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 à meia vez" brick surface.
- "Assente à 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.



À meia vez

The "à 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