How to Install a Gable End Brick Frieze

Measure the length of both gable soffits using a tape measure. Transfer the measurements to an exterior-grade two-by-four board and place a pencil mark at the appropriate spots using a carpenter's square as a straight edge. Mark the brick frieze at the same length.

Cut the exterior-grade wood boards and brick frieze along the pencil marks using a circular saw.

Measure the distance from the building's siding to the exterior side of the brick. Transfer this measurement to the bottom of the soffit at each gable corner, placing a pencil mark at the appropriate spots on the soffit.

Hold the 4-inch side of one of the exterior-grade wood boards against the soffit. Align the outside edge of the wood board on the soffit's pencil marks. Secure the wood board to the soffit with 3-inch galvanized roofing nails, using a hammer to drive a nail into each soffit support board. Repeat this on the gable's other soffit using the second exterior-grade wood board.

Run the brick up to the bottom of frieze brace (the exterior-grade wood board covering the bottom of the gable's soffit) if applicable. Some brick layers prefer to custom-cut the brick at the gable soffit, creating a tight-fitting seam against the bottom of the frieze brace. Other brick layers prefer to finish the brick wall with the brick frieze already mounted to the frieze braces using the brick frieze as a finishing guide.

Hold the brick frieze against the frieze brace, keeping the brick frieze's finished surface facing away from the gable wall. Test fit the brick frieze against the gable's soffit, and trim the frieze, as needed, with a hand saw.

Secure the brick frieze to the frieze brace. If using foam-style brick frieze, apply a bead of foam adhesive to the frieze brace, and press the brick frieze against the adhesive. Tack the foam-style brick frieze to the frieze brace with 2-1/2-inch finish nails using a hammer to drive the nails every 18 to 24 inches. If using wooden brick frieze, drive 2-1/2-inch finish nails every 18 to 24 inches along the brick frieze.

Fill each seam along the brick frieze with an exterior-grade caulk, paying special attention to the areas where the brick frieze meets the brick wall's mortar joints. Clean the excess caulk from the brick wall, soffit and brick frieze with a rag.