What is a diagonal soldier course?
A diagonal soldier course (Dutch: schuine strek) is a course of masonry in which the bricks are not laid flat or upright on edge, but at an angle. It is essentially a brick-on-edge course whose bricks have been set diagonally: they lean slightly while resting on their long narrow face (the stretcher face). In Dutch the term is sometimes shortened to strek.
A diagonal soldier course differs from:
- a brick-on-edge course (Dutch: rollaag), in which the bricks stand upright on their narrow side;
- a stretcher course (Dutch: streklaag), a course in which the bricks show their long side;
- tumbling-in (Dutch: vlechting), a pattern of courses laid at an angle along the sloping edge of a gable. Tumbling-in actually consists of a series of angled courses.
Application
Closing up under a beam or joist: a classic use is filling in the last course under a beam that was placed before the masonry. The bricklayer sets the bricks at an angle and presses them tightly against the underside of the beam. This way the masonry fits well without leaving a wide, hollow joint.
Decorative and in facades: diagonal courses occur above windows, in gables and in tumbling-in, where the angled courses are set perpendicular to the roof slope and so form a strong, water-shedding edge.
Tips for laying:
- Work with a template or straightedge for the angle, so that all bricks get the same slope.
- Fill the joints completely: bricks set at an angle create wedge-shaped joints. These must be filled well to prevent cracking and water ingress.
- Do not use hard mortar against timber when abutting a beam: allow for movement of the timber and for moisture. A beam bearing in an external wall also needs protection against moisture.
- Fair-faced brickwork: where visible, the angled bricks must line up neatly. If in doubt, make a sample panel first.
Related Terms
- Brick-on-edge course
- Stretcher course
- Tumbling-in
- Brick bond
- Fair-faced brickwork
- Brick
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