Face Bricks vs Common Bricks: Which Do You Need?

Most brick homes use both, so the real face bricks vs. common bricks question isn't which one is better. It's which one belongs where. Get that right and you save money while ending up with the finish you actually wanted. Get it wrong and you either pay for rendering you didn't need or end up with a facade that looks off. This guide breaks down the difference and helps you choose the right brick for your project.

What Are Common Bricks?

Common bricks are the workhorses of any build. They're made to do a job, not to be looked at. You'll find them in structural walls, internal walls, and anywhere the brickwork is going to be rendered, plastered, or hidden from view.

They come in the standard Australian brick size, usually 230 x 110 x 76mm, so they slot straight into typical wall layouts. The look is rough and the colour tends to vary from pack to pack, which is no problem at all when the wall is never going to be seen.

This is also the cheapest brick you can buy, and there's a simple reason for it. Common bricks skip the finishing process, there's no tight colour control, and they're manufactured purely for function. You're paying for strength, not for looks, which is exactly what you want in the right spot.

What Are Face Bricks?

Face bricks are the opposite. They're made to be seen, so the finish is the whole point. Anywhere the brick stays exposed, a face brick is what you're after, including house facades, feature walls, fences, and outdoor areas like alfresco spaces and garden walls.

The difference shows in the detail. Face bricks have a quality finish, consistent colour from batch to batch, and a real choice of textures. You can go smooth for a clean, modern look, tumbled for a softer, weathered feel, or wire cut for something with a bit of texture in between. 

Brands like PGH Bricks and Austral Bricks offer dozens of colours and finishes to suit almost any design. Here's the value. A good face brick is its own finish. There's no rendering and no painting, because the brick already looks the part. What you lay is what you get, for the life of the wall.

Face Bricks vs. Common Bricks at a Glance

Face bricks and common bricks are the two main types of bricks used in Australia, and side by side, the trade-offs are easy to see.

Which Should You Use for Your Project?

Most of the time, the answer comes down to one question: will anyone see the brick?

Use common bricks if:

• You're rendering or cladding over the brickwork
• The budget is tight
• The wall won't be visible
• The job is purely structural

Use face bricks if:

• The brick will be left exposed
• You want low maintenance with no painting or rendering
• You want a finished look without the extra labour
• You're building a fence, feature wall, or anything on show

For most projects, choosing bricks for a house means using both. Common bricks handle the structural and hidden work, while face bricks go anywhere on display. Plenty of builds mix the two, which is completely normal. You just match the brick to the spot.

Two situations need a closer look. If you're adding an extension, take a sample of your existing brick to your supplier so you can match the colour and size as closely as possible. And on heritage or character homes, you may need a specific brick to keep the look consistent, so it's worth checking before you order.

It also pays to weigh up the face brick price against the common brick price properly, because the upfront number can be misleading. Face bricks cost more per brick, but common bricks often need rendering, painting, or extra labour on top. 

Once you add those in, the gap narrows, and common bricks aren't always cheaper overall. For a full breakdown of what you'll actually pay, see our guide to brick prices in Australia. Once you've settled on a brick, the next step is working out quantities, and you can estimate how many bricks you need by checking out our other guide.

Can You Use Face Bricks Structurally?

Short answer: yes, depending on the brick and the wall system. Bricks sold in Australia are manufactured to Australian Standards, with AS/NZS 4455.1 covering masonry units like bricks. Whether a particular brick can carry a load comes down to its strength rating and how the wall is built, not simply whether it's a face or common brick.

There are two systems worth knowing. In a load-bearing wall, the brickwork carries the weight of the structure. In brick veneer, a timber or steel frame does the structural work and a single skin of brick forms the outer skin. 

Many face bricks are perfectly suitable for structural use, while common bricks are often chosen specifically for load-bearing and hidden structural work. If load is a factor on your project, confirm the brick's rating with the manufacturer or check with your builder or engineer.

Get the Right Bricks for Your Build

Once you know the difference, the choice gets a lot simpler. Common bricks for the structure and the hidden work, face bricks wherever the wall is on show, and often a bit of both. If you want the bigger picture first, our complete guide to bricks covers every type in one place. 

When you're ready to order, BricksBlocksPaversOnline stocks a full range of bricks to suit any project, with delivery straight to your site. Browse the commons brick range for your structural and rendered work, or explore PGH Bricks and Austral Bricks for face bricks in a wide choice of colours, textures, and finishes. Whether you're a tradie ordering for a full build or a DIYer tackling a weekend project, it's an easy way to get quality bricks without the runaround.