Sunday 20 January 2013

Bricklaying Basics

Even though I spent numerous years bricklaying, I will most likely discover it strange to write about it, rather of really performing it. It is stated that patience is a virtue, and I should say that a fair quantity of It really is necessary although you lay bricks for the very first time. Don't forget that accuracy is vital, specially with your initial course. Make positive that your concrete foundation has hardened, and that It really is level. Do not attempt to do factors rapidly at the starting. This will come with practice--you in all probability will not notice it, but in time issues will slot into location, and you are going to be laying the bricks at a quicker pace.

You'll require a bricklayer's trowel, bolster chisel, club hammer, spirit level, 1 metre lengthy preferably, little spirit level, builder's line and pins, builder's square (Keep in mind three:four:five) for any correct-angled corners, gauge rod, mortar board, and a pointing trowel.

For the mortar, use sand to cement in a measure of three:one particular.You can use plasticiser, which tends to make the mortar less complicated to use--comply with the directions. Don't be tempted to skimp on the cement. Don't enable the mix to turn into sloppy--use just adequate water in it so that the bricks can be pressed down on to it with no spilling out and producing a mess of the brick face. Cut off a slice of mortar with the edge of the trowel, slide the trowel underneath it--it will need to just about cover the trowel blade. A bit of practice is absolutely required for this. Hold the trowel above the brickwork; turn it halfway, Although pulling it sharply backwards. The mortar must the slide effortlessly on to the bricks. You have to be able to cover two or three bricks at a time. You'll notice that the bricks have a recess on one particular side--this is the leading side. Press the brick into the mortar. Use your tiny spirit level to check the very first handful of bricks, each vertically and horizontally. Lift a little quantity of mortar and scrape it on to the end of the brick, prepared to make a bond with the subsequent 1. Immediately after a Despite the fact that, you are going to get so utilised to it that you will be able to slap the mortar on to the brick. Take one more brick, and push it towards the end of the very first a single to form what is referred to as the joint amongst them. Scrape any excess mortar off the sides.

Lay four bricks, then use the lengthy spirit level to check them horizontally--if they are uneven, tap them lightly with the trowel deal with. For the second course, you'll will need to start with a half brick, so that you'll have a half bond wall. You cut a brick utilizing the bolster chisel--mark it nicely on each side, then give it a sharp tap. It is advisable to do this with the brick sitting on a shallow bed of sand, so that it will not shatter in the incorrect location. If you've a proper-angled corner at an end, you will not must cut a brick. The brick in the second course faces yet another way from the one particular beneath. As the end of the brick is half the size of the length, this creates you half bond. As you go greater, you can retain the horizontal joints, or beds, to a continual size by applying your gauge rod. A single of them is effortlessly created by marking a length of timber with the brick height plus the thickness of the bed. When you have set up a handful of courses at one particular end of the wall, carry out the very same process at the other end. Insert a builder's pin into a joint at each ends, with the line operating among them, making certain that It is tight. If you stick to this as you lay the bricks, the wall will need to be straight, and level.

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