How to Lay Brick in Mortar
Bricks are a time-tested material that have been used for centuries to construct strong, resilient buildings and walls. These days, bricks are made from clay hardened by a kiln. About 65 percent of all the brick is used in constructing homes, and 35 percent is used in commercial, industrial and institutional construction. The first known use of bricks dates back 6,000 years when ancient civilizations used the sun to dry clay into bricks. Mortar, which is a mixture of cement, sand and water, is used to bond bricks in modern bricklaying. While bricklayers undergo specialized training to learn this ancient craft, you can build a brick wall at home on your own. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Determine how many bricks you will need to complete your project. Approximately seven standard bricks are needed to cover 1 square foot of space. If you are building a wall that is 15 feet long and 8 feet high, you must cover 120 square feet. This means that you need 840 bricks. You will need one bag of cement per 175 bricks.
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Wet the mortarboard so it doesn't absorb the water in the mortar. Pile enough mortar in the center of the mortarboard, leaving the outer edges clean. Putting too thin a layer of mortar on the board will cause the mortar to dry out quickly.
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Pick up enough mortar from the mortarboard using the trowel to cover three to five bricks at a time. Spread the mortar over the wall from left to right if you're right-handed, and in the opposite direction if left-handed. Cut overflowing mortar with the trowel to ensure that cement does not run down the face of your wall.
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Wet a brick and place it in the laid mortar. Clear any excess mortar from between the bricks using the pointed edge of the trowel.
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Tips & Warnings
Keep your mortarboard stocked with mortar so that it does not dry out.
When spreading mortar, your arm should be slightly bent and your fingers begin to loosen as the weight and pull of the trowel lightens.
References
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