemish, English) defines the character of the facade.
Corners & window reveals
Pre-fabricated L-shaped corner bricks for reveals. Pre-fabricated or site-cut lintels. Careful details that make the difference between a successful facing and an approximate cladding.
Integrated ETICS insulation
EPS, rock wool or wood fibre behind the bricks. Thickness 80 to 200 mm depending on thermal target. The ETICS + brick system is a complete high-performance envelope solution.
Installation
The art of brick facing
Brick facing installation requires precision and patience — every joint, every alignment counts.
01
ETICS substrate preparation
Insulation bonded/dowelled to the wall, reinforced base coat with fibreglass mesh. Flat and clean surface — bonding quality depends on substrate quality.
Insulation + mesh + base coat02
Double buttering bonding
Adhesive mortar applied with notched trowel to the substrate AND to the back of the brick. Positioning with spacing shims for joints. Alignment by string line and laser.
Double buttering · Shims · Laser03
Pointing
Filling joints with pointing mortar (bag or gun). Raking or smoothing depending on the desired joint type. Sponge cleaning before drying.
Bag · Raking · Sponge04
Water repellent treatment
Application of a colourless surface water repellent after complete joint curing (14 days min). Protects against water infiltration and efflorescence.
After 14 days · ColourlessTechnical standards
Standards & certifications
Every QUASART installation complies with current standards in Luxembourg and Europe.
DTU 41.2
Applied external cladding
DTU applicable to adhesive-bonded facing bricks — substrate, bonding, joints, water repellent treatment.
EN 13501-1
Fire classification
Fired clay bricks are rated A1 — non-combustible. Concrete bricks are rated A1 or A2 depending on composition.
EN 14411
Ceramic tiles and slabs
Standard applicable to fired clay tiles for external cladding — water absorption, frost resistance, flexion.
NF EN 771-1
Clay masonry elements
Specifications for clay bricks and tiles — mechanical properties, dimensions, tolerances.
NF EN 998-2
Masonry mortars
Specifications for laying and pointing mortars — strength, adhesion, compatibility with ETICS substrates.
RE 2020 / GPE
Thermal performance
The ETICS + brick system is a complete envelope solution compatible with RE 2020 and GPE Luxembourg.
Applications
Brick appearance everywhere
01
Houses & individual residences
Authentic brick appearance on timber frame or concrete houses. Vandersanden hand-moulded for high-end, MBI concrete for budget-conscious. Integrated ETICS.
02
Collective housing & off-plan
Housing programmes with brick finish compliant with building permit. Pre-fabricated panels for long runs — fast installation, controlled cost.
03
Facade renovation
Brick overcladding on degraded existing render. ETICS + bricks restores a new appearance and improves thermal performance. No removal of old render.
04
Institutional buildings
Schools, town halls, sports facilities. A1 rating, impact and vandalism resistance. The brick appearance integrates naturally into the Luxembourg urban landscape.
Selected projects
Facing bricks in context
Vandersanden rouge flamand
Collectif · 2024Résidence GasperichGasperich, Luxembourg
Feldhaus Sintra brun
Résidentiel · 2024Villa BertrangeBertrange, Luxembourg
Wienerberger Agora
Institutionnel · 2023École EschEsch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
MBI béton gris
Résidentiel · 2023Maison StrassenStrassen, Luxembourg
Vandersanden Graphite
Collectif · 2024Logements BelvalBelval, Luxembourg
Feldhaus Klinker noir
Tertiaire · 2023Bureau ThionvilleThionville, France
Facing bricks offer the honesty of brick without the constraints of masonry. The same appearance, the same nobility, on any substrate.QUASART — Philosophy of materials
FAQ
Your questions about facing bricks
Installation, performance and aesthetics
Facing bricks are 14-22 mm tiles bonded to a substrate (ETICS or masonry). Traditional masonry uses solid or perforated bricks of 90-100 mm, laid in mortar on a load-bearing wall. The visual result is identical — the difference is structural. Bonded bricks are 5× lighter and do not require a dimensioned foundation.
Yes — lifespan > 50 years if bonding is correctly executed (double buttering, flat substrate, suitable mortar). Fired clay bricks are rated A1 and frost-resistant. The ETICS + brick system is covered by QUASART’s decennial warranty (AXA policy 10/0214108).
Yes — it is the primary use case. Bricks are bonded to the ETICS reinforced render with a specific adhesive mortar (Weber, Bostik, Mapei type). The weight of bricks (25-45 kg/m²) is compatible with ETICS systems provided the insulation manufacturer’s specifications are followed.
Vandersanden (Belgium): hand-moulded, maximum authenticity, Zero carbon range. Feldhaus Klinker (Germany): high-performance clinker, absorption < 3%. Wienerberger Terca (Austria): best availability/price ratio in Benelux. MBI (Netherlands): tinted concrete, the most economical.
Cost varies between 120 and 250 EUR/m² installed (excluding ETICS) depending on brick type and detail complexity (corners, reveals, lintels). ETICS adds 60 to 120 EUR/m² depending on insulation thickness. QUASART provides a precise quotation after study.
Joints represent up to 20% of the visible surface — their choice is decisive. A light grey joint lightens the overall effect, an anthracite joint darkens and dramatises. A tone-on-tone joint creates a monolithic effect. QUASART produces on-site samples with the envisaged joint colours.
Areas of operation