A single-brick wall is a wall with a thickness of one full brick length (approximately 21 cm), built with alternating stretchers and headers. The wall is thick enough to be load-bearing and is used for basements, garages, load-bearing internal walls and solid external walls.
Dimensions
With a standard brick (210 x 100 x 50 mm) plus joint:
- Wall thickness: approximately 210 mm (the length of the brick)
Stretchers and headers
In a single-brick wall, bricks are laid in two orientations:
- Stretcher — The long side facing out (210 mm visible)
- Header — The short side facing out (100 mm visible)
By alternating stretchers and headers (bond pattern), the wall becomes one solid unit: the bricks interlock through the full wall thickness.
Where is a single-brick wall used?
| Application | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Load-bearing wall | Internal wall that supports floors or roof |
| Basement wall | Must withstand soil pressure |
| Garage wall | Solid garage without cavity |
| Tall garden wall | Freestanding wall higher than 1 metre |
| Sturdy boundary wall | Permanent property boundary |
Single-brick vs. half-brick wall
| Single-brick | Half-brick | |
|---|---|---|
| Thickness | ~210 mm | ~100 mm |
| Load-bearing | Yes | No |
| Bricks per m2 | ~100 | ~50 |
| Mortar use | More | Less |
| Cost | Higher | Lower |
| Insulation value | Poor | Poor (both) |
Both wall types provide virtually no insulation. For insulation, a cavity wall (half-brick + cavity + inner leaf) or timber-frame construction with insulation is needed.
Related terms
- Half-brick wall
- Bond pattern
- Joint
- Mortar
- Cavity wall
- Lintel