Diapering in Construction
Diaperwork or diapered flint by Kolforn under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license |
Diapering in construction also called diaperwork refers the decorative treatment of a surface or facade with a repeating pattern of squares or chequers or rectangles. The terms stems from the latin 'dia' meaning across, describing the diagonal perpenicular lines creating diamond patterns.
It origins lie in Medieval times, often combining a flint stone wall with brick infill creating the repetitive pattern, an later with differing shades or materials of brick. It was a technique often used in Gothic and Tudor architecture often seen on churches, castles, and some houses to denote status and craftsmanship.
Diapering and the resulting geometric patterns can improve the visual interest of a facade, giving more depth and breaking the monotony of plain brick or flint surfaces surfaces and thus aesthetic value. It has also been used to create specific patterns or motifs that might represent the owner of the building such as guilds, religions, families or clans.
The technique to some extent can contribute to the structural integrity of a wall, with the interlocking patterns acting as structural ribs, distributing loads more evenly and potentially improving environmental resistance. Diapering might still be used today, often on brick facades likewise to add interest to plain brick surfaces. The employment of diapering today may be executed traditionally on site by a skilled brick layers or flinters (a flint worker) often on traditional buildings or off-site in the pre-production of modular building elements, brought to site and installed separately.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
- Airbrick.
- Aircrete blocks.
- Basic brickwork replacement.
- Blockwork.
- Bricklayer.
- Brick bats and closures.
- Brick burr.
- Brick sizes.
- Brick strip foundation.
- Brick veneer.
- Bungaroush.
- Cavity wall.
- Chalk aquifer.
- Clay.
- Clunch.
- Damp-proof course.
- Defects in brickwork.
- Dismantling of bricks for reuse.
- Efflorescence.
- Frog.
- Frost attack.
- Federation of Master Builders.
- How to lay bricks.
- Knapping.
- Limestone for building.
- Master mason.
- Masonry.
- Mortar.
- Pointing.
- Spalling.
- Specifying brick.
- Swift brick.
- The influence of geology on English brickmaking,
- Testing bricks.
- Treating brickwork with sealant or water repellent.
- Types of brick arches.
- Types of brick bonding.
- Types of bricks.
- Types of stone.
- Which way up should you lay a brick?
- Wall tie failure.
Featured articles and news
Combating burnout.
The 5 elements of seiri, seiton, seiso, seiketsu and shitsuke.
Shading for housing, a design guide
A look back at embedding a new culture of shading.
The Architectural Technology Awards
The AT Awards 2025 are open for entries!
ECA Blueprint for Electrification
The 'mosaic of interconnected challenges' and how to deliver the UK’s Transition to Clean Power.
Grenfell Tower Principal Contractor Award notice
Tower repair and maintenance contractor announced as demolition contractor.
Passivhaus social homes benefit from heat pump service
Sixteen new homes designed and built to achieve Passivhaus constructed in Dumfries & Galloway.
CABE Publishes Results of 2025 Building Control Survey
Concern over lack of understanding of how roles have changed since the introduction of the BSA 2022.
British Architectural Sculpture 1851-1951
A rich heritage of decorative and figurative sculpture. Book review.
A programme to tackle the lack of diversity.
Independent Building Control review panel
Five members of the newly established, Grenfell Tower Inquiry recommended, panel appointed.
Welsh Recharging Electrical Skills Charter progresses
ECA progressing on the ‘asks’ of the Recharging Electrical Skills Charter at the Senedd in Wales.
A brief history from 1890s to 2020s.
CIOB and CORBON combine forces
To elevate professional standards in Nigeria’s construction industry.
Amendment to the GB Energy Bill welcomed by ECA
Move prevents nationally-owned energy company from investing in solar panels produced by modern slavery.
Gregor Harvie argues that AI is state-sanctioned theft of IP.
Experimental AI housing target help for councils
Experimental AI could help councils meet housing targets by digitising records.