Know the correct method of brickwork

Strength of brick masonry depends upon the quality of mortar used and workmanship. Therefore it is important to maintain the quality of the materials as well as adopt the correct method of brickwork. Here we have listed all the factors of workmanship which should be observed during brickwork.

1. The bricks to be used should comply with the requirements of the specification of the work. Read Buying tips for Bricks
2. The bricks before use in masonry should be soaked in water for atleast one hour. Otherwise they may absorb water from the mortar affecting the strength of the mortar. It is preferable if bricks are kept immersed for 2 hrs.
3. Broken bricks should not be used unless they are essential from good bond point of view.
4. The brickwork should be carried out in proper bond. No continuous vertical joint should be allowed to develop anywhere.
5. The mortar to be used should be as per laid specification.
6. The bricks should be laid on their beds. The mortar should completely cover the bed. The frog of the brick should be kept upwards.
7. Thickness of joint should not be more than 13mm in any case.
8. As far as possible brickwork should be raised uniformly. No part of the masonry should be allowed to be raised more than 90cm to the rest of the masonry work.
9. If masonry work is to be constructed later on, in continuation with masonry work being done, the work should be raked back in successive courses.
10. The walls should be raised truly vertical. Verticality of the walls should be continuously checked during construction, with the help of plumb rule and plumb bob.
11. Large void spaces in the masonry should not be filled with mortar only. It will be uneconomical and also will weaken the masonry.
12. All the iron fixtures of doors and windows should be embedded in cement mortar only.
13. All the finished masonry walls should be cured for atleast a week.
14. In order to facilitate easy and adequate bond for plastering, the facing mortar joints should be raked for a depth varying 13mm to 19mm when the mortar in the joints is still green.
15. When any new masonry wall is to be joined to an old wall at right angles, bricks of alternate courses of new wall should be penetrated into the old wall by atleast 1/4th of the brick.
16. Wall masonry should not be allowed to be raised by more than 1m in one day on any particular wall.