How Find My Brick works
Find My Brick is designed to turn the information you already have — a photograph, brick measurements and visible markings — into a useful shortlist of possible UK brick matches.
The result is an identification aid, not a laboratory test or guarantee of an exact manufacturer or product. The aim is to make the research process faster while keeping the evidence and limitations clear.
The identification process
- Start with the brick photograph.
The tool works best when the brick fills most of the image. Two to four brick faces are useful because they show natural colour variation, texture and joint context. A separate close-up of a frog, stamp or maker's mark can add important evidence. - Add measurements when you can.
Length, width and height are optional, but they can help separate visually similar bricks. Measure the brick itself rather than the mortar joint and enter the dimensions in millimetres. - Compare visual characteristics.
The identification process considers characteristics such as colour, surface texture, shape and other visible details. Lighting, camera processing, weathering, staining and wet surfaces can all change the appearance of a brick, so no single visual clue should be treated as proof. - Compare against the UK catalogue.
Potential matches are compared with structured FindMyBrick catalogue records. Where available, records can include manufacturer, product name or code, dimensions, colour, texture, manufacturing information, frog or perforation details and regional clues. - Use the result as a shortlist.
A close visual result is a useful starting point for research. If several bricks look similar, use measurements and physical characteristics to narrow the shortlist rather than assuming the first result is exact.
How Our Brick Identification Engine Works
The engine creates a shortlist of possible matches by combining visible evidence with available catalogue details. It is designed to support research, not to certify an exact product from a photograph alone.
- A. Image Analysis
AI-assisted analysis looks at visible colour, texture, shape, manufacturing clues and any legible marks. Lighting, camera processing, dirt and moisture can alter what a photograph shows, so the system compares several clues rather than treating one visual feature as proof. - B. The 79% Confidence Cap
When the full length, width and height are not supplied, the scoring logic caps a match at 79%. This is a safeguard against overconfident visual matches; it is not a claim that the system has achieved a measured 79% success rate. Enter all three dimensions in millimetres when possible. - C. Weathering & Heritage Logic
The engine can account for clues associated with age and reuse, such as softened or worn edges, weathered surfaces and mortar residue. These clues help keep reclaimed or older-brick possibilities in consideration instead of relying only on modern product names or clean catalogue photographs. - D. Neutral Verification Checkpoints
The shortlist is checked against available catalogue evidence, including dimensions and recorded product characteristics where present. No score proves an exact match: compare the physical brick, measurements and markings, and confirm current details with the manufacturer or supplier before ordering.
Why a photo cannot always prove an exact brick
Brick appearance changes over time. Sunlight, rain, pollution, algae, cleaning, repointing and repairs can alter colour and texture. Reclaimed bricks may also have worn edges or surfaces that no longer resemble their original production appearance.
Manufacturers can also produce visually similar products in different ranges, sizes or production runs. A photograph can therefore narrow the possibilities without proving that two physical bricks are identical.
How to get the most useful result
- Use natural or even lighting where possible.
- Fill most of the frame with the brick rather than photographing an entire wall from a distance.
- Include two to four adjacent brick faces when possible.
- Photograph the end or edge profile if it is accessible.
- Photograph any frog, stamp, lettering, number or maker's mark clearly.
- Measure length, width and height if you have access to the physical brick.
- Avoid heavy filters, glare, extreme shadows and portrait-mode blur.
What the catalogue is for
The UK brick catalogue is intended to support research beyond a single identification result. Individual records can provide specifications and identification clues that let you compare an existing brick with several possible products.
Catalogue information is an ongoing project. Products can change, become discontinued, be renamed or be sold through different suppliers. Always check current product information before ordering.
What Find My Brick does not do
FindMyBrick does not certify the structural suitability of a brick, guarantee that a product is currently manufactured or guarantee that a photograph proves an exact product. For structural, regulatory or conservation questions, use an appropriately qualified professional and the relevant manufacturer or project documentation.
Frequently asked questions
No. The tool can work from photographs alone, but accurate dimensions can provide useful extra evidence when similar-looking bricks are being compared.
The tool can help narrow down possibilities, but older and reclaimed bricks are particularly difficult because weathering, staining, cleaning and previous use can change their appearance.
No. Treat confidence as guidance. Compare the suggested record with the physical brick and use the recorded dimensions, texture and markings as additional checks.
Try a clearer photograph, include more brick faces, add measurements and photograph any maker's mark or frog. You can also use the identification guides to research the brick manually.