How to Lay Bricks in Wet Mortar

Make a firm, secure paving by placing wet-mortared bricks directly over a concrete slab. Start early enough in the day so that you can wet the bricks and allow them to sit for several hours. Wetting them prevents the bricks from absorbing too much of the mortar's liquid. Use a 1-to-4 cement and sand mixture.

Difficulty:

Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Mortar mix
• Screed
• Wooden spacer
• Mason's line
• Leveler
• Trowel
• Concave jointer
• Burlap sack
• Trisodium phosphate
• Laundry detergent

1. Prepare the mortar bed. Lay a ½-inch thick wet mortar bed between edgings against the concrete slab.

2. Mix just enough mortar to last for one hour. Screed only 10-square feet of bricks at one time.

3. Place the bricks in the chosen design. Use a wooden spacer to leave ½-inch openings in between the bricks.

4. Tap each brick lightly to embed it. Use the mason's line and leveler to align the bricks.

5. Use the trowel to take some of the mortar and pack it into each opening between the bricks. Quickly scrape off any mortar that spills over onto the top surface of the bricks.

6. Apply the concave jointer to tool the joints. Allow the wet-mortared bricks to set for at least four hours.

7. Finish the project by scrubbing the paving. Use the burlap sack to dust the entire surface of the bricks briskly to remove any dislodged, dried mortar crumbs. Mix ½-cup of the trisodium phosphate and laundry detergent solution with one gallon of water and apply to the surface. Rinse well and allow time to dry.