Brick Matching

diybristol · 11 Apr 2005

On doing my extension I got London Bricks on exisitng walls, want to match as close as I can, but London Brick meant to be hard to work with as well.

If I use a brick matching company, will that work out better and will the bricks be better to work with?

PowerTool · 13 Apr 2005

When building a workshop recently,went to local Jewsons,who have a brick library - take one down and get it matched,well worth it (my bricks were 73 mm instead of the standard 65,so not only did the bricks match,so did the courses)

chappers · 14 Apr 2005

Don't see why LBCs are any harder to work with then other bricks and wouldn't have thought it worth sourcing a matched brick instead.

Space_Cowby · 15 Apr 2005

Anything built using london bricks properly uses more mortar.

They are supposed to be laid with the frog up, ie the big hole on the top. Then comes the next course with a lot of mortar to fill said hole, a lot of bricklayers if not 99% will lay frog down.

This is not only quicker but also use's a LOT less mortar, but not how LBC say they should be laid.

masona · 16 Apr 2005

Space_Cowby said:
a lot of bricklayers if not 99% will lay frog down.

I'm surprised and I would've thought the building inspector wouldn't allow it.

nstreet · 16 Apr 2005

a lot of bricklayers if not 99% will lay frog down.

This cant make for a very strong bond, as there will be very little contact between brick and mortar.

Agreed you will need more mortar, other than mixing the extra mortar I cant see that they are harder to work with than any other brick.

masona · 16 Apr 2005

I find it hard to believe because I do have a city & guild in bricklaying and the cement joint gap is normally 10mm, with the frog upside down it would be hard to overcome the 10mm joint as with the frog facing upward the correct way you have a larger area which doesn't squeeze the cement out. I never known bricklayer to lay frog downward

Space_Cowby · 16 Apr 2005

They can be laid so much quicker becasue there is less surface area of brick in relation to mortar. Therefore they can be 'wiggled' down so much quicker or with so much less effort.

Thermo · 16 Apr 2005

may be quicker, but you lose all the integral strength of the bond. Thats why LBC make them that way, and thats why they say lay them that way. Any architect or site agent worth his salt would have a blue fit if he saw that being done.

Space_Cowby · 16 Apr 2005

I agree with you 100% thermo. In fact a few years ago i had a extension demolished and rebuilt because it had been built frog down.

Did you also know you can lay wire cut and 'smiley' bricks upside down as well ?

bikerm4 · 17 Apr 2005

if you lay a brick frog down, water will penetrate the brick,settle in the void and in winter freeze and blow the face of the brick.

gastight · 19 Apr 2005

I was with brickie friend of mine today who was showing me how to lay bricks. He's been doing it for 30 odd years. He said he used to lay them frog down but the now the building control say the correct method is frog up.

he also said some thing about

frog down - 9Newtons force
frog up - 13 Newtons force

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Brick Matching

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