Originally Posted by
Rick Hurst
New home that has a curved wall on the rear of the den room had brick that was overhanging the foundation wall has me questioning whether it is excessive or not?
I would say yes, because masonry units are required to be fully bedded in mortar, which means the bed must be fully on the support, with the brick fully in the mortar bed.
The lower course of brick has been installed end outward I think for a better appearance.
Like the row locks in the window sill above. The bricks were installed that way so they could make the curve, little mortar space at the inside end of the row locks, more mortar space at the outside face of the wall.
Does this in your opinion have the risk of possible movement or stability issues with the above bricks?
Yes.
Because the exception to having the masonry units (bricks) fully bedded is corbeling, and corbeling requires a fully bedded first course then the wall thickness is maintained vertically up the inside face, with the wall getting thicker as the wall is corbeled out. This keeps the bricks from toppling over.
In the photo shown, it looks like row locks were laid, with the brick above laid on the ends of the row locks, which could cause the row locks to rotate and the wall to tip outward.
Are there weep holes in that brick?