CHAPTER 3

Terms used in Brickwork

 Bricklaying Made Easy

TERMS USED IN BRICKWORK

ARCH HEADER

An arrangement of bricks over an opening. The head or short side of a brick.

ARRIS JOINTING
The edge of a brick. The process of finishing off brickwork by means of jointers.

BAT LAP
Portion of a brick a quarter or larger (Figure 3.2) The distance the bricks of one course, overlaps with the bricks
of another course. (Figure 3.1)
BED JOINT
LINTEL
The horizontal joint.
A pre-stressed concrete plank above an opening. It could also
BOND be comprised of brickwork for aesthetic reasons.

An arrangement of bricks in a particular manner (See page 26). LUGS

BUTTERING Strips of metal (fixed onto the sides of metal doors and window
frames) to secure frames to the brickwork.
Means applying mortar to the end or side of a brick when laying
bricks. MORTAR

CENTRE A mixture of sand, lime, cement and water.

(Turning piece). The board (temporary support), which is PERPENDS

placed across an opening to support the brickwork above when
crossing an opening. The perpendicular joints.

CHASING PLANS
Cutting grooves into brickwork for electrical or plumbing pipes. Special drawings used by a builder when building a house.

CLOSER QUOIN
A brick cut in two lengthways (See page 28) Corner brick - the first brick of each course at the corner. (Figure
3.3)
CONCRETE
RACKING BACK
A mixture of stone, sand, cement and water.
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The steps left in the brickwork back when pulling up corners

COURSE (Figure 3.3)

A complete row of bricks (brick plus mortar joint). REINFORCING

Metal that is built into brickwork, e.g. reinforcing bars, brickforce
DAMP PROOF COURSE (D.P.C) or expanded metal.
A layer of material, such as PVC, at least 150mm above ground
level to prevent moisture rising up the wall. REVEAL
The vertical sides of an opening.
EXCAVATION
The trench which is dug in the ground for the foundation. ROOF TIES
Lengths of hoop-iron or strands of wire built into the wall to
FOUNDATION secure the roof to the walls.
The brickwork and concrete below the D.P.C. (See chapter 8).

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 TOOTHING
SILL
Leaving indents in the wall. This means removing every second
The part of the brickwork directly below a window. brick when adding new brickwork to existing. (See Chapter 13:
Additions)
SOFFIT
WALL TIES
The top part of an opening or the underside of an arch
Short pieces of wire built into the brickwork to keep the two wall
STRETCHER skins together.

The long face of a brick.

SUPERSTRUCTURE
The brickwork from the floor slab (D.P.C) upwards.

THRESHOLD
Quarter Bat
The section of the floor at the doorway.

Lap

Half Bat

3.1 - Lap
Three quarter bat

3.1 - Bats

Quoin brick

Raking back
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Stop end

Header course
Stretcher course

Perpends
Bed joints

3.1 - Bats

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 Bricklaying Made Easy

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CHAPTER 3

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