ABOUT THE BRICKS The bricks sold for the Photo Wall project are laser engraved and give results which far surpass those of traditional engraving methods - in durability, clarity, and cost effectiveness. Our laser engraved bricks are marked using the patented Vitralase™ process licensed from BrickMarkers USA. To learn more about the laser process, you can visit engravebricks.com. We also have a few questions and answers about the laser engraved bricks and tiles below. Why is the engraving shallow? The Vitralase™ process does not require depth for various reasons. Depth has been defined as durability, but the very element that creates breakdown is depth! Deep engraving contributes towards weakening and voids the brick of its strength. For example, the letters "A", "B", "P", "R", etc., when deeply engraved, result in a valley constituting the entire letter, except for the inside of the letter. Over a period of time or simply at installation, this small projected "island" is subject to chipping or breaking away, causing the letter to be illegible. Environmental debris (sand, dirt, etc.) accumulates within the deep engraving, in turn causing maintenance and legibility problems. What is the brick filled with? The mark is actually hardened glass! Our Vitralase™ process is created with the technology of lasers. The lasers apply intensive heat to a specific area, transforming the clay product into a hardened glass. What is the advantage of the hardened glass method over paint, grout or epoxy-fill methods? The hardened glass method eliminates the fading and breakdown (and the resulting costs and inconveniences!) encountered with the paint, grout or epoxy-fill methods. Glass is an inorganic, inert substance and is not subject to chemicals, acid rain or infrared and ultraviolet rays (i.e., sunlight). No fading! No additional cost! No additional maintenance.! Paints, grouts and epoxies are organiz substances and are subject to infrared and ultraviolet rays. Over a period of time, these substances will fade and break down as a result of sunlight, acid rain, chemicals, and other environmental hazards. With filled bricks, cost and inconvenience become a factor in refilling each brick, or, if left unattended, a permanently damaged brick. In most cases, breakdown would result in replacement of the brick. How long will the brick engraving last? The manufacturer guarantees a lifetime of durability. Our Vitralase™ process will last as long as the durability of the brick's surface. How long does the surface of a brick remain durable? The conclusion is . . . indefinitely! How many brick surfaces have you seen that are worn down? Not many! True, bricks that have been on the ground for hundreds of years do show signs of wear. For example, in Philadelphia brick streets, buildings, and walls have lasted for hundreds of years. Horses and buggies traveled across these bricks time and time again, causing wear. Our ancestors produced bricks with the industrial abilities and resources of their time. With today's technology, computer-controlled high temperature kilns produce a far superior brick. In today's world of vast technology, we do not have to contend with horses and buggies. High quality and durability is required from the brick manufacturers. For many years, bricks have been manufactured to build structurally sound buildings, homes, schools, walkways, parks, etc. They can certainly withstand the traffic of pedestrians, wheelchairs, vehicles, etc.