What Is Brickforce, and When Do You Need It?

Brickforce is one of those products almost every builder uses but few stop to explain. If you have ever seen a thin strip of galvanised wire laid into the mortar joints of a brick wall, that is brickforce doing its job.

This guide covers what brickforce is, why it matters, where it goes in a wall, and how to choose and buy the right width for your project.

What is brickforce?

Brickforce is a light, flat strip of steel wire reinforcement laid horizontally into the mortar joints of brick and block walls. It is made from two or more longitudinal wires joined by cross wires, forming a ladder pattern. It is available in a standard finish, with galvanised brickforce offering added protection against corrosion where it is needed. Because it is thin, it sits neatly within the mortar bed without affecting the coursing of the wall.

Why use brickforce?

Brickwork is strong in compression but weak in tension, which is why walls crack as a building settles, dries out or moves with temperature. Brickforce spreads those stresses along the wall, controlling cracking and tying the brickwork together. It is especially important above and below window and door openings, at wall junctions, and in long runs of walling where movement is likely. Used correctly, it keeps walls looking better for longer and reduces call-backs.

Where brickforce goes in a wall

Brickforce is typically laid every few courses as the wall goes up, and always in the courses immediately above and below openings, extending past the opening on both sides so the load is carried into the surrounding brickwork. The exact spacing should follow the engineer’s or designer’s specification, but a common rule of thumb is every third or fourth course. It should be fully bedded in mortar so it bonds with the wall and stays protected.