Once upon a time there was one simple question with regard to bricks: where to get it? Today, the abundance of ceramics dazzles the eyes: what to choose, where to buy, how to pay the minimum without compromising quality and without disruption of delivery time? This market, which was formed in our country in parallel with the computer market (and a little earlier than the massive invasion of the Russian expanses of mobile communications), continues to develop. In ceramics, so inert to the action of time, the assortment range is expanding, fundamentally new "systems", "configurations", and ingenious "gadgets" appear. Brands recognized in Europe are often unknown even to professionals from the architectural and construction environment. A little more than twenty years have passed (and even less in the provinces) since the time when the red-brick facade was considered only a weighty addition to the crimson jacket, and nothing else was required of it …
The firm "Kirill" appeared on the building ceramics market in 1996, just at the moment when the consumer slowly began to realize that color is not the only and even less decisive characteristic, that status is determined primarily by quality and individuality, which, finally, the beauty, benefits, durability of the material depend on many factors. Moreover, the percentage ratios of certain clays, molding methods and firing modes are by no means paramount. The conditions are dictated by design and technical parameters, such as frost resistance, number of storeys of the house and the acceptability of additional load on the foundation, architectural features of the facility, climatic nuances (even if the house is on an open hill or in a wooded lowland on the shore of a reservoir). All these questions arose in Europe for a long time, the answers to them were not immediately found, by trial and error, and the answers are far from always unambiguous. An avalanche-like mess fell on us, which had to be somehow raked and sorted out. At the same time, Russian factories, not wanting to sink into oblivion, hastily began to look for their own ways - borrowing something from their Western colleagues, creating something from scratch.
They are greeted by clothes. This saying has the most direct relation to building ceramics. How warm the walls are, whether the layout is comfortable - that's all later … Initially, "the main thing is that the suit fits!" The outfit can be different: a tuxedo, a leather jacket, a jacket, a jumper, the same suit - no matter how strict or sporty - all this only fits the outer walls - no more than 12 cm. However, it is this outer layer that amazes with a variety of shapes, styles, colors … And it is on him that the durability of the structure and the prospect of the owners to get rid of the need for regular rewinding of their offspring largely depend.
Facing bricks began to form as an independent product only from the 19th century. Before the advent of railways, transportation of building materials over long distances was too costly, and brick production took place in the immediate vicinity of the site. The requirements for the products were formulated accordingly: so that the lower rows do not begin to crumble under the pressure of walls and ceilings. During the construction process, the most beautiful bricks were laid out, but still, in most cases, the masonry was subsequently periodically plastered. Manufacturing automation has fundamentally changed the established patterns. Large factories began to produce ordinary building bricks all year round on an industrial scale. Prices collapsed, and small manufactories had to hurry to find a niche that could be demanded by the market.
At the stands of the Firm "Kirill" facing bricks are presented in all their diversity. Today the assortment in this area alone is 800 items! To a person who is far from construction business, it may seem that bricks that look very similar in appearance differ in prices by an order of magnitude. The paradox, but in this case we are not talking about the fact that cheap is bad and short-lived, but expensive is almost a standard. The policy of the company is aimed at a simple understandable idea: the consumer can choose the best in any price segment, having received a really worthy product. There are simply no bricks in the showroom that do not meet Russian frost resistance requirements. Before signing a contract with a manufacturer, it is customary here to make sure that advertising promises are reliable: are all stages controlled in full, what stocks are available, how much ready-for-shipment products are protected from external influences, the maximum allowable percentage of defects after transportation, loyalty to the needs the manufacturer is not a priority.
Moreover, Firm "Kirill" orders its own laboratory tests … Why? It's just that Western standards do not always have a common denominator with domestic ones, and it is impossible to determine by eye the flaws or reserve from the application. As for Russian factories, it is simply due to the specifics of the business that any papers with official seals require rechecking, and the interpretation of warranty obligations is dealt with by lawyers recognized in the highest lodges.
What remains in the dry sediment? Certainly, the products of the Nizhny Novgorod plant "Kerma". Facing bricks here are comparable in prices to ordinary building bricks. Proximity to Moscow, large volumes, relatively cheap method of plastic shaping - these are the obvious competitive advantages of Kerma products. Less obvious, but it is on them that the plant's reputation and constant demand are built - the selection of demanded color textures, compliance with requirements exceeding GOST standards, shipment of products on euro pallets in stretch within a clearly agreed time frame. In fact - a cheap Soviet one hundred percent natural sausage without the "load" in the form of queues, the rudeness of a saleswoman, drilled weights and other garbage. Great service. Not exclusive. To paraphrase the classics: not a luxury, but a means! It is important that Kerma brick is really of high quality, and the variety of collections allows to embody rather complex architectural and artistic ideas at a very decent level.
The Rauf plant from St. Petersburg offers inexpensive, but high-quality clinker. Clinker brick differs from the usual one in minimal water absorption. Mold or lichens will never grow on such walls, city smog or barbecue soot will not settle on it, and bright colors will not fade in the sun for decades. Maintenance of clinker walls is practically not required: ordinary rain returns the facade to its original appearance. Russian production ensures not only the availability of the material, but also the proportionality of the formats: facing bricks are easily tied with traditional ordinary and ceramic blocks, created according to the standards adopted in the Russian Federation.
Undoubtedly, in the entire range of products the Firm "Kirill" represents the products of German, Belgian, Danish, Dutch manufacturers, which are deservedly in demand among demanding customers, as well as English brick, which is less known in Russia. Facial ceramics from Western Europe are time-tested; they accompany tourists from railway stations, hotels, cafes through old streets and modern quarters. She is invariably chosen by dukes, lords, pop stars and famous athletes when setting up their own residences. Europe dictates fashion, Europe offers quality products in the mass segment and, of course, a complete exclusive, which can be an elegant interspersed with masonry, or a material for creating imperishable goods. Hundreds of color textures, bricks covered with glaze, artificially aged, oven scales, shaped, long-format, hand-made … And for any style you can choose a tile, road paving - there would be a desire and means.
Until recently, the premium segment was represented exclusively by foreign products. To compete with factories that have perfected brick for 100-150 years is a daunting task. To consistently comply with the highest quality requirements, starting from scratch, in the face of tough competition, time after time, the daredevils found it beyond their strength. Strange as it may seem, the crisis helped. The Novocherkassk company "Tandem-VP" was, as they say, at the right time in the right place. The bet on the production of hand-molded bricks was justified. We managed to create a variety of color textures. The complex and rare even for the West technology of restorative firing has made the Donskiye Zori brick a truly solid brand. And when it was possible to put the production of long-format bricks on stream, even the most ardent skeptics were forced to shut up. The firm "Kirill" offers a full range of elite Russian bricks, and in addition to standard collections, architects can order any individual elements of the facade.
Together with the Association of Independent Sellers of Building Ceramics, Kirill has introduced the Qbricks quality standard - a sign of the highest quality of ceramic products. Products with such markings are produced under the control of independent experts, have a proven quality, their stocks are always maintained in a warehouse in Moscow, and even the smallest lots are shipped at a wholesale price. When ordering one or another type of facing bricks from the Firm "Kirill", the buyer receives a full range of recommendations on related materials: which masonry mortar will be ideal, which ceramic blocks will better fit under the facing … Over 20 years of work in the ceramic market, many secrets have been revealed that have in the nuances, knowing that any developer is able to avoid annoying mistakes and not be disappointed in building ceramics, which has been regularly serving humanity for many centuries.
