Review article

There have been surveyed over 100 buildings and studied the most important characteristics of brick (its colour, dimensions, strength, water absorption, soluble salts content), manufactured in St. Petersburg in the XVIII-XIX centuries, the long-term operation of which surpasses 100-200 years. There have been revealed the causes of the brick damage, which include erosion, salt corrosion and biodeterioration. The reasons of instability of brick dimensions of St. Petersburg in XVIII-XIX centuries are identified. The modernization of technology that allowed by the end of the XIX century improving the quality of the wall ceramic material is described.