Emergence, development, and prevalence of brick nogging in American vernacular architecture

Abstract

Despite being considered one of many seventeenth century American wall insulation systems, brick nogging emerges as a prevalent construction type throughout all of original colonies. Used in both framed and hewn-log structural systems, brick nogging is most typically found beneath clapboard siding. Because clapboard ultimately becomes a style in its own right, the presence of brick nogging beneath such clapboards becomes an unexpected complication for modern preservation and intervention efforts. The technique of placing fired and unfired bricks mortar, clayed, and dry laid, although poorly documented extends well into the nineteenth century increasing the anticipated weight of the structure by ten percent. Similarly, the presence of brick nogging substantially changes the structure’s wall stiffness. Identifying clapboard covered, brick nogging structures is not straightforward as their emergence was influenced by historical, fiscal and social factors in addition to engineering considerations.