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In the traditional method of constructing a home or commercial building, clay bricks would be the material of choice. It is a fact that clay bricks are the first artificial material mankind has ever made for constructing homes. The process of making clay bricks was relatively easy from the clay found in fields. The abundant availability of clay and the simple process for making clay bricks meant that clay bricks continued to be used right up to the present day.  

The traditional material

Clay bricks were resistant to heat and cold and could endure weather conditions like extreme sunshine or long periods of rain. Its durability is a fact witnessed by the numerous homes and structures that have endured over centuries have been subject to extreme weather and ravages caused by nature and humans themselves.

Clay bricks become scarce

However, over the years, the availability of clay diminished rapidly, especially in Kerala. This led to additives to the clay leading to low quality of bricks. The process of clay bricks making also involved the use of a lot of water. The bricks are burned in makeshift kilns using firewood. This led to a lot of smoke and pollution. Also, with the lower availability of water, good quality clay, and increasingly costly firewood, the price of clay bricks skyrocketed. Clay bricks were also found to be inadequate in modern multi-storied construction where heavier loads have to be borne. 

Interlocking takes off

It is in this context that cement mortar bricks came to the fore. For many years plain cement mortar blocks were the replacement for clay bricks. Though there were slight benefits in costs initially, the fluctuating cost of cement meant that the cost of the blocks kept varying and rising high at certain times. Thus, the use of cement bricks did not lead to any significant cost-benefit in the construction.

When interlocking concrete bricks were introduced about a decade back, the initial uptake was less and there was not much acceptance. Later on, the construction engineers, house owners, and construction workers understood the benefits of using interlocking concrete blocks. Today Toughie brand of Interlocking cement, first introduced in 1987, became an instant hit. Their manufacturing facility in Perumbavoor in central Kerala made it suitable to deliver the bricks to customers across Kerala.

Special design

Today Toughie interlocking concrete bricks offers unique interlocking bricks in special designs that deliver strength, durability, ambient temperature management properties, and comfort within structures built with it – especially in a state like Kerala where the climate ranges from long spells of rains to steamy summers.    

Ease of construction

The construction industry in Kerala has ever been booking and Toughie interlocking blocks took off to become a preferred brick of choice for the discerning customers and astute engineers across the state. These bricks are rugged, easy to deploy, and created a virtual revolution in the construction industry with their unique features. This included ease of construction, ability to withstand loads, clean beautiful finish, need for less labor, and raw materials including cement for plastering and the use of water for mortar. Soon housing and commercial establishments came to understand that the construction became faster with less need for costly labor and this meant vast savings in costs. For more details, call +91 9946466000 or write to: info@toughie.in for details.