See below for our simple Bricklaying Jargon buster of some of the most common terms used in Bricklaying - by bricklayers and builders.
A flat mortar joint finish often lightly wiped over with sacking. This should not be used to achieve a neat decorative finish.
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Broken bricks or purpose cut bricks,
which are used to fill in.
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Light or dense concrete blocks are
generally used in masonry that is hidden such as within the
inner skin of cavity work. They may, however, be used 'architecturally'
in public buildings. Blocks most often measure 440 x 215mm,
which is equivalent to 6 standard bricks. Lightweight blocks
have insulation properties and are often made from aerated concrete
where pulverised fuel ash is the aggregate. These are usually
referred to as breeze blocks and common trade names include
Theralite and Celcon. Harder concrete blocks may have hollow
centres which can be filled with foam insulation. Very dense
concrete is used in heavy load bearing blocks, which can be
up to 225mm thick. These can be quite heavy to lift and require
care when laying to avoid squeezing out the mortar.
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The general term given to the pattern
of bricks laid or the method used to join new walls.
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A standard brick will measure (mm) 215(length)
x 102(width) x 65 (height). Builders will always request to
see designs in brickwork sizes to avoid part cuts.
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A shallow, rounded and inwards mortar
joint finish used for bricks and blocks, so named as it was
originally created from the shape of an old bucket handle.
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The outer brickwork is in place to keep
out the weather and usually has no structural implications.
The inner blockwork carries the floor and roof loads. The gap
between prevents damp crossing. It is important to maintain
a cavity that is clear and unbridged.
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The short name for a damp proof course
originally made from slate, lead or bitumen treated hessian.
This was prone to melting in warm weather and has now been replaced
with high performance plastic. The damp proof course may be
inserted in brickwork to stop damp rising or sinking. If at
high level, the latter is usually accompanied by a flashing.
In garden walls, the damp course is located beneath the top
of the wall, often as a tile, to prevent the wall becoming saturated
and damaged by frost. In house walls, the damp proof course
is usually placed 150mm above ground level. This distance must
be maintained to avoid damp being transferred through rain splashing.
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Natural salts, which occur in the material
used to construct bricks, will sometimes be washed out by rain
and appear as white stains. Although this is of no consequence
to the wall's integrity, it is always disappointing and unsightly.
Before choosing any brick, take care to find out if this is
a feature of the brick and look at examples that have been in
place for between 2 and 5 years.
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The out facing side of brickwork that
will be on show and will consequently need to be built neatly.
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A brickwork bond where the stretcher
face is alternated with the header face on the first line
and on the course above, the header is positioned over the
centre of the stretcher face below, so that the courses alternate.
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Mortar produced from sand and cement
mixed with lime to produce a lower strength, more workable
mix. This is well suited to softer bricks and
useful where minor movements in walls may show up as cracked
bricks if a hard mortar is used.
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Bench made stock bricks, where the soft
clay from south-eastern England is thrown into the pre-sanded
mould by hand. The finished effect will be horizontal ripples,
most often mid-to-dark red with blue markings.
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The end of a brick. If laid together,
this would be referred to as a header course.
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A concrete or steel beam positioned
over doors or other openings to support the bricks/blocks above.
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Nickname for mortar.
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Perpendicular ends to bricks. If you
look at the outside of a completed wall, the line and verticality
of the perps is a good indication of the quality of bricklaying.
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Nickname for mortar.
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Right angle corners of brickwork that
are built up at the start of the job to form the brick lines
and courses. Less experienced bricklayers will sometimes fill-in
between the quoins.
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Soft red bricks that can easily be
cut to shape, such as within an arch. These bricks should
always be used with a soft lime mortar.
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Calcium silicate bricks which are almost
white in colour. Trouble may be experienced with spalling (the
breaking up of the face of bricks), particularly if exposed
to salt or frost.
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Bricks made in a mould either by hand
or machine. The bricks are soft and mostly used in face work.
The hand made bricks usually have a rippled appearance. Stocks
usually have a frog, which is the indent on one long side. 'Frog
up' is the normal method of laying. The Romans brought the stock
brick to England.
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The long face of a brick. Stretcher
bond is the most common bonding where each brick is laid length
ways in the wall, with the joint of the course above in the
centre of the stretcher face.
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A mortar joint usually on brickwork,
requiring a good level of skill to achieve neatly. The mortar
is ruled smooth with a small trowel so that the top is slightly
in from the brick face and the bottom is flush with the brick
face. Sometimes this is reversed but, in doing so, water may
be trapped on the small ledge formed. This joint attracts
shadow lines and can look the neatest.
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A steel, galvanised or better stainless, link between inner and out skins (see cavity).
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This is an extruded brick of modern
style with a slightly dragged appearance, which is chopped to
size with wire. Instead of frogs, wire cut bricks tend to be
perforated on the mortar faces.
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