Here in Oklahoma we had the largest earthquake in our recorded history last week. Compared to California it didn't amount to much, but there was some damage. On some homes the brick facing came down. It took me a while to realize that when I saw pictures of those homes I didn't see any signs of brick straps to hold the brick up. Am I just missing them, or have they quit using brick straps? I never even thought about it before, but in the back of my mind I have just always understood that brick straps would always be used with brick facing.
If anybody doesn't know what I am talking about brick straps are metal straps that are fastened to the structure of a house at one end. The other end is mortared in between the bricks to keep the bricks against the wall.
Bill