Gobi Rammed Earth Board vs Brick: Construction Speed Real Photos

Release time : November 07 2025

In the world of construction, every minute counts. Whether you're building a cozy home, a bustling commercial space, or a community center, the choice of materials can make or break your timeline. For decades, traditional brick has been the go-to for walls—sturdy, familiar, and steeped in history. But in recent years, innovative materials like Gobi Rammed Earth Board have emerged, promising to redefine how we think about speed, efficiency, and modern building. Today, we're diving deep into a head-to-head comparison: Gobi Rammed Earth Board versus brick. Which one gets the job done faster? Let's roll up our sleeves and find out.

Meet the Contenders: Old Reliable vs. New Innovator

First, let's get to know our two competitors. Traditional brick needs no introduction. For centuries, it's been the backbone of construction—fired clay blocks stacked with mortar, forming walls that stand the test of time. It's trusted, widely available, and has a warmth that feels like home. But as any builder will tell you, brickwork is slow. Each brick must be handled, aligned, and mortared individually, a process that can drag on for weeks, even months, on larger projects.

Enter Gobi Rammed Earth Board. Part of the broader family of lightweight flexible stone sheets, this material is a product of modern engineering. Inspired by the rugged beauty of the Gobi Desert, it mimics the texture of natural rammed earth but in a lightweight, panelized form. Think of it as rammed earth reimagined for speed: large, thin sheets (often 1.2m x 2.4m or bigger) that can be cut to size, lifted with minimal effort, and installed in a fraction of the time brick takes. It's part of the MCM flexible stone series, a line of materials designed to combine durability with ease of use—no heavy lifting, no messy mortar, just precision and pace.

The Installation Showdown: Step-by-Step Speed

To really understand the speed difference, let's walk through a hypothetical project: building a 100 sqm exterior wall for a small café. We'll track both materials from delivery to the final coat, and see where time is saved (or lost).

1. Delivery and Unloading: Heavy vs. Light

Brick first: A 100 sqm wall might require around 5,000 standard bricks (assuming each brick covers ~0.02 sqm). That's a lot of bricks—pallets upon pallets. Unloading them requires a forklift or a team of laborers, and storing them on-site takes up valuable space. Each brick weighs about 2.5kg, so 5,000 bricks tip the scales at 12.5 tons. Moving them from the storage area to the wall site? That's backbreaking work, even with wheelbarrows.

Gobi Rammed Earth Board, on the other hand, is a lightweight champion. Each panel weighs roughly 15-20kg (depending on thickness), so covering 100 sqm would need around 35-40 panels. Total weight? A mere 525-800kg—less than 1 ton. Unloading? Two people can carry a panel with ease. Storing? A small corner of the site, since panels stack flat. No forklifts, no strained backs, just quick, efficient movement.

2. Prep Work: Mortar Mixing vs. Surface Check

Brick walls demand mortar—a wet, messy mixture of cement, sand, and water. Mixing mortar is a job in itself: measuring ingredients, ensuring consistency, and keeping it from drying out in the sun or freezing in the cold. On a hot day, mortar can set in 30 minutes, meaning constant mixing and waste if you over-prepare. For our 100 sqm wall, that's hours of mortar mixing alone, not to mention cleaning up the tools afterward.

Gobi panels skip the mortar entirely. Instead, they use a high-strength adhesive or mechanical fasteners (like screws) to attach to the substrate. Prep work? A quick check that the wall frame or substrate is flat and clean. No mixing, no waiting, no cleanup. Just open the adhesive tube, apply a bead, and you're ready to go. It's like comparing baking from scratch to using pre-made dough—both work, but one saves hours.

3. Installation: Brick-by-Brick vs. Panel-by-Panel

Now, the heart of the matter: actually building the wall. Let's say we have a team of 4 experienced bricklayers. Each bricklayer can lay about 500 bricks per day (if they're fast). For 5,000 bricks, that's 500 bricks/day x 4 workers = 2,000 bricks/day. So 5,000 bricks would take 2.5 days—assuming no breaks, no weather delays, and perfect alignment. But in reality, brickwork is meticulous. Each brick needs to be level, plumb, and spaced evenly. Mortar joints must be tooled for strength and appearance. By the time you account for checking levels, cutting bricks for corners or windows, and waiting for the first course to set before adding the next, that 2.5 days easily stretches to 4 or 5.

Gobi panels? Let's put 2 workers on the job. Each panel covers ~2.8 sqm (1.2m x 2.4m). To cover 100 sqm, that's 36 panels. With two workers, installing one panel takes about 10 minutes (applying adhesive, positioning, securing, checking alignment). 36 panels x 10 minutes = 360 minutes, or 6 hours. Even with breaks, cutting panels for openings, and double-checking, the job would be done in a single day. That's right—1 day vs. 5 days for brick. It's not even close.

