The average size
of the bricks usually used in the construction of old houses, solid or
hollow bricks, called "Burro", was 0,23x0,11x0,07, and joint would not
have more than 0,01m thickness. The applied mortar had some consistence
and would also fill in all the spaces.
In the same conditions brick walls could
be less thick than stone walls, for two reasons. First of all, because
the horizontal bed and more regular overlapping gave them more resistence
and poor thermal conductibility.
Thus a wall with a 0,35 and 0,38 thickness
made of bricks, corresponded to a 0,50cm thickness stone masonry wall.
The walls would have a diferrent thickness
according to the way the bricks were layed
- Vertical or "ao cutelo" brick surface.
- "Assente ŕ meia vez" brick surface.
- "Assente ŕ uma vez" brick surface.
- "Assente a uma vez e meia" brick surface.
- "Assente a duas vezes" brick surface.
"Ao cutelo"
Brick vertically layed, used in not very thick partition walls, sometimes
reinforced, 2,0 linear meters maximum with wood or iron posts. Or in temporary
constructions.
Ŕ meia vez
The "ŕ meia vez" laying of bricks was used in partitions and chimneys,
layed horizontally so its width corresponds to the thickness of the wall,
for instance
A uma vez (one time)
In this case, the briks were laid as if they were perpends, since the
wall thickness was the same as the briks length.
Uma vez e meia (one time
and a half)
The briks on a uma vez e meia wall, with a 0,35 thickness could be laid
differently, being the one that corresponds to laying each layer of one
brik line at uma vez and the other at meia vez, the most common one. On
the next layer these lines would be alternated.
De duas vezes (1 1/2 time)
In these cases, the wall thickness is multiple of the brik width |