One clay molecule has an electrical charge that can attract and hold 79 water molecules. This is why clay expands and brick walls crack and crumble over time. We have found a way to permanently neutralize the electrical charge in clay molecules, making our bricks essentially indestructible, since water is the only natural force that can destroy a brick.
Regular bricks must be fired in kilns up to 2,000 degrees for two weeks. In today’s world, this is not a “Green” manufacturing process. Our bricks however, are wet cured in steam rooms for three days, using much less energy. If you are a home builder, contractor or developer, and you want to see, touch, smell and play with one of our bricks, you should click here.
The National Association of Home Builders issued a report on our bricks and suggested a number of tests for certification. Testing was conducted by independent, certified testing laboratories in the U.S., testing according to ASTM standards for structural bricks.
These tests showed that the average compression rate for the Aeonian Brick was 2,330 PSI.
A concrete block averages 1,000 PSI. Water absorption was just 10% by weight (regular fired bricks are allowed 18%). Paint the brick with a cheap latex paint and it becomes totally waterproof because of the density of the brick.
The first shear wall test was performed on the weakest possible configuration, no down rods, no footer or bond beam, just bricks glued together. The wall sustained the pressure of 175 MPH winds with no damage and had a small crack at 190 MPH.
A category 5 hurricane is 155 MPH+ and the strongest ever recorded that hit land was 200 MPH. The second shear test was conducted with threaded rods installed on the ends of the wall and that test went to 243 mph winds for 30 seconds on both sides of the wall without a crack.
| A concrete block wall with rebar and poured cells is only required to withstand a 110 mph gust for 3 seconds! |
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When Aeonian Bricks are glued together, the wall becomes monolithic! Energy is saved because the bricks have an R-20 heat resistance coating and an R-45 thermal mass (most home walls only insulate at an R-14 heat resistance or less with NO thermal mass!). Testing is now finished and Aeonian bricks have been certified for use by Davis and Cleaton Engineering, Inc. (registered in 34 states).
We are now building the first home in the world that will survive a hurricane, tornado, fire or flood with no structural damage. There will be no drywall, fiberglass insulation or wood in these homes, which means no mold or mildew. The roof will be constructed with a sprayed on concrete material over Styrofoam and steel.
Windows will be energy efficient and upgrades such as tankless water heaters will be standard. No roof shingle will ever have to be replaced, no rotten wood replaced and when our bricks are painted, the paint bonds with the brick instead of sticking to it, which means it may be a lifetime before the home needs painting again.
Most importantly of all, the house will look identical to every other house in the neighborhood!