Glossery

 of  terms  
 

 
AGGREGATE
Any hard, inert material, i.e. sand, gravel or stone, used for mixing with
cementitious materials to form mortar or concrete.
 
ARCH
An arrangement of bricks over an opening.
 
ARRIS
The sharp edges of a brick.
 
BAT
Portion of a brick larger than a quarter.
 
BEAM FILLING
A filling of brick between the roof timber, from wall plate to roof covering, to
prevent the entry of birds and vermin and to render the wall weather-tight.
 
BED JOINT
The horizontal layer of mortar on which a masonry unit is set.
 
BOND 1
The arrangement of bricks in brickwork usually interlocking to distribute the load
and attain a pleasant appearance.
 
BOND 2
The resistance to displacement of individual bricks in a wall provided by the
adhesive property of mortar.
 
BROKEN BOND
The use of part bricks to make good a bonding pattern where dimensions do not
allow regularised bond patterns of full bricks.
 
BUTTERING
Applying mortar to the end of a brick when laying bricks.
Glossery  of  terms  
 

 
CAVITY WALL
Wall of two leaves effectively tied together with wall tie with a space between them, usually
at least 50mm wide.
 
CHASES
Recesses cut in walls to accommodate service cables or pipes.
 
CLOSER
The last masonry unit or portion of a unit laid in a course.
 
COPING
The materials or masonry units used to form a cap or a finish on top of a wall, pier, or chimney,
to protect the masonry below from water penetration, commonly extended beyond the
wall face and incorporating a drip.
 
COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH
The average value of the crushing strengths of a sample of bricks tested to
assess load-bearing capability.
 
CONCRETE
A mixture of sand, stone, cement and water that sets and hardens.
 
CORBEL
A feature, or course, or courses of brick, projecting from the face of the
wall.
 
COURSE
One complete level row of bricks in brickwork.
 
DAMP-PROOF COURSE (DPC)
A course or layer of impervious material which prevents vertical
movement of water.
 
DATUM
A fixed reference point from which levels are set out.
Glossery  of  terms  
 

 
DURABILITY
The ability of materials to withstand the potentially destructive action of natural conditions and
chemical reactions.
 
EFFLORESCENCE
The unsightly chalk-like appearance on a building due to the crystallisation of soluble
salts contained in the bricks or mortar.
 
FACE WORK
Brickwork built neatly and evenly without applied finish.
 
FLASHING
Waterproof sheet materials, usually galvanized sheet iron shaped to prevent entry of
rainwater.
 
FOUNDATION
A structure to carry brickwork onto soil or earth.
 
FROST DAMAGE
The destructive action of freezing water and thawing ice in saturated materials.
 
FOOTING
The broadened concrete base of a foundation wall or pier.
 
GABLES
Portion of wall above eaves level that enclosed the end of a pitched roof.
 
GAUGE ROD
Batten marked at intervals for vertical setting-out of brick courses.
 
GAUGE BOXES
Boxes of specific volumes to accurately measure the proportions of cement, lime and sand
when preparing mortar.
 
HEADER
The end face of a standard brick.
Glossery  of  terms  
 

 
HEADER COURSE
A continuous course of header brick.
 
INITIAL SET
The first setting action of mortar, the beginning of the set.
 
JOINT REINFORCEMENT
Steel reinforcement placed in mortar bed joints.
 
JOINTING
The finishing off of joints between courses of masonry units before the
mortar has hardened.
 
LAP
The distance the bricks of one course overlaps the bricks of another course.
 
LEAF
One or two parallel walls that are tied together as a cavity wall.
 
LIME STAINS (BLEED OR BLOOM)
White insoluble calcareous deposits on the face of brickwork derived from common cement
mortars which have been subjected to severe wetting during setting and hardening.
 
LINTEL
A beam placed or constructed over an opening in a wall to carry the
superimposed load.
 
MORTAR
A mixture of sand (lime), cement and water.
 
MOVEMENT JOINT
A continuous horizontal or vertical joint in brickwork filled with compressible material
to accommodate movement due to moisture, thermal or structural effects.
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PARAPET
A low wall around the perimeter of a building at roof level or around balconies.
 
PIER
A vertical block of brickwork which may either be isolated or attached to the face of a wall.
 
PERPENDS (PERPS)
Vertical lines controlling the vertically of cross-joints appearing in the face wall.
 
DRAWING OR PLANS
A construction drawing showing a view of a building or object in a horizontal plane. A floor
plan shows the floor area of a building or object in a horizontal plane.
 
PLUMB
The verticality of brickwork.
 
QUOIN
Corner brick — the first brick of each course at the corner.
 
RACKING BACK
The steps left in the brickwork back when pulling up corners.
 
REINFORCED BRICKWORK
Brickwork incorporating steel wire or rods to enhance resistance to loads.
 
REINFORCING
Metal that is built into brickwork, e.g. reinforcing bars, brickforce.
 
RETAINING WALL
A wall that provides lateral support to higher ground at a change of level.
 
REVEAL
The area of walling at the side of an opening which is at right angles to the general face of the
wall.
Glossery  of  terms  
 

 
RETEMPERING
To moisten mortar and re-mix, after original mixing, to the proper consistency for use.
 
ROOF TIES
Lengths of hoop-iron or double strands of wire built into the wall to secure the roof to the
superstructure.
 
SCAFFOLDING
A temporary framework, usually of tubular steel or aluminium, and timber boards to give access
for construction work.
 
SEALANT
A stiff fluid material that sets but does not harden. Used to exclude wind driven rain from
movement joints and around door and window frames.
 
SILL
The part of the brickwork directly below a window.
 
SOFFIT
The exposed lower surface of any overhead component of a building such as a slab lintel, vault or
cornice, or an arch.
 
SOFT-BURNED
Clay products fired at low temperature ranges, producing units of relatively high
absorptions and low compressive strengths.
 
STRETCHER
The longer face of a brick showing in the surface of a wall.
 
SUCTION RATE
The tendency of a brick or block to absorb water from the mortar used for its bedding and
jointing. Dense vitrified bricks have a low suction rate. Porous bricks have a higher suction rate
(IRA - Initial Rate of Absorption - affects bonding properties).
Glossery  of  terms  
 

 
THRESHOLD
The section of the floor at the doorway.
 
TOOTHING
Leaving indents in the wall. This means removing every second brick when adding new
brickwork to existing brickwork
 
WALL TIE
A metal piece that connects leaves of masonry to each other or to other materials.
 
WATER ABSORPTION
The amount of water a unit absorbs, when immersed in either cold or boiling water for a
stated length of time; expressed as a percentage of the weight of the dry unit.
 
WATERPROOFING
Prevention of moisture flow through masonry.
 
WEEPHOLE
An opening placed in mortar joints of facing materials at the level of
flashing, to permit the escape of moisture.