They mustn’t be too small, or a wall will need more of them, and more mortar, and more time to lay it. Some early medieval bricks were as big as 13″x6″x2″. What upset the apple cart was a brick tax imposed by the government in 1784. New bricks can be bonded into old brickwork by slightly increasing the mortar bed joint. It is best to specify face bricks by size first and then by name. Fewer bricks per m² afford savings in mortar and accelerate the speed of construction consequent to fewer bricks per m² laid. Wider (150 mm wide) bricks can also be used in walls requiring lower sound transmission, higher fire resistance levels and higher load bearing capacity depending on the specific brick properties.
The standard brick size of 240 x 115 x 57 mm with 10 mm thick horizontal and vertical mortar joints is preferable. Virtually all other building materials – including other types of cladding materials – are sold by the square foot. Brick size is another important factor when considering the total cost of masonry walls. Larger size units require fewer brick to lay and fewer joints to tool, and generally require fewer movements by the mason per square foot.
Will the masons agree to lay the new size? Queen size brick is a good example of how brick size can offer substantial cost savings. The larger faced queen size brick also requires less mortar and reduces the installation time. If the brickwork is to be seen, avoiding closers always gives a neater appearance. A brick rod is a set of measurements showing the height or length of brickwork of any number of whole or half bricks in length, and any number of courses in height.
The term “closer” usually refers to a brick cut to fit in the available space, but can also be applied when the setout allows full bricks to be used throughout.
Cutting bricks for a part-height course is more difficult (it is possible to cut some dry-pressed bricks with a bolster, but in most cases a brick saw is necessary), and it is more unsightly.
One option for making up the height of a wall is to use a soldier course at the top. If bricks are laid cross-wise, two 102.5 mm depths plus two mortar joints gives the same repeating unit as the length of one brick plus one mortar joint, i.e.
Architects will include the specified size in their drawings and specifications. The size of the brick is tied to the bond pattern and manufacturer specifics. However, a 3/8″ mortar joint is usually used, which we will cover below.
This video explains what standard brick size (brick dimensions) as per BIS code. The difference between modular and …Masonry Conversions – Typical Masonry Brick Dimensions
Several things influenced the size of bricks. The map gives a visual indication of the variation in brick volume. For convenience of plotting, the sizes were grouped into five bands, each spanning an interval of 0.4 litres. In each graph, the dimensions of a standard modern brick are shown as a grey line representing the standard dimensions and tolerances. However every manufacturer can offer and range of sizes and dimensions to suit different applications. How many types of clay brick are there? There are a variety of sizes available and they differ from country to country. How to remove and replace bricks. On the other hand, if bricks are small, more quantity of mortar is required. Face bricks are the bricks used on exterior surfaces of a structure or houses. When calculating overall wall dimensions it is normal to allow for 10mm vertical and horizontal mortar joint between bricks. Planning some building work in the garden?
When you consider how masonry products are sold, it’s easy to see why people may be confused about what masonry really costs.
The larger face area of a queen size brick also offers the buyer a premium oversize look. The balance of the brick is then laid in a simple 1/2 running bond pattern. Both options have been used with good results, but the clipped corner method would be the preferred choice. For residential construction, the air space should be maintained at one inch, which will set the brick back 3/4 inch from a modular size framing pocket.
An additional frequently asked question is how to deal with soldier coursing above windows, since queen size brick course out differently than modular size brick when using soldiers.
If it is to be concealed, by plastering for example, using exact brick dimensions is less important, but it makes for slightly easier laying. On the job, the bricklayers will use an actual rod (a piece of timber or metal) marked with the heights of each course, for setting out the courses as the work is laid.
A standard metric brick is 230 x 110 x 76mm high, and a metric modular brick is 90 x 290 x 90 high. A modular metric brick and its joints occupies 300 x 100 mm on the face, so that modular dimensions of 100 and 300mm are easily met.
To increase productivity, a range of bricks are available with a larger face size. In most cases they retain the standard 230 length, but vary in width and height. If they are laid height wise, three 65 mm heights plus three mortar joints gives the same repeating unit as the length of one brick plus one mortar joint, i.e.
Types of brick bonding for more information. Bullnose bricks with rounded corners. That said, most architects will select bricks based on their color and bond pattern. Below is our dimension guide for selecting face bricks. Belden naming conventions differs from industry standards on some brick sizes.
Between 1450 and 1800 there is a lot of variability with a very slight downward trend in the average from around 2 to somewhat under 2.
In other words, when viewing the stretchers, bricks became slightly less elongated.
Coursing Charts for Clay Brick all sizes
See also my talk on brickwork . For face brickwork, it is important to ascertain whether the chosen bricks will be sufficiently uniform and accurate in size that standard horizontal and vertical rods can be used.
A typical 3m storey height requires 35 courses. A horizontal bay of 6m needs 25 bricks, so that a 1mm variation in the width of the perpends would give a variation of 25mm either way.
On the other hand, extra wide perpends tend to look unsightly. These are made to suit a 300mm module, and any multiple of 600mm will fit without cutting bricks if the standard rod is used. The height of an opening contains an extra joint thickness, but if there is a metal arch bar at the top, this will occupy the equivalent of one joint.
If there is a precast or reinforced brickwork lintel, then the opening gains the extra bed joint in height. This is necessary so that the cavity ties will be level, and it simplifies detailing around the heads and sills of openings. The same argument applies at the set-down at a balcony. When the external skin is brickwork and the inner walls either studwork or blockwork, these arguments do not apply. It is generally considered preferable for the edges of the openings to align with the centre of a brick (left diagram) than with a perpend (centre diagram).
Treating brickwork with sealant or water repellent.
Brick Size
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