German Brickwork

All text and images from Kimmer Masonry Construction
Written in German, this is the English translation

Photo taken 20th May '10

Different countries have different sizes of bricks,
based on national traditions and units of measurement,
ie Metric or Imperial

In England, a standard brick is 215 x 102.5 x 65 mm
In Beguim, a standard brick is 190 x 90 x 65 mm
In America, a standard brick is 8 x 4 x 2½ inches

In Germany, masonry is based almost exclusively on
the octametric system, which uses an eighth of a metre
or 12.5 cm as the specified dimension. So their standard brick, or 'normal format', measures 24 x 11 x 7.1 cm

When the joint sizes of 1 cm for the vertical head joints
and 1.23 cm for the horizontal course joints are added,
this gives specified dimensions of 25 x 12.5 x 8.33 cm,
multiples of which produce a metre

Paving Bricks

Blog of Student Architect




insert image

Here are some bonding patterns for Brick Paving
Notice the size is different to normal bricks

Image from Recyle Yard

Image from:
Home Improvement

Look carefully at the shape of these bricks

The ratio of their length to width is 2:1

But for normal bricks, this ratio is 3:1

For instance, when bricklaying,
there is 3 soldiers to 1 stretcher
and 3 courses to 1 stretcher

Because of their proportions,
it is easy to draw the bonding
patterns for Paving Bricks
on normal squared paper

The following images show geometric designs
for Paving Bricks, drawn on squared paper

Image from: ehow.com

Image from: ehow.com

Image from: Blog of Student Architect
Photo taken 20th May '10

Image from: ehow.com

This design is suitable for normal bricks

Photo taken 20th May '10

Colour of Mortar

Image and Text from: McMorrough (2006)Materials, Structures and Standards pg 201

Bricks come in numerous textures and patterns, and both bricks and mortar are available in an variety of colour

Matching mortar to brick colour can produces a monolithic effect

Using darker mortar can make the wall darker

Lighter colour in the mortar make the bricks appear lighter

English Bond Corner

This demonstrates the bonding

Animation to be inserted here...

English Bond

This demonstrates the correct bonding for a straight wall

Click Full Screen to enlarge



Note: Brick walls should always be constructed by building the corners first, and then laying to a line, so this is just the beta-version

Japanese Bonds

These show the bonding arrangements
for a double-skin wall

Stretcher Bond

Header Bond with ¾ bats at Quoin

Monk Bond - Japanese Style

English Bond with Queen Closers

English Bond with ¾ bats at Quoin

Flemish Bond with Queen Closers

Flemish Bond with ¾ bats at Quoin

American Bond

Rat-Trap Bond Bond

Honey Comb Bond

Yorkshire Bond

All images from Miyako

To access this site in English, type Miyako Yogyo into Google, and click 'Translate this page'. Then click Product List, and Product Pattern Brick

Monk Bond 01

Monk Bond is two stretchers then one header

Click Full Screen to enlarge
Click the Play button on the scroll bar below