Commonly chosen to emphasize the long, low architecture of ranch houses, “Roman brick” was a signature design feature likely used to build millions of American homes in the 1950s and 1960s. We also see Roman brick frequently used on fireplaces. My immediate neighborhood reflects this trend — with about one in three homes built using Roman brick — including mine, that’s my brick above. We’ve received questions in the past about where to get Roman brick, so Pam sent me on a research mission, and I found two places to buy Roman brick in an impressive variety of styles and colors.
Roman brick — as the name suggests — can trace its history back to ancient Rome. Ancient Roman bricks were made in a variety dimensions, but always longer and flatter than traditional brick. Roman bricks were reintroduced into contemporary architecture in the early 20th century.
This long, thin brick was used extensively by famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright for many of his Prairie style homes, because he liked how the brick helped emphasize the horizontal lines common to his home designs. The same held true when ranch house production boomed in postwar American. By the middle of the 20th century, we believe they were quite commonly used on and in midcentury modern and modest houses alike — we seem them in a lot of reader photos. Ranch houses simply look great, clad in roman brick, and golly, Roman brick fireplaces are awesome! If you need to renovate or change out the mantle of the fireplace in your midcentury house — be sure take a look at Roman brick as an option.
Two places to find Roman brick today
1. The Belden Brick Company — 13 Roman brick styles
The Belden Brick Company began as the Diebold Fire Brick Company in 1885 in Canton, Ohio. According to the company, it is the sixth largest (by production volume) brick manufacturer in the U.S. — and the largest family-owned and -managed brick company in the country. Belden offers 13 styles of Roman brick, which are available to purchase nationwide through their distributors.
From The Belden Brick Company website:
Roman Brick is ideal for creating a distinct and different look to any structure. It characteristically has longer and more linear dimensions than those of standard modern brick. Belden Roman Brick was used on the restoration of the Famous Frank Lloyd Wright “Martin House Complex” in Buffalo, New York. The dimensions of Belden Roman Face Brick are 3-5/8” x 1-5/8” x 11-5/8”.
Above: Medium Range Ironspot (Shadow-Tex)
Above: Dark Range Ironsphot (Smooth)
Above: Frontier Blend (Velour)
Above: Medium Range Ironspot (Smooth)
Above: Light Range Ironspot (Smooth)
Above: Light Range Ironspot (Velour)
Links:
2. Cloud Ceramics — 29 colors, 8 textures
Cloud Ceramics has been producing bricks in Kansas since 1946. Today the company makes some 29 different colors of brick, eight textures and several sizes — including Roman brick. Their bricks are sold nationwide and in Canada and can be ordered through distributors. Cloud Ceramics also offers brick matching — allowing homeowners and contractors to send them photos of an existing building — even one with aged brick — so Cloud Ceramics can suggest or custom make the best available match. The company will even send physical brick samples to you for match comparison purposes.
Links:
John Sloan says
I have brick that looks like the brick on your house shown at the beginning of “Two places to buy Roman bricks in a wide variety of colors and styles,” except mine is rustic finish instead of shadow finish. The overall color and variation in color among bricks seems the same. Your “Two Places…” article is almost five years old, but I did not find any other sources that might offer brick like yours, but with rustic finish. Do you know of any other sources for 2021.
pam kueber says
Hi John, I have not done more research on this topic…
John says
Does anyone know if Roman Brick can be limewashed? i have the same type of brick as the first photo in the article and my wife is determined to limewash (whitewash) our exterior.
pam kueber says
Hi John, on questions like this it’s recommended you consult with professionals.
Lisa Wallace says
Hi, Retro Lovers, We have retired to a “tired” ’80s Knoxville area rancher. We are seeking a resource for General Shale’s “Kingsport Ancestral” modular brick to add walls where are will remove a sliding door and install a stationary window. We would only need #250. We just sold our ’55 ranch and are recreating some of the ’50s details inside we left behind (vintage blue bathroom sinks!), but finding this exterior brick is proving to be tricky. Anyone out there know of a good brick hunter? Thanks loads, Lisa And Will
pam kueber says
Hi Lisa,
I presume you know General Shale still exists? https://generalshale.com/
I don’t see it on their website, but perhaps they could help you find it?
Note to other readers: No buying/selling here in these threads or it becomes chaos. Thank you for your understanding. Note, if you think you DO have a craigslisting (etc) for this exact brick (google it), you can put up the craigslist link.
Coopercapers says
Endicott near Omaha Nebraska has been around forever and makes roman, norman as well as many other bricks, thin ones full ones, you name it. The look of the brick has to do with the clay used. The ironspots give it a lot of character. The soil around Endicott his heavy in iron so their bricks are gorgeous. Check it out!