Who should consider ashlar and brick masonry for their facings?
Brick, or ashlar masonry facings, refer to different orientations and placements of bricks in a brick wall or facade. Here’s an explanation of each brick facing:
- Soldier: A soldier course consists of bricks placed vertically with their long faces visible. The bricks are positioned in a row, standing upright like soldiers in formation. This creates a strong, vertical emphasis in the wall.
- Sailor: Similar to a soldier course, a sailor course also involves bricks placed vertically. However, in a sailor course, the bricks are positioned with their short faces visible. This creates a horizontal emphasis in the wall.
- Shiner: In a shiner course, the long face of the brick is visible, creating a flat surface. The narrow end, or header, is hidden within the wall. This results in a wall with a smooth, uniform appearance
- Stretcher: A stretcher course is the most common brick orientation. The bricks are laid flat with their long faces visible and aligned horizontally. The length of the brick extends across the width of the wall, creating a traditional, linear appearance.
- Header: A header course consists of bricks placed with their narrow ends visible. This means that only the short face of each brick is visible. Header courses are typically used at the ends of walls or as a transition between different brick orientations.
- Rowlock: In a rowlock course, the bricks are positioned on their narrow sides, with the long face of each brick visible. This creates a narrow, linear projection from the wall, as if the bricks are standing on their edges. Rowlock courses are often used to create decorative detailing or to form a projecting element in the wall.
These brick facings allow builders to create different visual effects, patterns, and structural characteristics in brick walls, adding variety and interest to architectural designs.