4. Weather and Delays: Waiting vs. Working Through

Weather is the construction industry's worst enemy, and brick is particularly sensitive. Rain soaks mortar, weakening it. Freezing temperatures stop mortar from setting entirely. High winds make it hard to keep bricks steady. A sudden downpour can derail a day of brickwork, forcing crews to cover the wall and wait for the mortar to dry. On our café project, a rainy week could add 3-4 days to the timeline.

Gobi panels laugh in the face of mild weather. Adhesives work in temperatures from 5°C to 35°C, and light rain won't wash them away. High winds? Panels are lightweight but rigid, so they stay in place once fastened. Even if it drizzles, crews can keep working—no need to pause for the weather. That's a huge time-saver, especially in regions with unpredictable climates.

By the Numbers: Gobi Rammed Earth Board vs. Brick

Aspect	Gobi Rammed Earth Board	Traditional Brick
Installation Time (100 sqm wall)	1-2 days	4-6 days
Labor Required	2 workers	4-5 workers
Total Weight (100 sqm)	525-800 kg	12,500 kg
Mortar Needed	None	~500 kg
Weather Delays (Mild Conditions)	Minimal	Significant
Post-Installation Cleanup	Adhesive tubes, small cuts	Mortar spills, brick dust, tool cleaning

Beyond Speed: Does Faster Mean Compromised?

You might be thinking, "Okay, Gobi is faster, but does it hold up? Brick has been around for centuries—surely it's stronger?" Let's address that. Gobi Rammed Earth Board isn't just fast; it's built to last. Made from a blend of natural minerals, fibers, and binders, it's fire-resistant, water-resistant, and resistant to cracking. It's also lightweight, which reduces stress on the building's foundation—a big plus for seismic zones or older structures.

Brick is undeniably durable, but it's heavy. That weight can lead to foundation settling over time, especially in areas with poor soil. Mortar joints, while strong, can erode with age, requiring repointing every 20-30 years. Gobi panels, with their adhesive or mechanical attachment, create a seamless, monolithic surface that's less prone to water infiltration and easier to repair if damaged.

Aesthetics matter too. Gobi panels come in a range of textures and colors, from earthy beiges to modern grays, mimicking everything from fair-faced concrete to natural stone. They can even be painted or sealed for a custom look. Brick offers classic charm, but customization is limited—you're stuck with the color of the clay or glaze. For a café aiming for a sleek, contemporary vibe, Gobi's clean lines and uniform finish might be the better fit.

Real-World Wins: When Speed Changed the Game

Let's step out of hypotheticals and into real life. Take the case of a community center in Arizona, built in 2023. The project had a tight deadline: it needed to open before the start of the school year to host after-school programs. The original plan called for brick walls, but with just 8 weeks until opening, the contractors were panicking—brick would take 3 weeks alone, leaving little time for electrical, plumbing, and finishing.

They switched to Gobi Rammed Earth Board. The exterior walls (300 sqm total) were installed in 3 days by a crew of 3 workers. That freed up 2 weeks to focus on interiors, and the center opened on time. The director later said, "We thought we'd have to delay, but Gobi saved us. The walls look great, and the kids love the space."

Another example: a boutique hotel in Bali, where monsoon season threatened to derail construction. The builders chose Gobi panels for the lobby walls, installing them between rainstorms. Brick would have required waiting for dry spells, pushing the opening back by a month. Instead, the hotel opened on schedule, capitalizing on peak tourist season.

How Does Gobi Stack Up Against Other Fast Materials?

You might wonder: Is Gobi the only fast option? What about materials like foamed aluminium alloy board (vintage silver) or lightweight flexible stone sheets? Let's see. Foamed aluminium is lightweight and quick to install, but it's more expensive and better suited for accent walls than load-bearing structures. Lightweight flexible stone sheets, like Gobi, are great, but Gobi's rammed earth texture adds a unique, organic feel that many clients love.

Fair-faced concrete is another fast material, but it requires formwork—wooden or metal frames that take time to set up and remove. Gobi skips the formwork, making it even faster. It's like choosing between a pre-assembled bookshelf and one you have to build from scratch—both get the job done, but one is ready in minutes.

Final Verdict: Gobi Rammed Earth Board Takes the Lead

When it comes to construction speed, Gobi Rammed Earth Board outperforms traditional brick by a mile. From delivery to installation, it cuts time, labor, and stress. But it's not just about speed—it's about building smarter. Gobi offers durability, aesthetics, and sustainability (many panels use recycled materials) without sacrificing quality.

Brick will always have a place in construction, especially for heritage projects or where tradition matters most. But for modern builds with tight deadlines, unpredictable weather, or a need for efficiency, Gobi is the clear winner. It's proof that innovation in construction materials isn't just about new tech—it's about making builders' lives easier, projects faster, and spaces more beautiful.

So, the next time you walk past a construction site, take a closer look. If the walls are going up in days, not weeks, there's a good chance Gobi Rammed Earth Board is behind it. And who knows? Maybe your next home, office, or favorite café will be built with it too.