New to bricklaying? Maybe you’re nervous about doing a good job on your first project. Below, we share tips to help you plan and execute your construction project with as few glitches as possible. These are tips you can apply in the design stage of your project or on the job site as you work.
Choose The Right Bricks for the Job
You won’t use the same type of bricks for all your construction projects. Understand which bricks you’ll need for every job. For example, you’ll need:
- Engineering bricks for foundations, groundworks, and below-ground level works. They differ from other bricks in that their compressive strength is higher, and their water absorption rate is lower.
- Facing bricks for the building facade. As the ‘face’ of the building, they have better aesthetics than other types of bricks. They also come in various colours and textures.
- Common bricks for internal walls.
- Specialty bricks for corners, archways, canopies, chimney stacks, and other abstract building features. They go by many names, including special-shaped bricks, brick specials, special bricks, profile shape bricks and custom bricks.
Special bricks come in many sizes and shapes. They can be arched, angled or styled in distinct, aesthetic shapes. Many UK brick brands—like Wienerberger, Ibstock and ET Clay Products—have a selection of custom-sized specialty bricks.
Choose The Right Brick Sizes
Brick size determines the design of the house. Changing the brick size often means redesigning the structure to accommodate the new brick sizes. Knowing the right brick dimensions ensures that you don’t keep cutting your bricks to resize them.
When you resize the bricks, you may also need to use a mortar profile different from the one initially planned, and you may find it more difficult to lay them. All these increase the likelihood of making mistakes, and the final look may not be as neat as you’d like.
Create a System of Operating
We all have a unique way of tackling work. It’s no different on the construction site. Creating a working system allows you to track your progress and ensures you follow the correct processes. Such a system is almost always foolproof and will:
- Ensure smooth workflow
- Alert you when you skip a step
- Improve efficiency at the site
- Show you what’s working
- Show you where changes are needed
- Ensure you get consistent results
What works for others may not suit you, and you can refine the system until it serves you well. Once you’ve mastered the system, you’ll find that things run more smoothly, and you may start to spend less time on tasks.
Plan Your Work Properly
Outline what needs to be done and how you’ll do it. If you’re working alone, keep a checklist or write important notes on a board and refer to it as often as needed so you don’t miss anything.
If you have a second or third pair of hands to help you, plan what each person will be doing and clearly understand each person’s responsibility. Go through the plan together and confer with each other every step of the way so you’re all on the same page at all times.
Line Up Your Materials Beforehand
Get every tool and material you need for the job and keep it close by. The point is to minimise time running up and down trying to locate what you need. Arrange your materials so that you can easily pick out what you need, and as you do so, take safety precautions to avert accidents. Sorting materials lets you know what’s missing, what needs replenishing and what tools should be repaired or replaced.
Final Thoughts
Many of these tips may seem hard to implement for someone just getting started on DIY brickwork. But experienced brickies will tell you these steps can make all the difference in your work. As you gain experience and become an expert, you’ll find them easy to follow. You may even tweak each step to suit your work process.
FAQs
- Does size matter when working with bricks?
Brick size is an important aspect of brickwork. The size of bricks impacts a building’s structural integrity, load-bearing capacity, stability, and durability. The size also determines how the brick is laid.
- Should I consider mortar joints when considering brick dimensions?
The size of mortar joints directly affects brick dimensions, so you should always consider it when planning your house design. The standard mortar joint size is 10 mm. If you maintain this size, the units of laid bricks will be uniform, but variations in the mortar joint thickness will change this.
- Is there a standard brick size?
Brick sizes vary from country to country. The UK’s standard brick size is 225 x 112.5 x 75 mm. These values include a 10 mm mortar joint allowance, which you should always consider when designing your structure.