Bricklayers are in hot demand. Perhaps it’s because houses in Australia are mostly made of bricks, like the bulk of other buildings in Australia. Or perhaps it’s due to the $3 billion market size of this sector. The increase in new engineering and building projects may also be to blame, which will increase demand for skilled tradies.
If you aspire to work as a bricklayer or are currently working as a brickie and wish to keep improving your skills, we’re here to assist you. In this article, we share the best advice to help you succeed as a bricklayer.
Before you get started, it’s important that you understand that laying bricks can be a risky business. You may get injured, cause injury to someone else, or damage property. Research your insurance for bricklayers options and ensure you have the right coverage in place.
- Make sure you have all the necessary basic tools
You must first acquire the fundamental tools before you can even begin laying bricks. It’s crucial to make sure you have all the necessary supplies, even if you already have a bricklayer’s toolbox. Additionally, make sure your tools are in good condition and don’t exhibit any problems like broken handles, corrosion, or other defects.
To begin, you’ll need pointed trowels, bolster chisels, club hammers, a spirit level, a shovel, and a tape measure. Don’t forget to have a tape measure and some gentle brushes on hand.
You could also consider spending money on the following to take things to the next level:
- Iron floats
- A brick pointer
- Developer’s line
- Wheelbarrow
- Concrete fibre board
- Steel angle
You now have all the necessary equipment in your possession, but what about the activities that promote bonding? Bricklaying requires high-quality sand, stone, and cement. A hose pipe and a bucket will also be necessary for you to mix mortar.
Now that you have these, you are prepared to begin brick-buying.
- Brush up on your knowledge of different brick types
We in Australia are fortunate to have access to a wide variety of premium bricks. Learning how to lay bricks requires a number of steps, one of which is understanding the various options that are available.
You should be familiar with these brick items according to their categories in order to categorise them more easily. Here is some key vocabulary to master.
Facing
Historically, only decorative embellishments installed on a building wall’s exterior side were referred to using the term “facing” in the context of bricks. But these days, you’ll discover that they also apply to any bricks with a high grade for frost protection.
Hollow
A hollow area occupies around 20% of the total surface area of hollow bricks. Hollows work wonders to increase the heat insulation of buildings. They may be laid out more quickly to form walls because of their low weight and larger diameters.
But keep in mind that these bricks are not recommended for use in walls that support loads. When massive weight or pressures are applied, the enormous empty space inside them might cause the wall easily topple.
Solid
Three qualities of solid bricks that make them popular are their high level of frost resistance, great hardness, and simplicity of usage.
Perforated
Perforated bricks are a good choice if you want to build a brick interior wall on your own. The innermost parts of cavity walls also follow this rule. Just make certain that they adhere to the strict Australian criteria.
Trim and roll
Cutting and rolling mortar is often too slow for novice bricklayers to find enjoyable. The cut-and-roll method is actually far more effective and cost-effective because you can utilise your mortar to its fullest potential.
Simply consider this:
What do you suppose will happen when you insert your trowel into the mortar pile and raise a sizable portion of it up onto the wall? You should probably expect the majority of what you put on the trowel to fall off. Then the mortar spreads across the surface of the brickwork.
You still run the risk of “overbedding” even after getting the mortar onto the surface successfully. By doing this, you merely make additional work and issues for yourself to cope with in the future. Not to mention the additional tension and pressure on the wet course.
As a result? Your bricks could toss and move.
Right, more work? Not to mention the substantial material waste.
As a result, make it a routine to chop the mortar down from the top. For this, use the blade of the trowel. Roll the mortar after that before lifting it to the wall.
Take your time
Everyone wants their brickwork projects finished as quickly as possible. Seeing the fruits of one’s labour is, after all, really exciting.
However, when it comes to laying bricks, especially during the bedding phase, be careful to maintain your calm. Bricks should be stacked carefully and gradually. Apply a downward force to each brick without applying too much pressure.
This will stop the bricks from toppling over.
As you put the bricks into position, get ready to catch any extra mortar. Remember that bricks will press surplus mortar out of the bed as they sink into it due to their weight.
To accomplish this, run the trowel blade’s sharp side along the face of the brickwork. As closely as you can, place the back of your trowel on the ground. The surplus mortar will then start to leak out, so immediately turn the trowel to catch it before it falls.
The quality of your tools and supplies will determine how well your bricks are laid.
As a final word of caution, be sure to utilise top-notch materials when laying bricks. Even if your methods are the best available, your efforts will be in vain if you choose materials that are of poor quality or are inexpensive.
