Victorian Conservatories – a special feature using Squint Bricks for your new conservatory

A question that is quite often asked at our sister website: Ask-Questions is how do we go around corners with brickwork on a Victorian or Georgian style conservatory?

This short article will explain the most common options along with some of the pros and cons of each.

The Options

1) Split a brick and mortar joint the brick on the angle
2) Have the brick professionally cut at the required angle and then glued back together
3) Use a matching “Squint Brick” (angled brick)
4) Use a contrasting “Squint brick”
5) Do not cut the bricks at an angle – but overlap the un-cut bricks on the angle to create a “special feature”

In our experience clients are often not given the option on how the “getting around the angle” is coped with and often do not find out until the brick layer is finished his work.

Split a brick and mortar joint the brick on the angle: This is still an option used by some and in our opinion it is perfectly OK provided that a very experienced bricklayer does the work. It is one of those things that if left in the hands of someone who really does not have the experience – can look awful. So do be careful if you go with this option.

Be aware that when comparing quotes for base and dwarf walling – we would expect this option to cost the least compared to the other alternatives such as squints discussed below.

Here is an example of conservatory dwarf walls with mortar joints:	Here is the finished conservatory:

Have the brick professionally cut at the required angle: This is becoming increasingly popular. Angles are bonded with a two part epoxy resin which is colour matched to the brick stock. When correctly done it is almost impossible to tell the join. The main advantage of this approach is that you can if you wish have “angle bricks” that match the bricks being used in the conservatory wall. Quite often the bricks on the conservatory wall have to match those on the main house – but it maybe that it is not possible to locate off the shelf “angled bricks “ (Squints) to match the bricks, in which case the above is an excellent alternative. Cost wise there is not usually much in it – but usually less expensive that buying ready made squint bricks – especially if the squint bricks very usual and expensive. (Some squint bricks can cost in excess of £5.00 each – but the “norm” is usually in the £1.00 - £3.00 range.)

Use a matching “Squint Brick” or a contrasting “Squint brick”: For the “perfectionist” using purpose made “angled bricks” is often the only alternative. Provided costs are not prohibitive and the brick is easy to locate then a matching brick is usually the choice but we have know of people who actually prefer the contrasting squint brick. The choice is yours.

Below is an example using contrasting squints:	And another contrasting squint:

Overlap the un-cut bricks on the angle: This is actually the cheapest alternative as the bricklayer just overlaps each brick on the angle. Again, if you like “contrast” this may be a viable option.

The Angle & Squint Company offer a brick cutting and bonding service for the construction and conservatory industry. See their website at: http://www.angleandsquint.co.uk/frameset.html

Some Useful Squint Bricks links
http://www.cradleyspecialbrick.com/squint_bricks/squint_bricks.html

http://www.cradleyspecialbrick.com/bs_angle_cant_bricks/bs_angle_cant_bricks.html

http://www.redlandbrick.com/angles.html

While not directly related to the above - If you are DIY minded, you may well find the following article all about brick construction of interest: http://www.quikrete.com/diy/BasicBrickConstruction.html

Image Credits:
Dial a Conservatory
West Yorkshire Windows