Proprietary
C. Designing with Brick
1. For quick reference here are some rules of thumb regarding brick layout: • Modular brick dimensions: 7 5/8” x 2 ¼”
o Head (vertical) joint: .375 inch (3/8ths) width o Bed (horizontal) joint: .416666... inch height
In laying out vertical coursing dimensions it is advisable to establish 3 full courses (brick height and bed joint each) then use this 8” module as reference.
• Jumbo (Utility) brick: 11 5/8” x 3 5/8”; The head and bed joints are 3/8”
In various parts of North America the terms “Jumbo” and “Utility” are often mixed.
• Closure brick: 7 5/8” x 3 5/8”; The head and bed joints are 3/8” 2. Avoiding “sliver brick” cuts
Occasionally an area to brick is fixed by other factors and cannot be modified to fit a brick module. The joints may be compressed or expanded in order to attain small adjustments in the brick width. This can be attained by using the Adjust-A-Liner. Adjust-A-Liner is a liner with only the horizontal bed joints in it. The head joints are installed separately with the brick. This allows for a great deal of flexibility in adjusting for areas that require irregular spacing. While this method takes more time to install, it is an excellent solution for areas where the brick joints must be compressed in order to fit an area and avoid an unsightly ‘sliver-brick cut’. It is recommended that the adjustment area be kept to a minimum and that the coursing return to the standard module as soon as possible. Joints are commonly compressed to ¼” without being aesthetically objectionable. They can be expanded as far as ¾” if necessary. A cautionary note about dimensions: A common oversight in laying out wall and opening sizes is to fail to remove one of the head joints from the dimension string. E.g., a wall three modular brick wide is not 24”. It is, in fact, 23 5/8” wide (3 brick @7 5/8” and two joints at 3/8”). Conversely, door and window openings require one more joint width than brick. E.g., an opening 4 modular brick wide is not 32”. It is 32 3/8” wide, or 4 brick @ 7 5/8” and five joints @ 3/8”.
D. Recesses Recessed areas can add an element of depth and interest to the appearance of a wall. They can be combined with color changes or patterns for an even more dramatic set-off.
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