Tips for construction of brick masonry buildings or structures are:
- The strong bricks which are sound, hard, well burnt and tough with uniform colour shape and size.
- The bricks should be compact, homogeneous, cracks, flaws, air-bubbles and stone lumps.
- The bricks should be properly soaked in water for at least two hours before use.
- Bricks should be laid on their beds with the frogs pointing upwards.
- The brick courses should be laid truly horizontal and should have truly horizontal vertical joints.
- Use of brick-bats should be discouraged.
- As far a possible the brick walls should be raised uniformly with proper bond.
- Height of brick masonry construction in a day should be less than 1.5m. The maximum difference in rise of the wall between the different portions should not be more than one meter.
- When the mortar is green, the face joints should be raked to a depth of 12 to 19mm in order to have a proper key for plastering or pointing. The mortar joints should be stuck flush and finished if no plastering or pointing is to be done.
- Ensure continuous bond between the old and the new, the walls should be stopped with a toothed end.
- Finished brickwork in lime mortar should be cured for a period of 2 to 3 weeks. This period can be reduced to 1 to 2 weeks in case of brickwork with cement mortar.
Wow, I had no idea there was such a particular process when it comes to laying brick. My wife and I are looking at buying a home that will need some masonry services, this is very insightful in what we have to look forward to. What is the purpose behind soaking the bricks for hours before using them?