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The first quality you need for bricklaying is patience. The second quality is the ability to cope with hard work. If these qualities are in place, the third essential is practice.
If this is your first attempt at bricklaying, start with a simple job like a low garden wall.

GETTING STARTED

Make a careful estimate of the number of bricks required. Underestimating could mean delays or finishing up with bricks that vary slightly in color and don't match. Overestimating will mean unnecessary cost. However, you might want to allow an extra 10% for wastage.

Stack your bricks as close to the place where you are working as possible.

Always keep your stored bricks and any completed uncapped brickwork protected from bad weather.

Lay a row of dry bricks first to see that they fit in the designated space. Remember to allow for the joints.

Do not lay bricks when the temperature is at or below 4C, or when low temperatures look to dip even lower.

THOUGHTS ON MORTAR

If you are not buying ready-mixed bags of mortar, a rough guide to mixing mortar is half a 25kg bag of cement to 30 shovels of sand. Add water until the mix has a buttery consistency.

The right consistency is essential. Sloppy mortar is too difficult to work and too easy to smear on the face of the bricks. On the other hand, if it is too dry, the pointing will crumble and fall out fairly quickly.

Mortar should generally be used within two hours of mixing, so only mix sufficient to be used within that time.

If the mortar goes off too quickly, resist the temptation to rescue it. Throw it away and make a fresh batch.

Take care to prevent mortar smearing the surface of newly laid bricks because cleaning later is tedious and difficult.

It is important that all mortar joints are fully filled to help prevent weeping. Any gaps will allow moisture to get into the joints. The bricks and mortar will then be vulnerable to frost and weather damage.

LAYING THE BRICKS

The bricks should be laid with the indent (sometimes called the frog') facing up so it fills with mortar.

Start with a corner brick and bed it in mortar, run a line from the laid brick to the opposite end of the wall. Lay a second brick a little way beyond the first one along the line, then check with a spirit level to make sure your line is true.

When you first start, you'll be checking and adjusting very often. However, after some practice, you'll be able to do this less often until you hardly need to do it at all.

Start by building up the corners first, checking each course. Once the corners are built, you can start filling in.

To avoid having to cut bricks, adjust the thickness of the joints as required.

COMPLETED BRICKWORK

Remember to protect completed brickwork from rain to prevent lime stain, keeping an air space between the bricks and the waterproof cover.

If a frost is likely to occur before the mortar in the brickwork has set properly, protect it with a layer of sacking before putting on your waterproof cover.

When you've finished work for the day, remember to clean your tools before the mortar sets on them.

Bricklaying is a very satisfying activity. If you work in an office during the day, or have a sedentary job, bricklaying provides excellent exercise as a healthy contrast. With practice your confidence will grow and once you've built that garden wall you'll be keen to move on and accomplish larger and more ambitious projects.

Learn more about this author, Lesley Allen.
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