The price for most old bricks regardless of age is the current price for used brick, usually ranging from 20 cents
to $1.00. Common, face, and paver bricks are at the lower end of this price range and firebricks are at the
upper end. To brick collectors of the International Brick Collectors Association, a brick has no
monetary value; one brick is worth another brick in trade only. Rare exceptions among some collectors are bricks
associated with famously historic buildings or events and accompanied by well-documented proof, such as the Chicago
Stadium brick or "Don't Spit on Sidewalk" brick, which can range in value from several dollars to several tens of
dollars or more, depending on what the collector is willing to pay.
Where can I find old brick?
Old bricks are found where ever they were dumped in the past, such as in landfills, ravines, streams, lakes, bays,
backyards, ditches, roadsides, or along the shoreline. Abandoned building sites, industrial sites, and brickyards
are also good hunting grounds for brick. But be sure to get permission to collect on private property. Collecting is
not allowed in public parks; those are for all to enjoy. Current building material yards and demolition sites may
offer old brick for sale. Yard sales or giveaways by private parties are also worth checking.
Where can I get a thousand old paver bricks for my patio project?
Contact your local building material yards for large quantity purchases or search on the internet for
anyone selling or giving away pavers.
Do you sell bricks?
No.
Do you buy bricks?
No, I'm not a brick dealer. I may purchase a brick of interest at a building materials store or garage sale for
less than a dollar, but I prefer to find or trade for the bricks that I collect.
What is the purpose of your brick website?
To provide information about bricks made in the past that are of interest to archaeologists, historians, architects,
builders, and brick collectors. Archaeologists and collectors want to know about the bricks that they find, such as
who made the brick, when, and where. Historians want to know about the type and date of brick structures and the
history of their local brickmakers. Architects and builders want to identify and match bricks in their restoration
or building projects. I'm trying to figure out how to identify the brickmakers of unknown bricks and so this is my
database. My identification method involves a detailed description of the brick, both externally and internally. I use
petrographic techniques for the identification of the minerals and rocks found in the clay body. This requires the use
of a hand lens and a digital microscope. The brick type and all manufacturing marks are recorded. I prefer to examine
a whole brick for surface examination and broken surfaces for internal examination. But I have examined the bricks in
building walls or structures to get the data needed for this study when a whole brick is not available. More importantly,
I'm building an archive of known bricks from known brickmakers that is used for comparisons and verifications. This data
allows me to make an accurate identification of the maker of the brick in question. Once the brickmaker is identified,
the brick becomes a useful tool for dating the brick or brick structure, as well as providing other historical aspects
learned from this study. I'm also working on refining the dates of bricks through the detailed study of the brickyard's
operational history. All data collected is shared on this website.
Is there a lot of interest in bricks and your brick website?
Yes, more than I ever anticipated. Most of the questions that I get are answered on this page.
