Can anyone tell me why these wooden battens are here?
Discussion
danjnixon said:
I've been stripping back plaster in my dining room and come across some random battens and laths built into the brickwork. It's not for a doorway (the other side of the wall is a staircase). Does anyone know why they might have been put in? Very curious.
How old is the house?The bricks have been laid the 'wrong' way up (on edge). Is it just a veneer of brickwork on the inside face of an external wall?
I've seen similar things where a veneer of brickwork has been built up to try to prevent damp ingress, and the bricks are laid on edge to make them a bit thinner; in which case the battens are just a 'framework' to retain the panels of extra brick.
Otherwise, as Qcarchoo says, it's just a stud wall with brick infill (brick on edge for the same reason - to make it a bit thinner)
I've seen similar things where a veneer of brickwork has been built up to try to prevent damp ingress, and the bricks are laid on edge to make them a bit thinner; in which case the battens are just a 'framework' to retain the panels of extra brick.
Otherwise, as Qcarchoo says, it's just a stud wall with brick infill (brick on edge for the same reason - to make it a bit thinner)
The studs will be there for stability and the bricks laid on edge to save a bit of space: Bricks laid on edge aren't very stable, especially when built to room height, hence the studs for a bit of stability while the mortar cures; there are probably some nails knocked into the studs to act as a crude wall tie as well. The paint tin catching the water from the leaky rad valve looks like it's over flowing too!
wolfracesonic said:
The studs will be there for stability and the bricks laid on edge to save a bit of space: Bricks laid on edge aren't very stable, especially when built to room height, hence the studs for a bit of stability while the mortar cures; there are probably some nails knocked into the studs to act as a crude wall tie as well.
Yep 
Amazing, thank you everyone! That's solved a problem for me - the wood is full of dry rot, so rather than treat it all and replace I can just pull down the wall and replace with a new stud wall!
And the paint tin is just there to hold up the rad pipe, that big stain is from when I removed the radiator. Luckily the carpet is getting replaced!
And the paint tin is just there to hold up the rad pipe, that big stain is from when I removed the radiator. Luckily the carpet is getting replaced!
I think it was done to save on bricks and time, if an old brick was circa 4 x 3" they gained an inch on every one so laid 3 bricks instead of 4. If it was done to create a thin wall you would have only saved 1/2" per side.
The Stoke on Trent bricks have some history, aerial pic of the factory here: https://britainfromabove.org.uk/image/eaw013246
The Stoke on Trent bricks have some history, aerial pic of the factory here: https://britainfromabove.org.uk/image/eaw013246
227bhp said:
I think it was done to save on bricks and time, if an old brick was circa 4 x 3" they gained an inch on every one so laid 3 bricks instead of 4. If it was done to create a thin wall you would have only saved 1/2" per side.
Yes, you're probably right, come to think of it - though an extra inch makes all the difference, I'm told!If it's a 'stud' wall carried off doubled joists (though this one looks as though its off a ground floor slab), I guess the reduction in weight is a big plus, too.
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