Outside the norm: Brickwork

After much discussion, observation and consideration the external brickwork has started. This has been an interesting part of the journey as this element does not fit within the norm. Moonlight is using a blend of Daniel Robertson bricks. Why these bricks, well they are gas fired but in batches rather than the continuous kiln method. Fortunately Daniel Robertsons are produced outside of Melbourne, though I had been using the web to search for batch fired bricks. Then the selection is for 50mm bricks, to get the organic feel from the bricks the spec required the purchase of seconds. So the bricks are crusty, have substantial colour variation, maybe banana shaped, fused together or just plain ugly….

Getting the brickwork right some 300 bricks where laid with various trowelling off effects and mortar mixes to examine what the finished look would be in order to make a decision. Now the next part is that neither the mortar nor the joint thickness sits within the Australian standard so the engineer’s approval and specification is required, oh dear must have been a real issue for those romans when starting their dwellings.

Now we have rejected bricks that are half the thickness of a standard brick, using a mortar that is not the standard that is to be trowelled on at a thickness of greater than 10mm. Well the reaction of the Quantity surveyor is close to panic, therefore most be loads of money to lay, a “tier 2” builder who looked at the hotel which has the same brickwork detail said when looking at the job, oh need stonemasons to do this work = expensive.

Reality, the effect sought by Moonlight is not the norm agreed, but once the bricklayers tried out several mortar mixes and trowelling off effects to achieve the desired look and the finish was agreed upon the construction speed is at a rate that is above average for a bricklayer. The cost that is no more expensive than laying regular bricks, reality bites be prepared to challenge the norm and think laterally.