Most of our customers love a bit of DIY. Getting a builder is always recommended for big projects, but for some people doing it themselves is part of the fun.
Obviously, a lot of these people already have some idea of what they're doing. But what if you're totally new to bricklaying? What if you love the idea of building a barbecue or extension with your own hands but are a little daunted by the prospect?
We want to make sure you have all the information you need to do it well, do it safely and have a finished project that you're proud of.
If you're only just starting out, these are our top tips for bricklaying. We've laid them out as bullet points so it's easy for you to get the info you need.
Oh, and if you need to buy some bricks at great prices before you get started, we can help with that too...
Request a quotePractice makes perfect
If you've never done it before, we recommend having a practice first. One of the best ways to do this is building a practice pyramid.
This involves four courses going up in smaller increments each time. For example, four at the bottom to one at the top. Do this, using the tips below, and see how you get on - or, if you're already feeling confident, get stuck straight in!
1 Prepare the site
Part of bricklaying is in preparing the site beforehand. Giving yourself as much of an advantage and chance to get things right first time.
⦿ Take some time to create a good work zone around the place you are doing building work.
⦿ Bring all the bricks you need for the job into relatively proximity. Don't stack them too high as they could fall and get damaged unnecessarily.
⦿ It's a good idea to put your brick stack on boards or pallets and not directly onto the ground. They'll likely be there for a while in all kinds of weather and those in direct contact with the ground can get damaged from damp and frost.
2 Think foundations first
We're going to assume that if you're ready to start laying bricks, then you'll already have a good concrete foundation.
If not, then you need to make sure you have a solid foundation or 'footing' first.
⦿ A good foundation should start well below ground level. The exact depth and width will depend on the height of the building and the nature of the ground it's being built on.
⦿ A typical concrete footing for a single-storey extension would be around 200mm deep and 450mm wide. Make sure you establish what is needed before building. If your building project is above a certain size, you will likely need planning permission.
You don't want your mortar to be too wet or too dry. The perfect consistency can be hard to achieve but comes with practice
3 Mix the mortar
⦿ Mortar, the glue that holds bricks together, is a mix of sand, cement and water.
⦿ You may want to add an adhesive such as hydrated lime to make it more pliable and easier to work with (although this isn't essential).
⦿ Mortar consists of four parts of sand with one part of cement. Then, when it's thoroughly mixed, you add the water.
⦿ You can do this by hand or in a cement mixer. It's probably worth renting one of these if you're taking on a larger building project.
4 Consistency is key
⦿ You don't want your mortar to be too wet or too dry. The perfect consistency can be hard to achieve at first but comes with practice.
⦿ The best approach is to add a little water, mix it, then if it needs more, add to it until you get the right consistency.
⦿ It should be wet enough to slide off the trowel with ease and compress when pressure is applied by another brick but not so wet that it oozes out of the joints and takes ages to dry.
5 Get the right amount
⦿ Don't mix too much in one go. It's a difficult balance to strike as you don't want it to dry out, but you also don't want to stall bricklaying at an inconvenient point, because you've run out and need another batch.
⦿ Mixing enough for an hour's bricklaying is generally a good benchmark to go for. If it's a hot day and the mortar has been hand-mixed on a board, then go for even less.
6 Apply the mortar
⦿ Holding the brick in one hand and your trowel in the other, scoop some mortar onto the trowel. Knowing how much to carry will come with practice.
⦿ Place the mortar on the face of the brick and give it a few swipes on either side and on one end, to spread (or butter) it on.
⦿ Once it's on, place the point of the trowel into the spread at a 45º angle, then carefully slide it down the brick to give the mortar a small trench. This will help it evenly cover all parts of the brick surface.
⦿ You also need to put mortar on both edges of the brick for the vertical joints. Don't overload these but make sure you get a decent amount on.
⦿ It goes without saying that the bricks then need to be placed quickly to stop the mortar falling off.
Once all bricks are laid, use a spirit level to ensure things are level, using your trowel to lightly tap any areas that are uneven
7 Lay those bricks!
⦿ When laying a brick, the vertical joint should be staggered, meaning the second course should start half a brick into the first and so on. This creates what's known as a stretcher or running bond - the most popular type of bond in bricklaying.
⦿ With an extension, you would normally achieve this by starting your first course in a bond with the original wall at a 90º angle.
⦿ Place the fully 'buttered' brick and gently push it up to the vertical joint to gain the desired width. Wipe off the excess mortar with your trowel and either place it on the next brick or add it back into the mortar.
⦿ Give the brick a quick tap with your trowel.
⦿ Once all bricks in a course are laid, use a spirit level to ensure things are level, again using your trowel to lightly tap any areas that are uneven.
⦿ As you go it's also a good idea to make sure your wall is level vertically, using the spirit level.
Finish the job
Bricklaying gets a lot easier when you get into the swing of it, but if you remember one thing, it's to take it easy.
⦿ Slow and steady wins the race. Rush it and you'll end up with problems that will be more time consuming than if you'd just taken it slowly in the first place. You can redo a single course you've just laid, but it's a lot harder to sort out a problem four courses deep.
⦿ When you've finished laying for the day, scrape off any excess mortar from the sides and give it a brush down.
⦿ Feel free to top up existing joints with a little more mortar if they aren't flush.
We're here for you
Whatever stage you're at in your bricklaying journey, we're glad you're here with us.
And don't forget: we have a range of services tailored to help you achieve successful brickwork - whatever the shape of your build or the size of your ambition.
Our expert Brick Advisors are standing by to help you match, customise and calculate the exact amount of bricks you need, then source them and find the best price - we'll even arrange delivery too.
Simply let us know what you need, and our experts will do the rest!
