A wythe represents a single vertical layer of brick, block, or stone within a composite wall. Structural walls often consist of multiple wythes tied together with metal anchors or overlapping masonry bonds to increase strength and block moisture. In cavity wall construction, an inner structural wythe is separated from an outer veneer wythe by an airspace.
We need to install the wall ties every sixteen inches to anchor the outer brick wythe to the blockwork.
A common mistake is failing to keep the cavity clean between wythes; mortar droppings can bridge the gap and allow water to cross into the interior.
Related terms
Cavity wall
A wall formed by two separate layers of masonry with an air space between them.
Stretcher bond
A masonry pattern where bricks are laid lengthwise with vertical joints offset by half a brick in each successive course.
Course
A single continuous horizontal layer of bricks, blocks, or stone in a wall.