Old Carolina Brick Co.
Old Carolina Brick Co. is a family-owned Salisbury, NC manufacturer identified as the largest handmade brick producer in America, producing approximately 10 million brick and shapes per year for historic restorations, high-end residential, and premium commercial projects, sold exclusively through 100+ distributors across the US and Canada.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1968
- HeadquartersSalisbury, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Old Carolina Brick Co. does
Old Carolina Brick Company is a privately-held, family-owned manufacturer of genuine handmade brick, operating since 1968 from a single facility in Salisbury, North Carolina. The company is identified as the largest handmade brick producer in America, with a current production capacity of approximately 10 million brick and shapes per year. Its products are used primarily on high-end residential projects and historic restoration sites including Colonial Williamsburg, Mount Vernon, Monticello, Yale University, Old Salem, and Natchez National Cemetery, as well as premium commercial builds such as Hotel Fasano in Brazil and MidFirst Bank in Oklahoma City.
The company's core technology combines traditional colonial-era hand-molding with modern gas-fired tunnel kiln firing at approximately 2000 degrees F for roughly two days. Workers throw locally-sourced shale (processed through a modern pug-mill) into sand-coated molds, skim excess clay with piano wire, and mechanically turn bricks onto drying racks for 18-22 hours at approximately 300 degrees F before manual stacking and kiln firing. The hand manipulation creates natural surface air pockets that confer freeze-thaw durability, and all products meet ASTM C216 Grade SW specifications. A proprietary monorail packaging system enables tight cube packing. The product line includes standard handmade brick (available in named colors such as Savannah Grey, Charlestowne, Tryon, Georgetowne, Williamstowne, Park Ridge, Low Country, Bessemer Grey, Orleans, Seabrook, and Londontown), 3/4-inch thin brick cut from full fired brick, brick chips, fire pit kits, Roman Circle Pavers, hundreds of custom shapes, and custom color blends.
Old Carolina Brick generates revenue exclusively through wholesale hardware sales of these physical brick products. Pricing is quote-based and varies by color, shape, and quantity; the company does not publish prices and directs customers to contact distributors. All sales flow through an indirect go-to-market model: the company does not sell direct to end customers, instead relying on more than 100 independent distributor locations across all major US states and Canadian provinces, including anchor partners such as Acme Brick, Pine Hall Brick, General Shale, Riverside Brick, Mack Brick, and Brock White. Customer segments served include high-end residential, commercial/architectural, historic preservation, landscape/hardscape, and interior design/remodeling. The company is currently led by Co-Presidents Scott Frame and David Frame, who assumed joint leadership following the April 2012 death of founder Dudley P. Frame.
Old Carolina Brick Co. firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Old Carolina Brick Co.
- Legal name
- Old Carolina® Brick Company
- Website
- https://handmadebrick.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1968
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Old Carolina Brick Co. is a family-owned Salisbury, NC manufacturer identified as the largest handmade brick producer in America, producing approximately 10 million brick and shapes per year for historic restorations, high-end residential, and premium commercial projects, sold exclusively through 100+ distributors across the US and Canada.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Old Carolina Brick Co. industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Handmade Brick Manufacturing
- NAICS
- Clay Building Material and Refractories Manufacturing (327120)
- SIC
- Structural Clay Products (3250)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Clay Bricks (Facing & Common) (IMADABAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Masonry Veneer Units (Thin Brick, Stone Veneer) (IMADABAI)
Keywords
Where Old Carolina Brick Co. is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Salisbury
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Old Carolina Brick Co. business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Handmade Brick Sales: The company generates revenue primarily from manufacturing and selling genuine handmade brick. Products include standard face brick, pavers, and special shapes. All Old Carolina brick serve as both face brick and pavers.
- Thin Brick Products: Sale of genuine handmade thin brick (3/4 inch thickness) cut from fired full brick. These are sold for interior and exterior applications where reduced weight and freight costs are beneficial.
- Custom Shapes and Specialty Products: Revenue from custom-made brick shapes, special architectural elements, wall copings, step treads, and custom blends. The company maintains hundreds of handmade molds and can create unique designs for specific projects.
