Gauge

Australian Gauge is nominally 86mm per course, this doesnt suit all bricks or all situations, so adjustments have to be made.
Adjusting the bed joints to adjust the gauge is common if you have to make the courses work, to get to the window heads to fit a lintel over the window for example. glossary

Bricks vary enormously in size (1 or 2mm) from batch to batch and brand to brand.
Such a variation in size means you have to adjust the bed joints to compensate, either by tightening the gauge or making the gauge bigger to suit.

Gauges of 85mm, 86mm, 87mm or 88mm are not uncommon depending on the bricks.

Once set, the gauge should be non negotiable so mark it correctly.

How to work out

Determine the top height that wall has to be, this can be a reference datum mark on a plan, a footing height, or to the top of the windows for example.

• Doors frames rarely work courses, this has puzzled me for 30 + years?

In this example the slab height is being taken.


Slab height transferred to a profile.

Best Gauge for the job

Australian Standards (AS 3700) for brickwork courses is 86mm, +or- 3mm, so brickwork gauge anywhere within the range of 83mm to 89mm is within AS 3700.

Download brick gauge in XLS

Brick Gauge XLS (cache)