Brick by Brick: Why Concrete Brings More to the Wall
Founded by Bill Colen on March 1, 1955, Bilco Brick began production with three employees, a hand mixer and one goal – to manufacture brick with an uncompromising devotion to quality and value. That year, Bill and his crew produced an average of 3,000 bricks per day.
Today, Bilco Corporation is the largest independent brick producer in Texas with an annual production capacity of more than 100 million bricks. Our state-of-the-art plant encompass nearly 75,000 square feet with facilities for manufacturing Bilco Brick. With an engineering development team that continues to develop innovative equipment and manufacturing techniques, Bilco has earned a reputation as an industry leader.
Achieving such high standards is not solely the result of producing quality products. Our knowledgeable sales team, experienced support personnel and an exclusive fleet of tractor-trailers provide responsive, reliable service to our customers throughout the region.
For more than 70 years, Bilco has remained dedicated to offering our customers consistent quality and value – it’s what we build into every product we manufacture.
Concrete brick has often been overlooked, yet it delivers many of the qualities that architects have been looking for all along. With the same familiar look and installation process as clay brick, concrete brick adds advantages that make it a strong option for today’s projects. This course explores how concrete brick is made, how it compares to clay brick, and why its performance, sustainability data, and warranty benefits are getting the attention of design professionals. Participants will learn how integrally colored concrete brick eliminates painting and touch-ups, supports green building goals with product-specific EPDs and HPDs, and delivers durability and lifecycle benefits that extend project value.
- Recognize the key differences between concrete and clay brick, including composition, performance, and compliance with ASTM C55 and building codes.
- Explain how integrally colored concrete brick eliminates the need for coatings, reduces maintenance costs, and provides design flexibility through an endless range of color options.
- Evaluate the sustainability advantages of concrete brick by interpreting EPDs and HPDs and explain how product-specific data supports LEED and other green building requirements.
- Compare the long-term durability and lifecycle value of concrete brick to clay brick, including reduced waste, lower carbon footprint, and warranty coverage that extends material performance.
