GB2300869A

GB2300869A - Bricklaying gauge, brickwork and method of laying bricks

Info

Publication number: GB2300869A
Application number: GB9510111A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Henry Smith
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1995-05-16
Filing date: 1995-05-16
Publication date: 1996-11-20
Also published as: GB9510111D0

Abstract

In order to facilitate bricklaying, a gauge (10) is embedded in the mortar between first and second bricks (18a, 18c) in one course and a third brick (18b) in the course below. The gauge has a pair of gauging portions (16a) for gauging the spacing between the first and third bricks; a pair of gauging portions (16b) for gauging the spacing between the second and first bricks; and a pair of gauging portions (16c) for gauging the spacing between the second and third bricks. The gauge may take the form of two inverted T's joined by a horizontal bar.

Description

TITLE Bricklaying Gauge, Brickwork and Method of Laying Bricks DESCRIPTION This invention relates to brickwork, to a gauge for assisting in the laying bricks and also to a method of laying bricks.

It should be noted that in this specification, the terms "brick", "brickwork" and "bricklaying" are intended to have broad meanings and, unless specifically stated, are not confined to building blocks of any particular size or material.

In order to provide a strong and attractive building structure, bricks need to be laid accurately. Many skilled bricklayers can lay bricks perfectly at an amazingly high rate.

However, many a do-it-yourself enthusiast has expended a great deal of time and effort in producing a structure leaving much to be desired. Typical problems are irregular mortar thickness, courses of bricks which undulate in the vertical direction, and bowing of the brickwork out of its vertical plane.

In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a bricklaying gauge intended to be used when laying first and second bricks in one course on a course below, the gauge comprising: a first pair of gauge portions for gauging the spacing between the first brick and the course below; a second pair of gauge portions for gauging the spacing between the second brick and the course below; and a third pair of gauge portions for gauging the spacing between the first and second bricks; the two gauge portions of each pair being spaced apart from each other to permit mortar to be deposited therebetween; and all of the gauge portions being connected together.

Provided that the foundation for the brickwork is straight and level and assuming that all of the bricks are of equal size, by using one of these gauges between each pair of bricks, it becomes a very simple matter to ensure that the thickness of mortar is consistent and that the courses of bricks do not undulate or bow. Good quality bricklaying therefore comes within the reach of even the most inexperienced person.

The gauge portions need not necessarily be connected together, and in accordance with a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a piece of mortar-bonded brickwork, in which, adjacent the joint of first and second bricks in one course and a third brick in the course below: a first pair of spaced apart gauge portions are embedded in the mortar and gauge the spacing between the first and third bricks; a second pair of spaced apart gauge portions are embedded in the mortar and gauge the spacing between the second and third bricks; and a third pair of spaced apart gauge portions are embedded in the mortar and gauge the spacing between the first and second bricks.

A third aspect of the present invention provides a method of laying mortar-bonded bricks in which first and second bricks in one course are laid on a course below, the method including the steps of: placing a first pair of spaced apart gauge portions between the first brick and the course below to gauge the spacing therebetween; placing a second pair of spaced apart gauge portions between the second brick and the course below to gauge the spacing therebetween; and placing a third pair of spaced apart gauge portions between the first brick and second brick to gauge the spacing therebetween.

Specific embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows one embodiment of bricklaying gauge; Figure 2 is a front view of a two-course stretcher bonded brick wall showing gauges as in Figure 1 in situ, and for clarity omitting to show the mortar of the wall; Figure 3 is a plan view of the wall of Figure 2; Figure 4 shows one alternative embodiment of bricklaying gauge; and Figure 5 shows another another embodiment of bricklaying gauge.

Referring to Figures 1 to 3, a bricklaying gauge 10 comprises two groups 12a, 12b of gauging portions joined by a connecting portion 14. Each group 12a, 12b is of inverted 'T' shape, with the arms of the 'T' providing gauging portions 16a, 16b and the stem of the 'T' forming a gauging portion 16c. The gauging portions 16a gauge the spacing between a brick 18a in one course 20a and a brick 18b in the course 20b below. The gauging portions 16b gauge the spacing between another brick 1 8c in the course 20a and the brick 1 8b in the course 20b below. The gauging portions 16e gauge the spacing between the two bricks 18a, 18c in the course 20a.

The height h of the gauging portions 16a, 16b and the breadth b of the gauging portions 16c is equal to the required thickness of the mortar layer between the bricks, for example 10mum.

The overall width w of the gauge 10 is less than the thickness of the brickwork so that in use mortar can be deposited on either side of the gauge, but the groups 12a, 12b of gauging portions are sufficiently far apart that the bricks in the upper course 20a will sit squarely on the bricks in the lower course 20b. For example, for a stretcher bonded wall using British Standard metric bricks with a width of 102.5mm actual, the overall width w of the gauge 10 is preferably 50 to 75mm (2 to 3").

