What is a half-brick wall?
A half-brick wall is a wall with a thickness of one half brick length (approximately 10 cm), where all bricks are laid as stretchers (long side visible). It is the thinnest type of masonry wall and is used as the outer leaf of a cavity wall, as a garden wall, or as a non-load-bearing partition wall.
Dimensions
A standard Dutch brick measures approximately 210 x 100 x 50 mm (length x width x height). In a half-brick wall, the wall thickness equals the brick width: approximately 100 mm.
Where is a half-brick wall used?
| Application | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Outer leaf of a cavity wall | The outer shell of a cavity wall is half-brick |
| Garden wall | Freestanding garden wall (max 1 metre high without buttresses) |
| Partition wall (non-load-bearing) | Interior wall between rooms |
| Garage (single leaf) | Single-leaf wall without cavity (uninsulated) |
Half-brick vs. full-brick
| Half-brick | Full-brick | |
|---|---|---|
| Thickness | ~100 mm (1/2 brick) | ~210 mm (1 full brick) |
| Load-bearing | No (or very limited) | Yes |
| Stability | Limited (max 1 m freestanding) | Good |
| Material usage | ~50 bricks per m² | ~100 bricks per m² |
| Application | Outer leaf, garden wall | Load-bearing wall, basement |
Number of bricks per m²
For a half-brick wall with standard bricks and a joint thickness of 10 mm:
- Approximately 50-56 bricks per m² (depending on brick size)
- Approximately 15-20 kg mortar per m²
Tips for bricklaying
- Lay the first course dry — Check that the bricks fit properly
- Corners first — Lay the corners up a few courses, then string a line
- Half-brick offset — Each course is offset by half a brick
- Check with a spirit level — Check every 3-4 courses
- Finish the joints — Touch up the joints after laying with a jointing tool
Related terms
- Full-brick wall
- Bond pattern
- Joint
- Mortar
- Cavity wall