- Brick Chips: Sale of brick chips, which are crushed or broken brick pieces used for landscaping, pathways, and decorative purposes.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Standard Handmade Brick |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Special/Custom Shapes |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | 4 x 8 Pavers |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Thin Brick |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels7 records
Marketing channels8 records
Old Carolina Brick Co. product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Old Carolina Brick Co. manufactures genuine handmade brick using a hybrid of traditional hand-molding techniques and modern gas-fired tunnel kiln technology at its Salisbury, NC facility. The product line includes standard face brick (which double as pavers), thin brick (3/4 inch cut from fired brick), custom shapes and molds, custom color blends, brick chips, fire pits, and Roman Circle pavers, with annual capacity of approximately 10 million brick and shapes.
Product overview
Old Carolina Brick Company produces handmade brick using a hybrid of traditional hand-craftsmanship and modern mechanization. The core product is genuine hand moulded brick fired in gas tunnel kilns, which serves as both face brick and pavers. The product line includes standard handmade brick in various named colors (Savannah Grey, Charlestowne, Tryon, Georgetowne, Williamstowne, Park Ridge, Low Country, Bessemer Grey, Orleans, Seabrook), thin brick (3/4 inch cut from full brick), brick chips, fire pit kits, and Roman Circle pavers. The company also offers extensive custom shape moulding and custom color blending services. All products are manufactured at their Salisbury, NC facility with approximately 10 million brick capacity per year.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Handmade Brick (Standard Face Brick and Pavers) Hand-moulded brick created in the colonial tradition, fired in gas-fired tunnel kilns at approximately 2000°F. Each brick features distinctive folds, finger marks, and surface irregularities. Conforms to ASTM C216 Grade SW for severe weather durability. Sold in colors including Savannah Grey, Charlestowne, Tryon, Georgetowne, Williamstowne, Park Ridge, Low Country, Bessemer Grey, Orleans, Seabrook, and Londontowne.
- Thin Brick Genuine handmade thin brick at 3/4 inch thickness cut from fired full brick, providing exact color matching with existing product colors and approximately 75% lower freight cost than full brick. Available with slabs and corners for interior and exterior applications.
- Custom Shapes and Architectural Brick Specially crafted brick shapes including bullnose rowlocks, wall copings, step treads, sills, jack arches, and decorative patterns. Made using hundreds of handmade molds maintained by the company, enabling creation of unique designs for specific architectural specifications.
- Custom Blends Custom color blending services allowing combinations of different brick colors and clinkers (such as the 'Garden Path Blend') to create unique aesthetics tailored to specific projects including historic restoration matching.
- Brick Chips Crushed or broken brick pieces made from Old Carolina handmade brick, sold for landscaping, pathways, and decorative purposes.
- Fire Pits Interlocking handmade brick fire pit pieces that can be assembled without glue and moved if needed. Available in all brick colors.
- Roman Circle Pavers Circular paving pattern using approximately 6 different hand-moulded brick shapes that form hard-surfaced Roman Circles approximately 22 feet in diameter. Available in any diameter.
Quantifiable outcome
- Freeze-thaw durability through natural air pockets that prevent cracking
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Old Carolina Brick Co.
Customer profileNamed customers14 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Old Carolina Brick Co. technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
Old Carolina Brick Co. partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Orthodox MasonryminorOrthodox Masonry, a design/build firm specializing in structural masonry and timber frame construction, visited Old Carolina Brick facilities and wrote a blog post about the company's craftsmanship and mechanization balance. This represents a mutual relationship where both companies promote each other's work in the masonry industry.
- Acme BrickcoreMajor brick distributor with locations across multiple southern and southwestern states including Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas, and Oklahoma. One of the largest distribution partners representing Old Carolina Brick products.
- Pine Hall BrickcoreRegional distributor covering North Carolina markets with multiple locations in Charlotte, Greensboro, Madison, and Winston-Salem.
- General ShalecoreRegional distributor covering South Carolina markets in Charleston and Greenville, as well as Tennessee locations.
- Riverside BrickcoreVirginia-based distributor covering multiple locations including Richmond, Williamsburg, Chesapeake, and Fredericksburg areas. Long-term partner with positive testimonials about the relationship.
- Mack Brick Co.coreConnecticut-based distributor covering New England markets. Long-term distributor relationship spanning over three decades.
- Tom Fisher Custom Brick & Supply Co.coreLong-term distributor partner since 1961, one of the earliest distributors representing Old Carolina Brick products.
- The Exum CompanycoreSouth Carolina distributor covering the Midlands and surrounding areas for over 30 years.
- Bob TimberlakeminorArtist who commissioned custom brick for his gallery in Lexington, NC. The collaboration created the 'Garden Path Blend' and various custom designs including the Whig's Defeat pattern and decorative elements.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Old Carolina Brick Co. competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Boral Limited (Boral Bricks): Large, multi-product Australian building materials group with a substantial North American clay brick operation (formerly Merry Brothers where David Frame trained). They overlap on structural clay brick but operate at far greater scale and breadth than Old Carolina's handmade specialty.
