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Recommended Tools for Laying Brick
Jointer 1/2" x 5 / 8"
Brick Trowel 10"
Brick Hammer
Pointing Trowel
1 pr. Line Blocks
Nylon Line
4 ft. Level |
Planning Your Brick Wall
If you are planning on building a wall higher than 2 feet, it is necessary to lay a concrete footing in the ground below the frost line. Walls shorter than 2' only require a compact earth base. Consider the brick pattern you will use. Different brick laying patterns can create decorative walls.
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Laying the First Bricks
Once the concrete footing has set and dried, mark a straight line with chalk to indicate the base of your wall. Lay a "dry run" of bricks (no mortar) along the line, leaving 3/8" between each brick. Mark the space between the bricks with a pencil or marker and remove the bricks. (FIG. #1)
Remember, bricks are always laid from the outside ends toward the middle. To begin your bottom row, use your trowel to apply some mortar to the foundation at one end of your wall, just enough t o apply the first 3 bricks. The mortar strip should be approximately 3/4" thick and 1 brick wide. Lay the first brick as you did on your dry run. Excess mortar will squeeze out on the sides. This will insure a strong bond between the brick and the foundation. Use your level at all times to insure against any sloping. If not level, tap the higher end of the brick with the handle of your trowel until level. The brick can also be tapped sideways to insure that you are following the same straight line you started with. You cannot pull a brick and reset it right away. You must wash off any previous mortar before applying a fresh amount.
Scrape an ample amount of mortar onto one end of the next brick to be laid. Place it firmly against the last laid brick, keeping your wall line straight. (FIG. #2) Repeat leveling and aligning procedures. After the third brick is laid, repeat this procedure for the first three bricks at the other end of the wall. Using the line blocks, stretch a taught line from one end of the wall to the other to insure that each layer or “course” of bricks is laid straight to the line. |
Building a Lead
The ends of a brick wall are always built up first. Keep in mind the pattern you are laying. This will determine the size bricks to be laid as build your brick ends or "leads”. If your next course requires a half-brick to lead, you will need your brick hammer to break a brick in half. Begin by scoring a line on all four sides of the brick by tapping lightly with the chisel end of the hammer. Then, tap the brick next to the score line with the other end of the hammer until it splits. (FIG.#3.) If your leading brick is at a 90 degree corner, you can lay a whole brick perpendicular to the wall you are presently laying. (FIG.#4.)
As you did on your first row, you will need to apply some mortar to the top layer of bricks, only this time it will be a half brick shorter. Place the end brick first and repeat the applying, leveling and aligning procedures as you did in the first row. These steps are continually necessary to insure an even wall. Build the leading ends to the height of five bricks, keeping each course shorter in length than the previous one. Any clean excess mortar can be scraped off and reused. If your plans require a lot of brickwork; investment in a set of masonry guides should be considered. This device eliminates the need to build leads and increases the rate of production. |
Laying the Middle Bricks
To make sure you lay the middle bricks on a level, straight course, you will want to rig your line blocks with mason line for each course. Make sure the line is taught and level. For each new course, you will want to raise your line. (FIG. #5)
As you did when you laid the previous bricks, spread a ¾” thick bed of mortar where the remaining bricks will be laid. Remember to work from the outside ends toward the middle. Following the same previous procedures, apply 1/2" mortar to the brick to be laid and press the brick firmly against the end brick. The middle and last brick to be laid in each course should fit properly if the other bricks have been spaced evenly according to the pattern you are laying. If the space is too small for a full brick, size and cut the brick to fit. Apply mortar to both ends of the brick and push it firmly into place. All clean excess mortar can be scraped off and. reused. Be sure to raise the line block with each new course. |
Jointing
Jointing the mortar between each course is necessary to strengthen and waterproof the wall. Normally this procedure is done after all the courses have been laid. However, in very hot weather, it may be necessary to mark the joint after every three or four courses. Using the jointer, begin at one end of the wall and run it along the joint to the other end of the wall. Scrape off any excess mortar. (FIG.#6) |
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