A bracket block — Dutch klos — is a block of timber, or sometimes masonry or stone, projecting from a wall or a beam to support a projecting element such as a gutter, an eaves overhang or a cornice. It is the simplest form of a console: a bearing point that carries the load of the overhanging part back into the structure behind it.
The best known version is the gutter block: a row of blocks at regular centres along the facade, carrying the gutter or the fascia board. On older buildings these blocks are often moulded or carved and form a decorative frieze under the roof edge.
Where it is used
- Under a gutter — gutter blocks carry the gutter and hold it clear of the masonry
- Under an eaves overhang or canopy — as a bearing point for a light projecting roof plane
- Under a cornice — frequently in a moulded, decorative form
- As a packing or setting block — a small block that holds a component in place or at a set distance during installation
Practical tips
- Always fix into the structural timber or into the masonry itself, not into render or a mortar joint alone: the block has to carry the load plus wind uplift
- Use durable timber — a bracket block sits outdoors and gets wet on every face; treat the end grain as well
- Keep the underside free of water — a chamfer or drip under the block stops water tracking back to the wall
- Watch the spacing — blocks set too far apart let a gutter sag; follow the gutter manufacturer’s centres or match the existing rhythm of the building
- Trace the existing shape before removing it, so a restoration reproduces the same profile
Related terms
- Gutter bracket
- Console bracket
- Corbel
- Gutter
- Fascia board
- Overhang
- Cornice
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