Easy Do it Yourself: Brick Laying
The popularity of brick walls can be attributed to their strength and ability to protect others from the elements. A brick wall is also extremely versatile, and can be used as an exterior wall to your home, as a retaining wall for a front yard, or even as a decoration for your backyard patio. Thankfully, laying a brick is a fairly simple thing to do. All it takes is a few tools, some bricks and mortar, some water, and a patient hand.The first task to accomplish is to make sure the area for the bricks is level. This will allow the bricks to remain stable throughout the years. There should be no gradient in the slope, and the soil should be packed compactly. One of the most common choices is a hard packed soil as the base. . After the surface has been leveled, clearly mark out the area where your bricks will be. Dig out approximately six inches of the soil, and set it aside. Again, make sure the resulting surface is level by compacting it down again after the soil has been removed.After that, you are forced to construct a frame. This will help you position your bricks and therefore the wall correctly. Most people choose to use wooden 2×4 boards to build a basic framework along the perimeter of the brick structure.Now you are forced to pour some concrete to act as a base for your first bricks. Please realize that mortar and concrete are not the same; the concrete will be used to provide a level surface to build upon.
Once the concrete is hardened, you can remove the frame work and prepare to lay your first brick. You need to follow the directions with the mortar and mix it with the correct water porportions. Mortar will generally harden after 30 minutes, so only mix a small amount.
The next thing to do is to place a small amount of the mixture on the mortarboard. Then transfer it, with the trowel onto the bottom of the first brick. Place it where you want it, and tap the top of the brick with the trowel. The mortar will be pushed out from underneath the brick. The next brick should be positioned in much the same manner. Simply make sure the ends of the brick are covered with mortar as well. The mortar will act as a sealing agent between the bricks. Use the mortarboard and the trowel to make sure the bricks remain level and straight through the process. After you have completed laying the bricks, the trowel can be utilized to remove the left over mortar.This is the beginning of your very own brick structure. Then it’s only a matter of repeitition, and making sure each layer is a half a brick off from the one below it.
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