Before work is undertaken it is extremely important that correct and detailed measurements are taken of the current structure in position. These will be used to reproduce a drawing and also a meticulous blueprint of the first structure. Such details that must be noted will include the size and the form of the feature, any special moldings and molded bricks in the fix as well as those that have to be ordered from providers, the sort of masonry employed in the first construction, the bedding material and its constituent parts with the style of pointing of the completed work. The plan or drawing you would like to prepare should obviously show the suggested work in elevation. Acute care should be brought to note any number or sequences of the bricks or units

that are needed to be salvaged.

These then should be obviously shown and the same numbers marked on the equivalent unit as are taken down, cleaned conscientiously and stored prepared for reuse. The drawing must also show in as much detail as is possible any subsidiary work that might be needed with the restoration, along with its specs.

If the work needs the employment of moldings then they deserve to be drawn to bigger scale, or full size, so that replacement units can be reproduced precisely. It’s important at this stage to keep in mind that once the feature has been totally demolished any correct reproduction will rely totally on the drawings that you have produced so all mistakes and omissions will be difficult to fix later. Photos will surely be beneficial. Special features in brickwork have typically been produced in either fine axed work or gaged or rubbed work and would include: balustrades, capping to parapet walling and piers, cornices, string courses, dog-too thing or dental coursing, block bonded quoins, plinths, herringbone and basket weave panels, brick lintels, arches and niches. When trying to reproduce fine axed work the following is a summary of the general procedures for preparing the voussoirs for a fine axed arch. This process may change barely to fit the differing types of arches but the basic beliefs still stays the same. An introduction to the arch should be set out on the setting out board. Mark out the position of the voussoirs on the extra-dos of the arch.

If the arch has a key brick or stone, then the voussoirs are set out by marking out the key brick or stone first and dividing the extra-dos into a number of equal division which mustn’t be bigger than the width of the bricks being used and the thickness of the joint. If the arch is to be bonded on the face side, there must be an even number of voussoirs all sides of the key brick or stone as this could make sure that the springing brick will correspond with the key brick.

When the common size of the voussoirs has been determined, complete the arch by drawing the bed joint lines between the extra-dos and the intro-dos in order that they radiate to the striking point of the planned curve, therefore making certain the arch courses are standard to the curve and maintaining an even bond in a 2 ringed segmental arches. It should be mentioned that brickwork and stone arches must be in compression and will get advantages from loading. Where acute loading is forecasted, parabolic arches are suggested as this form of arch is the strongest in compression. Particular care should be taken with respect to lateral forces, and imposed loading from roof trusses being transferred from the arch trough the masonry and into the flank walls and reveals.