Bricks that stick out slightly above and below windows and doors - WHY?

Maffy52

Buying a house built in 2021 and notice that a line of bricks 'stick out' slightly above and below windows and doors (see arrows in photo). I am just curious why it is like this as I can't think what it is for? Thanks!.

Section62

Maffy52 said:

Buying a house built in 2021 and notice that a line of bricks 'stick out' slightly above and below windows and doors (see arrows in photo). I am just curious why it is like this as I can't think what it is for? Thanks!.

Largely architectural - for the same reason the Victorians went for thick 'stone' cills and lintels, or for full 'stone' surrounds.  Or more recently the use of soldier courses or faux-arches.

A different type of brick laid slightly proud has the effect of 'framing' the window, and makes it more interesting that if the brickwork was plain.  On newbuild estates this sort of thing is common to give houses individual style rather than looking like identikit boxes.

grumpy_codger

If it's purely aesthetic, why half-bricks on the sides?!
And IMO soldier bricks play some structural role as well - just imagine holding the same lengths of dominos with two hands.

Section62

grumpy_codger said:

If it's purely aesthetic, why half-bricks on the sides?!

Because someone thought that looked better than having a number of whole bricks?

Personally the sight of 3 perp joints in a stright line makes me feel queasy, but style and taste is a personal thing.

grumpy_codger said:

And IMO solder bricks play some structural role as well - just imagine holding the same lengths of dominos with two hands.

On a new build estate it is very unlikely soldier bricks in the outer leaf will be doing anything more structural than supporting their own weight (if that) - there will be a lintel taking the true structural loads.

One reason to use a soldier course which is not purely architectural is that the soldiers will have two good faces exposed, so if the top and bottom faces of a particular brick type are not very pretty then laying them as soldiers will mean the overhang at the head of the window looks nicer.

Soldiers above an opening will support some load, but not reliably, and being loadbearing isn't why they would be specified on a modern build.  In order for them to 'arch' and sustain structural loads the masonry either side of the opening would have to provide a reaction.  The 'arch' shape resists the vertical load by converting it into thrust into the springings of the arch.  The flatter the arch, the less effective this conversion is, until you reach a point where it is only shear forces providing the resistance to vertical load.

The pile of dominos can be held horizontally between two hands because the pressure exerted by the hands is generating sufficient shear resistance to stop them falling.  The dominos aren't arching.

Maffy52

grumpy_codger said:

If it's purely aesthetic, why half-bricks on the sides?!
And IMO soldier bricks play some structural role as well - just imagine holding the same lengths of dominos with two hands.

Yes, I see what you mean, hadn't noticed that myself. It does seem odd. Also the bricks are engineering bricks so I thought it may have something to do with moisture control, but couldn't think why around windows?

Maffy52

grumpy_codger said:

If it's purely aesthetic, why half-bricks on the sides?!
And IMO soldier bricks play some structural role as well - just imagine holding the same lengths of dominos with two hands.

did notice one end is a stretcher above patio doors! Seems not very consistent...

stuart45

The bricklayers are given the dimension for the overailing course and the course it goes on. The half bats are used to make it run half bond where needed.

twopenny

My brickwork is crenulated around the middle of the building.
Darn nuisance because the spiders love it for making their webs 😬