Quick and Easy Guide to laying bricks

Below you will find a quick and Easy, step by step Guide, to laying bricks. Whether it is a brick house or a brick fireplace you are considering, the guide below will give you all the building brick related answers you may need.

Step 1: How to store brick

The storage area for the brick must be protected from the elements, in particular, the rain. Adequate shelter must be provided and building brick must be elevated from floor level. This prevents dampness from getting into the brick.

Step 2: What kind of mortar do I need?

There are many types of mortar available, however, it is important to select Mortar suitable for facing brick or full bricks. At Likestone, we have a full range of brick mortars available, at competitive prices, in colours grey and off white. Coloured pigments are also available if you desire a colour alternative to grey or off white.

Step 3: Produce a sample wall using selected bricks

Brick sizes may vary, particularly when using natural clay bricks, therefore it is advisable to build a sample wall. The definition of levels, thickness of joints, number of brick courses and design of the alignment must take place after adequate sampling of the products.

NOTE: The declared dimensions are ‘nominal’ sizes.

Step 4: Check the colour of mortar and bricks

It is advisable, particularly when on larger scale builds, such as building a brick house, to always check the colour of the mortar and the bricks. This can be done during the sampling phase to ensure the finished product is what you were envisioning with your brick.

Step 5: How to reduce the risk of damp.

The irish climate can prove quite challenging, particularly in the construction industry. Therefore, it is imperative to provide an adequate damp proof course in your brick house.

Step 6: Mixing the brick

Building brick in large quantities may have a variety of shading and tones throughout. With this in mind, it is advisable to select brick from at least 3 different pallets when building, to ensure the brick is mixed evenly though the brick wall.

Step 7: Wetting bricks

Building brick is naturally a porous product which means that wetting them before laying them is strongly advised. Wetted bricks are stronger than dry bricks. Also, if wetted adequately, you can avoid ‘burning’ the mortar.

Step 8: Provide adequate ventilation

Ventilation is a strong consideration, particularly with brick houses and living spaces. It is advisable to provide ventilation holes at the base and top of the brickwork and ensure that the flow of air between the facing bricks and the load bearing wall (cavity wall ties) is not obstructed by mortar.

Step 9: Protecting the new brick wall

During the building phase, the new brick wall needs to be protected from the elements, in particular, the rain and cold. If the temperature reduces to 0 degrees Celsius or below, brick laying must be suspended.

Step 10: Washing the finished brick wall

At the end of the works and only after the ‘curing’ of the binder, make sure to completely wash the dry wall with an acid solution. Ensure that waterproofing products are not used.

NOTE:

Battens, angles and special parts should be ordered together with the bricks.