half-bat
A bat (brick with one whole end) that is exactly half the length of the original brick.
half-bat: a brick cut lengthwise to bond walls properly
A half-bat is a brick cut along its length so that one end remains whole and uncut while the other end is severed. The result is a unit exactly half the length of a standard brick, typically around 100 to 110 mm long for a brick nominally 215 mm in length. The uncut end preserves the original face and header dimensions, making the piece suitable for finishing courses and closing gaps in bond patterns.
Half-bats solve a fundamental problem in brickwork: when a bond pattern (such as Flemish or English bond) reaches an edge or corner, the running dimensions rarely align perfectly with whole bricks. A full-length brick leaves a gap; a three-quarter bat wastes material. The half-bat fills the space without creating weak planes of cleavage, because its whole end can be laid face-outward, presenting a solid header to the adjacent course.
Production and Variants
Half-bats are cut from standard bricks using a brick hammer, bolster, or circular saw with a masonry blade. Hand-cut bats will show an irregular fracture on the cut end and are quicker to produce on site. Factory-cut half-bats are made for high-volume work and arrive with a clean parallel cut. The cut is typically made perpendicular to the longest dimension, leaving two equal pieces, though waste is unavoidable. Some manufacturers also produce three-quarter bats and quarter bats for other bonding scenarios.
The term half-bat distinguishes this piece from a bat, which refers to any brick that is not full-length, including broken or irregular pieces salvaged from demolition. In older texts, "bat" sometimes appears unqualified; context determines whether it means any shortened brick or specifically a whole-ended one.
Half-bats are essential for closing the vertical course at external corners and for completing patterns where the last brick in a row would otherwise fall short. They are also used in paving and landscaping work where decorative bonds require tight geometric control. Cost and labour time make them worthwhile only on jobs of significant scale; small repairs are typically patched with mortar or full bricks cut on site.