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Bricklaying & Repointing

Should bricks line up either side of an movement/expansion joint?

Anonymous user 09/03/2024 - 2.40 PM

On new build property there is an movement / expansion joint from which the bricks at the top are in perfect alignment until around 15 bricks down where they become clearly out of line, making it look as if it has slipped or moved. What could be the reason for this? Is it in any way normal? How concerned should I be?

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2 Answers

SMBuilding Company Limited

Rating: 5 out of 5

Ruislip

So long as there is a slip tie with a sleeve every 450mm then structurally you will be fine. The fact the the brick work is not in line with the original is just bad brick laying,and will not look correct,unless of course it has sunken in some way,in which case it could be a failing lintel or foundation.

Answered5 July 2016

Anonymous user

When you build a house the movement joints are there to stop any cracking within the wall. There should be slip ties every 450 ml high with slip covers over the ties to enable movement, a lot of bricklayers skip this during the build. The course of this may be that when the bricklayers were building that area they didn't line it up as it should.

Answered14 June 2016