Bricklaying Tips & Tricks
Here are some basic bricklaying tips to help you. The guidlines below are a brief outline of the tools and steps used in general bricklaying.
If you are new to the field of bricklaying you can expect to work with many of the following tools:
- Bricklaying trowel
- Gauging trowel
- Bolster
- Mason's hammer
- Hammer
- Jointer
- Mortar box
The materials you'll work with on a bricklaying job may include:
Other accessories will be required:- Plasticizer
- Wheel Barrow
- Wall ties
- Hoe
- Sand
- Cement
Choosing the Right Mortar Mix
Cement is the primary ingredient in concrete and mortar mixes. Other ingredients include hydrated lime, sand, and gravel; some mortar mixes eliminate the need to add lime. The mix you need will depend on the type of brickwork you are doing and the strength of mortar required.
Method for Mixes
- Concrete. 1 unit of cement; 2 units of sand; 3 units of gravel.
- Strong Mortar (most durable). 1 unit of cement; 4 units of sand; ¼ of 1 unit of hydrated lime.
- Moderately Strong Mortar. 1 unit of cement; 5 units of sand; 1 unit of hydrated lime.
- Weak Mortar (suitable for calcium silicate bricks). 1 unit of cement; 8 units of sand; 2 units of hydrated lime.
Using Wall Ties
Cement is the primary ingredient in concrete and mortar mixes. Other ingredients include hydrated lime, sand, and gravel; some mortar mixes eliminate the need to add lime. The mix you need will depend on the type of brickwork you are doing and the strength of mortar required.
Replacing Damaged Bricks
Cement is the primary ingredient in concrete and mortar mixes. Other ingredients include hydrated lime, sand, and gravel; some mortar mixes eliminate the need to add lime. The mix you need will depend on the type of brickwork you are doing and the strength of mortar required.
Repointing Brickwork
Safety is paramount when doing repointing work. Always rent a scaffold; do not attempt to do this work from a ladder. It is advisable not to use a chisel to remove old mortar, as the vibration can cause the bricks to loosen. Instead, use a small angle grinder (4.5 to 5 inches) with a diamond-tipped raking blade, or a mortar rake attachment and dust guiding plate.
For more practical information look at our bricklaying courses.
