Special Shaped Bricks have Architectural Styles and Decorative Designs
Specials are non-standard shaped bricks.
These special shaped bricks (“specials“) have been used for thousands of years in different architectural styles and decorative designs
They include angled bricks, arch bricks, bullnose and cant bricks, bricks for cills, cappings, copings and so on.
There are many hundreds of specials on the market and they can play a vital role in adding a finishing touch, or in replicating period details.
Most specials are available in a range of colours and textures.’ Special specials’ – or one-offs can be created if necessary by most brick manufacturers.
Basic Functions
Special shaped bricks may be grouped according to their most usual function:
Copping and Capping
Coping bricks resemble a half-moon and are used as a decorative finish for parapet walls in order to protect the brickwork beneath.
Cappings are designed to sit flush against a vertical wall, while copings project out from the wall.
The efficient shedding of water from such areas is beneficial to the long-term durability of the wall.
Are typically used as a decorative finish to parapet walls and free-standing walls and to protect the brickwork below some common special shapes are produced for this purpose.
Cant Bricks
Typically used for feature brickwork where crisp clear lines are required e.g. Corner details, window/door reveals, pier work.
They can also be used for capping.
Bullnose Bricks
Are typically used for feature brickwork where a radius is required, for example, corner details, window/door reveals and pier work.
Bullnose bricks can also act as capping or for edging kerbs.
This group also includes special bricks to provide an aesthetic visual transition between square and curved elements.
Squints and Angles
Squint and Angle bricks generally serve a functional purpose where it is necessary to carry a building element through an angle other than 90 degrees.
Common angles are 30, 45 and 60-degree angles, with variations in leg dimensions to achieve different bond patterns
Plinths
These special bricks have a sloping 45-degree face, are available in stretcher or header format and, come in three profiles.
Their prime application, as the name suggests, is to provide a weathered thickening at the base of all wall.
Arch Bricks
Arch bricks are double tapered in length or width so that they can be placed together to create an archway or other curved elements, such as a circular window.
Storage
All ‘specials’ take longer to produce and are more expensive than ‘standard’ bricks and should be carefully and systematically stored and protected from rain in order to reduce damage and wastage and make it easier to find particular types when required.
Money spent on appropriate storage is likely to be justified, particularly as wasted ‘specials’ can seldom be replaced quickly.
