

The modular brick offers approximate nominal dimensions of 2 ⅔ in. This chart shows the standard brick size in inches. That means the surrounding brickwork needs to be predictable in attributes such as shape, size, and load-bearing weight for the sake of efficiency and cost. In both new construction and renovation projects, components of a home or a business/industrial building are typically designed to fit together like pieces of a puzzle. Rowlockįinally, the rowlock brick is the soldier orientation when it’s had a few too many – the short, vertical edge of the brick faces outward, offering plenty of front-to-back support at the expense of width while building courses.Īs the name suggests, this orientation is used to support rows of other orientations in alternating patterns, ensuring overall structural integrity and pleasing patterns in the finished work.

This offers a flat, vertical structural line, but like the rowlock stretcher, it will need additional support front-to-back to maintain integrity over large swaths of the structural build. SailorĪ variant of the soldier placement, the sailor brick stands on the short edge of the brick and faces out the wide edge rather than the narrow one. The tradeoff is that it will need additional support front-to-back, as the narrow side isn’t well-equipped to handle varying weight and thickness above. Like the stretcher, this orientation also helps quickly establish horizontal progress when creating a wall but has the additional benefit of growing vertically as well. Rowlock StretcherĪ rowlock stretcher tilts the face of the stretcher orientation skyward, facing the long, wide edge of the brick outwards in the process. This option gives masons the ability to create large structures in a relatively short period of time by laying bricks on top of one another in a straightforward pattern of layers called courses. There are six basic orientations for a standard rectangular brick.Īs the name suggests, this orientation faces the long, narrow side of the brick outwards to efficiently “stretch” masonry work into a wall or border. The way a brick is laid makes a significant difference in the way it supports a structure, stands up to wear and tear, and appeals to aesthetics.

All Types of Bricks Primary Chart Brick Orientation
