Technique

 

 

bim method
 
 

The moulds are produced for many different types of brick bond. Brick bonds are the way that bricks are laid to create an interlocking wall. The earliest buildings were built with English bond, where alternate rows are laid along the wall (stretchers) or across the wall (headers). In the 18th century, Flemish bond was introduced, where the bricks are laid with alternate headers and stretchers in each row. Modern buildings with cavity walls have all the bricks laid as stretchers (Stretcher bond). Other moulds can be used for brick floors (bricks laid flat), herringbone infill between timber framing (brick nogging), floor tiles, tudor bricks, stone walls, roof slates, roof tiles, cobble stones and paving stones.

 

 

The DAS is rolled out into a flat sheet (like pastry) and then glued onto the wall using PVA glue. The mould is then pressed into the DAS to create the brick pattern. The pattern is repeated across the wall, butting the mould up to the previous imprint. When the wall has been covered the surface is stippled using an old toothbrush to give texture to the brick surface.

 

 

When the DAS has dried completely, the wall or floor is painted with acrylic paints, using variations of the basic  colour. The colours may look a bit bright at this stage. When the paint has dried, a thin grey-brown wash is applied over the wall to weather the bricks or stones and provide the mortar colour (where the paint settles into the mortar grooves).  A similar wash is applied to roof slates and tiles to weather the roof.

 

 

Click on the links below to preview the instructions for using brick, stone, etc moulds:

 

Brick mould instructions

Stone mould instructions

Roof mould instructions

Paving mould instructions