- General Shale Brick: Established U.S. brick and masonry solutions manufacturer serving residential and commercial markets across the Southeast. A current Old Carolina distributor; competes in similar specifications but with a much broader product portfolio including machine-made brick and concrete masonry.
Direct peers
- Acme Brick Company: One of the largest U.S. brick producers and a major Old Carolina distributor across the South/Southwest. Acme sells both machine-made and specialty brick, directly competing in the architectural/specification grade market where Old Carolina operates.
- Belden Brick Company: Family-owned U.S. brick maker founded 1885, producing a wide range of face brick including bespoke textures and colors. Highly comparable on heritage positioning, custom-blend capabilities, and architectural/restoration-grade product mix.
- Henry Brick Company: Family-owned Alabama-based brick maker founded 1963 producing a range of face brick, including custom blends, in the southeastern U.S. Overlaps with Old Carolina on regional supply, premium face brick, and customer base of architects/builders.
- Endicott Clay Products: Nebraska-based structural clay brick and thin brick maker founded 1920. Comparable as a long-tenured U.S. clay brick manufacturer with premium face brick and thin brick SKUs (especially for commercial interiors and veneers), directly overlapping Old Carolina's thin brick offering.
Regional players
- Pine Hall Brick Company: Family-owned North Carolina brick producer (with N.C. plants) and a current Old Carolina distributor across Charlotte, Greensboro, Madison, and Winston-Salem. Comparable in regional/Southeast focus but their portfolio centers on extruded residential brick rather than handmade.
- Riverside Brick & Construction Products: Virginia-based brick distributor and masonry supplier covering Richmond, Williamsburg, Chesapeake and Fredericksburg. Serves the historic Virginia corridor — a substantial restoration market — and competes as an alternative brick option in the same projects where Old Carolina is specified.
- Mutual Materials: Pacific Northwest masonry producer offering brick, block and stone in Washington, Oregon and Idaho. Comparable as a regional brick and masonry products vendor, though it focuses on the Pacific Northwest where Old Carolina has limited direct footprint.
- Columbus Brick Company: Mississippi-based clay brick producer serving the Gulf Coast and Mid-South. Comparable as a heritage U.S. brick manufacturer with a regional distributor footprint and overlap in premium face brick for residential and commercial buildings.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Old Carolina Brick Co. social profiles
Digital presenceOld Carolina Brick Co. compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Old Carolina Brick Co. financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Old Carolina Brick Co. leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Old Carolina Brick Co. funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Old Carolina Brick Co. M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Old Carolina Brick Co.
What does Old Carolina Brick Co. do?
Old Carolina Brick Co. manufactures genuine handmade brick using a hybrid of traditional hand-molding techniques and modern gas-fired tunnel kiln technology at its Salisbury, NC facility. The product line includes standard face brick (which double as pavers), thin brick (3/4 inch cut from fired brick), custom shapes and molds, custom color blends, brick chips, fire pits, and Roman Circle pavers, with annual capacity of approximately 10 million brick and shapes.
Is Old Carolina Brick Co. a public or private company?
Old Carolina Brick Co. is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Old Carolina Brick Co. founded?
Old Carolina Brick Co. was founded in 1968. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Old Carolina Brick Co. based?
Old Carolina Brick Co. is headquartered in Salisbury, United States, in the North America region.
How does Old Carolina Brick Co. make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Handmade Brick Sales are the primary driver. The others are thin Brick Products, custom Shapes and Specialty Products and brick Chips.
Who are Old Carolina Brick Co.'s main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Boral Limited (Boral Bricks) and General Shale Brick. Direct peers are Acme Brick Company, Belden Brick Company, Henry Brick Company and Endicott Clay Products. Regional players are Pine Hall Brick Company, Riverside Brick & Construction Products, Mutual Materials and Columbus Brick Company.
Does Old Carolina Brick Co. have an API?
No public API is recorded for Old Carolina Brick Co..
What industry is Old Carolina Brick Co. in?
Old Carolina Brick Co.'s product category is Handmade Brick Manufacturing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMADABAA, Clay Bricks (Facing & Common), with a secondary code of IMADABAI, Masonry Veneer Units (Thin Brick, Stone Veneer). Its NAICS code is 327120 and its SIC code is 3250.