How to Make an Exposed Brick Wall

An exposed brick wall adds natural appeal to the landscape.

An exposed brick wall adds natural charm to the space and serves as an architectural statement. Instead of plastering and painting the wall, leave the bricks and cement as they are to add rustic charm to the space. A simple wall that is two bricks, or wythes, thick is aesthetically pleasing and easy to construct. Once the concrete cures, leave the exposed wall as it is or train climbing plants to grow over it.

Things You'll Need

• Powdered chalk
• Stakes
• Shovel
• Tamper
• Concrete
• Wheelbarrow or bucket
• Hand trowel
• Bricks, 8 1/2-by 4 1/2-by-2 1/2 inches
• 3/8-inch dowels
• Mortar
• Level
• Chisel
• Hammer

Instructions

1. Spread two parallel lines of powdered chalk over the ground to demarcate the area where you want to install the wall. Space the lines a few inches wider than two wythes of bricks, or two continuous vertical sections two units thick. Push stakes at the corners of the chalk marks to serve as a height guide.

2. Excavate the ground between the parallel chalk marks to a depth of 15 inches. Tamp the soil at the base to level it and provide a secure footing for the brick work.

3. Mix water to concrete in a wheelbarrow or bucket following to label directions. Add it into the trench and smooth its top with a trowel. Leave the concrete to dry for 3 days.

4. Dry fit a row of bricks over the cured or dried foundation to select the most aesthetic arrangement. Insert 3/8-inch dowels between adjacent bricks to represent joints. Mark the locations of the joints on the foundation. Also, determine the arrangement of bricks at the corners. Depending on personal preference, break a brick into two, or move one wall 2 inches to a side. Remove the bricks and set them aside.

5. Spread mortar on the concrete footing for three bricks at a corner of the wall. Lay the first brick over the corner and tamp it lightly with a rubber mallet. Apply mortar to the side of the second brick before pushing it flush against the side of the first. Check that the joints between the bricks are at the pencil marks. Also, check that the bricks are even using a level.

6. Scrape away excess mortar and continue to lay bricks until the end of the footing to form the first course. Lay bricks in the second wythe, or the adjacent row, so your brick wall is 5 inches thick.

7. Apply mortar for three bricks over the two wythes of bricks along the first row and repeat the process of laying bricks for the second course. To create a staggered arrangement, place the bricks over the joints of the two bricks below. If cutting a brick to the desired size, position a chisel over it and pound it with a hammer.

8. Lay a header over the top of the wall -- a course of bricks with their longest dimensions perpendicular to the front of the wall -- to secure the two wythes together. Scrape excess mortar from the face and sides of the wall and remove the height stakes from the corners.

Tips & Warnings

• Before you begin, check the local building codes to determine whether you can create a brick wall without permits. Most municipalities allow brick walls of up to 3 feet without permits.

References

• Quikrete: Basic Brick Construction: Walls, Corners, Pillars & Edging
• Extreme How-To: Build a Brick Garden Wall
• Cemix: Build a Retaining Wall