Quoin

Quoins are large rectangular blocks of masonry or brick that are built into the corners of a wall. They can be used as a load-bearing feature to provide strength and weather protection, but also for aesthetic purposes to add detail and accentuate the outside corners of a building.

It is usual for quoins to be arranged in a toothed form, with alternate quoins projecting and receding from the corner. Where quoins are used purely for decorative reasons, a wide range of materials can be used such as timber, cement render, and stucco. They are often coloured to compliment the brickwork or render of the building.

There are a number of different types of quoin:

• Return quoin: The standard type, is built into wall corners with one long side over one short side.
• Reveal quoin: Built into the wall as a standard block, commonly used for door and window reveals.
• Chamfered quoin: This quoin has a chamfered edge on the top, bottom and outside edges for aesthetic purposes. This can also be incorporated on reveal, return or cladding-type quoins.
• Cladding quoin: This quoin is fixed onto the wall using a two-part resin after the corner has been finished. It is usually 50 mm thick. If the wall is to be rendered, the quoins are fixed first and then the render brought up to the chamfer.

[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings

• Ashlar.
• Brick.
• Brick veneer.
• Blockwork.
• Ceramics.
• Cladding for buildings.
• Mortar.
• Natural stone cladding.
• Pebbledash.
• Rendering.
• Rustication.
• Stone dressing.
• Types of brick.
• Types of brick bonding.
• Wall types.