Question 1

What are bullnose bricks typically used for?

Accepted Answer

Bullnose bricks are mainly used to make the edges of brickwork smooth and rounded. You'll often see them:

On top of walls: To give a neat, often nicer-looking edge that can also help keep the rain out a bit – like on garden walls.
On the front of steps: To make the edge less sharp and feel better underfoot, both inside and in the garden.
Around windows and corners: To make the sharp edges softer and give a more finished look to buildings.
For decoration: To add a bit of a curve and a more traditional feel to brickwork in different building and garden projects.

Question 2

What is the difference between bullnose and cownose bricks?

Accepted Answer

In brickwork, bullnose and cownose bricks both offer rounded edges, but differ in the number of softened edges per brick. Bullnose bricks often feature a single rounded corner or edge along their length, commonly used for softening reveals, wall ends, and step edges. Cownose bricks (also known as double bullnose bricks), however, have two opposing corners or edges rounded, typically on the shorter ends, often used for fully rounded ends to brick courses or decorative headers. The choice depends on the specific rounded profile needed for the brickwork detail.

Bullnose bricks

Wienerberger Engineering Brick Double Bullnose Smooth Blue BN2.2

Wienerberger Engineering Brick Single Bullnose Smooth Blue BN1.2