Historic Brickwork: A Design Resource - Review Questions

As you watch the video, you can browse by subject using the course outline and timestamps below. As you progress through the units, you can use the below optional (ungraded) questions to help assess your understanding of the material. Please note that these are not the summative assessment questions to be answered at the end of the course. You will also need to complete the summative assessment in order to earn course credit.

0:00: Roman Brick

Review: Which is a general characteristic of Roman bricks?

1. Roman bricks are relatively thin.

Correct! Roman bricks are on average 12” x 3.5” x 1.5”.

2. Roman bricks are relatively thick.

Incorrect. While they may look larger once assembled with mortar joints, Roman bricks themselves are not thick compared to other brick types.

3. Roman bricks tend to be irregularly-shaped.

Incorrect. The Romans generally produced bricks of fairly even size, as evidenced in many surviving examples such as Trajan’s Market.


6:06: Bond Types: English Bond; Dutch Cross Bond; English Cross Bond; Flemish Bond Dutch Bond; Monk Bond; Header Bond; American Bond; Stretcher Bond

Review: What is the difference between Dutch Cross Bond and English Cross Bond?

1. The primary difference is in how the bricks are laid.

Incorrect. The bricks are actually laid in the same fashion for English Cross Bond and Dutch Cross Bond.

2. The primary difference is the color of the brick used.

Incorrect. While Dutch bricks are typically yellow, this is not always the case and is not the primary distinguishing feature.

3. The primary difference is the size of brick used.

Correct! English bricks are of a larger size than Dutch bricks, but otherwise the two bond types are the same.


37:39: Colonial Brick Details

Review: What is one reason that gauged brick jack arches faded in popularity in the US after the Revolutionary War?

1. Gauged brick was quickly superseded by more technically intricate styles.

Incorrect. Gauged brick was actually integral to the creation of fine details in early US architecture.

2. Gauged bricks were considered too structurally weak.

Incorrect. This is not the case and does not bear relation to the decline in gauged brick usage.

3. Gauged brick was too time consuming to create.

Correct! As masonry apprenticeships declined sharply in length following the Revolutionary War, it was difficult for master masons to have enough manpower for the fine work and rubbing and cutting of the bricks involved.


52:11: Mortar Joints and Other Details

Review: What was the reason for creating oiled bricks?

1. Oiled bricks helped produce a rusticated appearance.

Incorrect. The process of creating oiled bricks did not lead to a rusticated or appearance – in fact, it had the opposite effect.

2. Oiled bricks were easier to produce.

Incorrect. There was no special time- or cost-saving advantage to these bricks.

3. Oiled bricks helped produce a smoother appearance.

Correct! Oiled bricks use a special process with a copper-lined mold which leads to a very smooth and refined appearance.