Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Chapter 14 Wall Systems 291 Thin Brick Veneer Thin brick veneers are thin brick units formed from kiln-fired shale or clay, or a combination of the two. The units are approximately 1/2″ to 1″ thick. When in place, thin bricks give the appear- ance of a conventional brick masonry wall. Thin brick is available in various sizes, colors, and textures. See Figure 14-28. The most common face size is standard modular, which has nominal dimensions of 2 2/3″ × 8″. A slight variation in actual face dimensions exists among manufacturers, but 3/8″ to 1/2″ less than the nominal dimensions is typical. The economy modular face size, 4″ × 12″, is commonly used for large buildings because productivity is increased and there are fewer visible mortar joints. Other sizes, such as 3″, nonmodular, and oversize may be available. Trade Tip Check with individual manufacturers or dis- tributors regarding sizes available in your area. Thin brick veneer is an adhered veneer, which means it relies on a bonding agent between the thin brick units and the substrate. Adhered veneer construction can be classified as thin bed set or thick bed set. A newer technique is to add thin brick to the exterior of precast wall panels prior to casting. Thin Bed Set In the thin bed set installation procedure, an epoxy or organic adhesive is typically used on inte- rior surfaces only. For dry locations, the backing material (substrate) may be wood, wallboard, or masonry. See Figure 14-29. For areas exposed to dampness, only clear and dry masonry surfaces or concrete surfaces should be used for backup. Thick Bed Set The thick bed set procedure of installation is used on interior and exterior surfaces. The backing material is either masonry, concrete, steel, or wood stud framing. For applications over steel studs, procedures are similar to those used for concrete or masonry backup. However, wallboard and building felt must be installed over the studs before the lath and mortar bed are placed. See Figure 14-30. Thin Brick Faced Precast Panels In this process, thin brick are located at the base of the precast form table. See Figure 14-31. The bricks are placed in flat rubber mats that hold them in position on the forming table. The form located on the forming table creates size and shape of the precast wall panel. Thin brick composes the exterior face of the panel and becomes bonded and embedded into the panel when the concrete mixture is poured into the form. Precast panels are usually constructed indoors in a factory where they cure under ideal conditions. After the panels cure, they are stored at the factory until the construction site is ready for delivery. Brick Industry Association Figure 14-28. Thin brick units. Stretcher Edge Corner End Edge Corner Corner Brick Industry Association Figure 14-29. A cross section depicting a wood frame wall on which thin brick veneer is installed using the thin bed set procedure. Wood stud Mastic adhesive Thin brick Wallboard