FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is an Aeonian brick?
Our flagship product is an amazing new clay-based, interlocking brick that is waterproof, fireproof, insect-proof, soundproof, mold and mildew-proof, insulates the home, saves energy and best of all; is one of the greenest construction material that exists on the market today.
What makes Aeonian Bricks waterproof?
The clay in our bricks is treated with a nontoxic, environmentally friendly solution that neutralizes the polarity of the clay molecule, making the clay essentially waterproof because there is no electrical charge to attract and hold the water molecule.
What are the costs compared to standard construction materials?
Using our system, the home will be built faster and the contractor will make more profit selling the home for the same price as conventional frame homes in the area.
Where can I get these bricks to build my own home?
To see a list of the current states where we are certified, click here.
How are the bricks connected top and bottom?
Mortar is the weakest part of a concrete block or brick home. We use a construction adhesive (much like liquid nails) which bonds to the brick, not just sticks to it. Once the bricks are glued together, they form a monolithic wall, much like a poured concrete wall
Why do we have to use your building system?
An example; a contractor buys bricks from us to build a home with no restrictions. He installs a wood truss roof system rated for 110 mph wind pressures. The roof will now blow off in a hurricane or tornado, burn in a fire, be susceptible to termites and mold and the home will have a lower insulating value. The walls would still be standing but the home would be effectively destroyed. This is why we want the contractors to stick to our building system.
How soon can I build my home with Aeonian bricks?
We are licensing contractors starting early next year in the states we are certified in. All contractors will be required to certify through Aeonian Bricks before being licensed.
Do you have plans to make curved bricks?
Yes, but it is not a high priority. At this time, we have a regular, exterior, interlocking brick, another exterior brick with an angle to simulate wood siding, a 12" long corner brick, a 4 1/2" interior brick and a decorative roof tile to finish off the concrete roof. Many more shapes and forms will follow.
Would the rectangular brick be suitable for a retaining wall with extreme northern outdoor exposure (-30 degrees F - +120 degrees F), especially for the top of the wall and specifically at the "mortar" joints?
Yes. Being waterproof at a molecular level, heat and cold have no effect on our bricks. There are no mortar joints with our system. the bricks are glued together internally.
Do you have any plans for making a portable manufacturing machine to make bricks on site from local materials to save on shipping costs and to be even more "green"?
Not in the U.S. In the U.S., all building materials must be fabricated with quality control standards in place. In other countries, we will be selling portable machines to make bricks on site.
How would a contractor replace plumbing after many years of service? Do you have special bricks that would allow access for replacing supply lines and drains? One possibility would be bricks that screw onto steel studs similar to some brick siding products.
Initially, homes will be built on concrete slabs. The 3d or 4th home will be built on steel piers. This will allow all electrical and plumbing to be installed from the underside of the home. Anytime a water pipe inside the wall has to be replaced or mended, the wall can be routed like wood, the repair made and the channel filled with plaster.
Do you have any plans for special bricks at baseboard level that would allow for a raceway for electrical wiring?
There are several companies making a baseboard today to accommodate wiring. For post construction, this would be ideal. During initial construction, our bricks form a 1 1/4" chase for wiring and plumbing.
How does one incorporate heating and air conditioning duct work?
In a single story home, the concrete roof creates a cathedral ceiling in many areas of the home. The false ceiling over bedrooms, bathrooms, etc., will create space for ductwork for the entire home. In a 2 story home, the ductwork can be incorporated into the 2d story floor system.
How will a home owner hang pictures? Do you have a special brick to allow for hanging pictures from wires?
Simply drill a hole in the wall with a wood bit. Screw in a screw a little larger than the hole, with no shield or plug and the screw will hold 5% stronger than if the screw had been screwed into a wood stud. One screw in our brick wall will easily support a 300 lb mirror or picture frame.
Do you have specialty bricks for cornice and chair rail designs?
No. That is done much more easily with new moldings that look and paint like wood but are made with new plastic compounds.
The picture of the bricks on your web site appear to show a space between two halves of the brick. Is there room for additional foam insulation?
No. What I believe you are referring to is the interlocking ridges on the top of the brick. In-between the ridges, a 1 1/4" chase is created for wires and plumbing. The rest of the wall is solid brick.
If a contractor were to build two parallel brick walls about two to three feet apart, would the brick walls be structurally sufficient to support filling the cavity with rammed earth to create a massive thermal heat sink?
Yes, but there is no need. Our bricks have an R-45 thermal mass. Additional thermal mass would provide little if any additional insulation. Once the R rating gets over 35, there is little to be gained by adding additional insulation.
Is there any provision for attaching later additions to the houses?
Yes, just like any other home. The only difference is that if an opening needs to be wider, when our bricks are removed, the opening will be much stronger because our bricks form a monolithic wall when glued together.
Is there any negative effect from cutting additional doorways or windows after the walls are completed?
No. It is much easier than doing so with a wood frame or concrete block home.
Do window and door openings require lintels or is the glued brick sufficient by itself? How large of an opening is possible without steel lintels?
They do require lintels until engineers have more experience with our bricks. At first, any engineer is going to approach questions like this with a CYA attitude. Our lintels will be simple steel bars across the opening which the bricks will sit on, much like brick homes built in the 40s and 50s.
Would it be possible to have inexperienced volunteers help build houses for an organization like Habitat for Humanity under the supervision of a trained contractor?
Yes, much more so than conventional building.
Does the house require a separate footer/foundation, or is the brick itself designed to be part of an integral footer/foundation?
The exterior bricks must be laid on a footer or steel beam. The soil under the footer and slab will be treated with our chemical to make the soil waterproof. Settling problems will be almost entirely eliminated.
Has your adhesive been tested for outgassing problems?
Yes. The adhesive conforms to all ASTM standards.
Are there special bricks for intersecting interior wall?
No. When an interior wall meets with an exterior wall, a 4 1/2" channel is routed 1" deep and the interior wall is set inside the channel.
Are your bricks available in smaller quantities for building interior tornado shelters in conventionally built houses?
Yes. An interior bathroom lined with 8" bricks and a 1/4"steel plate for the ceiling would resist the strongest tornado easily.