Brick construction refers to the erection and alteration of structures made from fired clay units. It combines high durability with favorable building-physics properties and is characteristic in both new construction and existing buildings. In practice, brick masonry and reinforced concrete often meet—such as at slabs, lintels, ring beams or foundations. For interventions, adjustments and selective deconstruction, low-vibration and precise methods are crucial, in which hydraulic tools such as concrete pulverizers and rock and concrete splitters—operated with suitable hydraulic power units—play an important role.
Definition: What is meant by brick construction
Brick construction refers to the construction method using load-bearing or non-load-bearing brick masonry, built from solid bricks, vertically perforated bricks or clinker units, laid with mortar or thin-bed mortar and complemented by components such as ring beams, lintels and slab bearings. Brick masonry can be single- or multi-leaf and is characterized by good thermal and sound insulation, high fire resistance, dimensional accuracy and a robust, easily workable surface. In composite construction, reinforced concrete provides bracing and support, while brick walls transfer loads into the foundation and form room enclosures.
Composition and material properties of brick masonry
Bricks are made from clay raw materials that are formed, dried and fired. The perforation pattern (in vertically perforated bricks), bulk density and firing curve influence compressive strength, thermal conductivity and frost resistance. Mortar types and joint patterns determine the bond between unit and mortar; thin-bed mortar reduces joint thickness and thermal bridges. Common bond patterns (e.g., running or header bond) distribute loads, reduce restraint stresses and improve crack resistance. Plaster coats and facing shells are added for weather protection, sound insulation and aesthetics. Typical components include load-bearing transverse and longitudinal walls, non-load-bearing partition walls, lintels over openings, ring beams for bracing, and bearings for slabs and roofs.
Planning and execution in brick construction
Planning includes structural design, connection details, thermal and moisture protection, and fire protection. Careful execution prevents defects, minimizes cracking risks and ensures serviceability. Masonry is strong in compression and weak in tension; therefore ring beams and slabs take diaphragm and tensile forces, while masonry walls transfer vertical loads.
Structural design and load transfer
Design fundamentals are unit strength, mortar, bond system and slenderness checks. Lintels over openings are sized for bearing lengths, deflection and fire protection. Ring beams tie walls, resist horizontal loads and couple slabs. In mixed systems, expansion joints, bearing pressures and differential deformations (e.g., creep in reinforced concrete, moisture-related changes in brick) must be considered.
Thermal and moisture protection
The thermal conductivity of the bricks and joint quality determine thermal performance. Thermal bridges occur at connection details (slab bearings, window reveals, ring beams); correctly insulated details and even joint flanks are essential. Moisture protection requires capillary-breaking layers, splash protection, effective horizontal barriers and vapor-permeable plaster systems.
Sound insulation and fire protection
Sound insulation is based on mass, decoupling and continuous joints. Flanking transmission via slabs and service shafts is reduced through careful detailing. Brick masonry is non-combustible and offers high fire resistance; connections of lintels, ring beams and installations must be sealed to meet fire protection requirements.
Working in existing buildings: openings, alterations and selective deconstruction
In existing brick buildings, creating new openings, enlarging passages, replacing lintels and removing extensions are common tasks. Procedure: ensure temporary load transfer, define cuts, choose dust- and low-vibration methods, release components in sections and separate by material type to avoid damage to the remaining masonry.
Tools and methods for brick and hybrid structures
In masonry buildings, reinforced concrete components (ring beams, slab edges, retrofitted lintels) are often separated. Here, concrete crushers are suitable for controlled removal of reinforced concrete areas while protecting adjacent brick masonry. Hydraulic splitters enable controlled expansion of borehole rows in massive concrete or natural stone elements—useful when nearby brick walls must be preserved. Hydraulic power packs provide the required flow and pressure; combination shears, multi cutters and steel shears are additionally used for cutting reinforcing steel, structural steel sections or built-in parts.
