Dentil Courses in Practice: Setting Out, Cutting, and Common Mistakes
A dentil course looks simple but setting one out incorrectly means a jarring visual break where the pattern does not resolve at the end of the wall.
Dentil brickwork is one of the most requested decorative features on garden walls and boundary walls across Kent. The principle is straightforward: project every other brick from the wall face to create a repeating shadow pattern. The execution is where care is needed.
Setting Out
The critical step is setting out the pattern dry (without mortar) along the full length of the wall before any dentil bricks are laid. The pattern must resolve cleanly at both ends of the wall and at any pier positions. If the wall length does not divide evenly into the dentil pattern, you need to adjust the starting point or the joint widths slightly so the pattern terminates symmetrically. Starting from the centre of the wall and working outward gives the best result.
Types of Projection
- Straight projection: The simplest form. Every other header is pushed forward by 15 to 20mm. The brick remains in its normal orientation.
- Angled (sawtooth): Bricks are rotated 45 degrees. This requires more cutting and produces a more dramatic pattern. See our full decorative brickwork guide.
Common Mistakes
The most frequent error is incomplete bedding. A projecting brick must be fully bedded in mortar on all contact faces; a half-bedded dentil relies on adhesion rather than mass, and frost will eventually dislodge it. The second common mistake is inconsistent projection; every projecting brick must come out the same distance, which means checking each one with a gauge stick rather than eyeballing.
View our bricklaying services or browse our gallery for examples of dentil work we have completed.