The gauge 10 may be formed of any suitable material. For example, it may be moulded from plastics material, and the surface of the plastics material may be rough and/or recessed to assist the mortar in keying to the gauge 10. Alternatively, the gauge 10 may, for example, be of cast mortar, cement or concrete. Each gauge is preferably a one-piece moulding or casting.

In order to build a brickwork structure using the gauges 10, the traditional method of bricklaying is followed, with the exception of the use of the gauges 10. If bricks are being laid from left to right as seen in Figure 2, a gauge 10 is placed in the mortar roughly in the position to be taken up by the lower right hand corner of the brick which is about to be laid.

The brick is then laid and tapped downwards into position so that it abuts the gauging portions 16a of that gauge and also the gauging portions 16b of the previously laid gauge.

Also, the brick is tapped towards the left so that its left face abuts the gauging portions 16e of the previously laid gauge, and so that those gauging portions 1 6c abut the right face of the previously laid brick. An even thickness of mortar between the courses and between the bricks in the same course is thereby assured.

Referring now to Figure 4, an alternative embodiment is shown. Whereas the gauging portions 16a, 16b, 16e shown in Figure 1 have square cross-sections, in Figure 4 the gauging portions 16a, 16b, 16e have 'I' shaped cross-sections. Also, the central webs of the 'I' shapes are perforated with holes 22. The 'I' shapes and the holes 22 reduce the amount of material required to form the gauge and also improve the keying of the mortar to the gauge. Also, in Figure 4, the connecting portion 14 is of reduced cross-section, compared with Figure 1, so as to reduce further the amount of material required and also to displace less mortar at the 'T' junctions in the mortar.

Figure 5 shows another embodiment in which the gauging portions 16a, 16b, 16e are of reduced thickness and, in each group, are joined together by a thin 'T' shaped connecting portion 24. Also, the two groups 12a, 12b of gauging portions are connected together by three connecting portions 26a, 26b, 26c, each extending between a respective pair of the gauging portions 16a, 16b, 16c. This provides a relatively rigid arrangement, but without displacing a large amount of mortar.

It will be appreciated that many modifications and developments may be made to the gauges described above. For example different widths w of the gauge may be employed for use in laying English or Flemish bonded brickwork, or for laying a header course. Of course, different dimensions of the gauge may also be chosen for laying other sizes of brick or block.

Recessed and perforated forms of the gauging portions have been described above; additionally or alternatively, the gauging portions may be hollow or tubular. Furthermore, the gauge described above is for use between bricks in the upper course. For use at the end of a course, a modified gauge may be employed with the two gauging portions 16b omitted, or alternatively the bricklayer may cut them off, or a frangible connection may be provided between those gauging portions and the remainder of the gauge.

Claims

1. A bricklaying gauge intended to be used when laying first and second bricks in one course on a course below, the gauge comprising: a first pair of gauge portions for gauging the spacing between the first brick and the course below; a second pair of gauge portions for gauging the spacing between the second brick and the course below; and a third pair of gauge portions for gauging the spacing between the first and second bricks; the two gauge portions of each pair being spaced apart from each other to permit mortar to be deposited therebetween; and all of the gauge portions being connected together.

2. A gauge as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the gauge portions each gauge a spacing of approximately 10mum.

3. A gauge as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein the overall width of the gauge is about 50 to 75mm.

4. A gauge substantially as described with reference to the drawings.

5. A piece of mortar-bonded brickwork, in which, adjacent the joint of first and second bricks in one course and a third brick in the course below:a first pair of spaced apart gauge portions are embedded in the mortar and gauge the spacing between the first and third bricks; a second pair of spaced apart gauge portions are embedded in the mortar and gauge the spacing between the second and third bricks; and a third pair of spaced apart gauge portions are embedded in the mortar and gauge the spacing between the first and second bricks.

6. A piece of brickwork as claimed in Claim 5, wherein the first, second and third gauge portions are provided by a gauge as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 4.

7. A piece of brickwork as claimed in Claim 5 or 6, wherein such gauge portions are embedded in the mortar adjacent the majority of joints between two bricks in a course and a brick in the course below.

8. A piece of brickwork substantially as described with reference to the drawings.

9. A method of laying mortar-bonded bricks in which first and second bricks in one course are laid on a course below, the method including the steps of:placing a first pair of spaced apart gauge portions between the first brick and the course below to gauge the spacing therebetween; placing a second pair of spaced apart gauge portions between the second brick and the course below to gauge the spacing therebetween; and placing a third pair of spaced apart gauge portions between the first brick and second brick to gauge the spacing therebetween.

10. A method as claimed in Claim 9, wherein one of the first pair, one of the second pair and one of the third pair of gauge portions are joined together and put in place as one step, and wherein the others of the gauge portions are joined together and put in place as one step.

11. A method as claimed in Claim 9, wherein all of the gauge portions are joined together and put in place as one step.

12. A method as claimed in any of Claims 9 to 11, wherein a gauge as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 4 is employed.

13. A method of laying bricks substantially as described with reference to the drawings.