- Concrete pulverizers: selective deconstruction of reinforced concrete in brick buildings (slab bearings, ring beams, lintel zones) with reduced vibration.
- Hydraulic splitters: controlled splitting of foundations, wall panels or natural stone near sensitive masonry surfaces.
- Combination shears and multi cutters: cutting of built-in parts, bracing, service ducts and thin-walled metals.
- Hydraulic power packs: demand-based energy supply for hydraulic tools, matched to pressure, flow and operating duration.
Application areas in the context of brick construction
Construction practice links brick masonry with various fields of work:
- Concrete demolition and special deconstruction: removal of reinforced concrete slabs, beams or foundations in brick buildings. Concrete pulverizers and splitters allow sectional, low-vibration work.
- Strip-out and cutting: removal of non-load-bearing brick partitions, creation of openings, dismantling of service shafts and built-ins using hydraulic cutting and shearing tools.
- Rock excavation and tunnel construction: in older structures with masonry tunnel linings or rubble stone masonry, controlled splitting and shearing methods are relevant for gentle alterations.
- Natural stone extraction: when adding natural stone or concrete components to brick construction, controlled splitting supports precise fitting.
- Special applications: heritage-sensitive work and operations in delicate environments require especially precise, minimally invasive methods.
Execution details: cuts, lintels and ring beams in brick construction
When creating openings in load-bearing walls, temporary shoring is mandatory before removing masonry or old lintels. Cuts are planned to preserve load paths; removal proceeds from top to bottom and from freed areas toward the bearings. In hybrid structures, the reinforced concrete portion (e.g., the ring beam) is removed in sections with concrete pulverizers before loosening the brick masonry. New lintels or reinforcements are fitted accurately, joints are fully closed, and connections are detailed to meet thermal and sound insulation requirements.
Low-vibration and low-dust procedures
Low-vibration methods protect plaster, joints and adjacent components. Hydraulic splitting reduces impact energy; targeted biting with concrete pulverizers prevents uncontrolled breaks. Wetting, extraction and a defined sequence of work steps reduce dust emissions. Materials are separated by type to facilitate recycling.
Occupational safety, environment and disposal
Safe workflows are based on hazard analyses, proper shoring, personal protective equipment and controlled handling of hydraulic systems. Utilities in walls (electric, water, gas) must be located in advance. For disposal, brick debris, concrete and metal are collected separately; recycling into aggregates or reuse as fill and base layers is possible depending on regional requirements. Information on permits, verifications and limit values is always of a general nature and does not replace project-specific review.
Quality assurance and documentation
Dimensional checks, flatness, joint pattern, bond and connection details are continuously inspected. Crack monitoring and moisture measurements ensure serviceability. For alterations, as-built documentation, approvals and verifications of load transfer, fire protection and building physics must be recorded; deconstruction is logged in sections, including separation and disposal routes.
Best practices and common pitfalls
- Missing shoring before wall openings leads to uncontrolled deformations—plan temporary load transfer early.
- Inappropriate demolition methods generate vibrations and cracks—use hydraulic splitting or sectional removal with concrete pulverizers.
- Poor joint quality weakens load-bearing capacity and sound insulation—apply mortar consistently and fully close joints.
- Thermal bridges at ring beams and slab bearings not considered—insulate details and form clean connections.
- Insufficient separation of building materials hinders recycling—ensure material-specific collection and clean cutting paths.
Future of brick construction: sustainability and circular economy
Brick construction is evolving toward resource-efficient, deconstruction-friendly systems. Reversible connections, material-specific layers and digital as-built models facilitate selective demolition. Controlled methods—such as hydraulic splitting of massive members or section-by-section biting of reinforced zones with concrete pulverizers—support separability of materials. In this way, brick masonry, concrete and steel can be returned to high-quality material cycles, and interventions in existing fabric can be carried out precisely, gently and efficiently. Tools from Darda GmbH are often integrated into such workflows due to their precise, low-vibration operation, without impairing the character of the masonry.