A masonry unit created by cutting a standard brick directly across its middle, leaving one original factory end and one rough cut end. It is used to maintain the bond pattern at corners, openings, or the end of a wall without leaving empty gaps. Masons often cut these on site using a trowel or a masonry saw.
Heard on the job
Toss me a half-bat to finish out this row before we turn the corner.
Insider tip
A clean cut makes a half-bat useful for exposed faces, while a rough break is usually hidden inside the wall.