BRICKWORK
IN THE GARDEN - BRICK LAYING.
Laying bricks is a
straightforward process for any DIY enthusiast. Bricks can add
maturity and a warm effect to many gardens. Learn about brick
laying here.
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The brick walls of a house have
two primary physical functions. One is to hold up a roof, and the
other is to form a framework around a set number of rooms (a) for
privacy and (b) to stop the wind from getting in. They are also
useful for hanging pictures; and of course a doorway would not be a
lot of use without a wall.
A garden wall on the other
hand does not need to have a physical function. It can simply look
nice - just by being there.
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It can also have functions as
well; such as holding a greenhouse up, retaining a soil bank,
forming an edge or division, housing a BBQ, raising a planting bed,
enclosing the wheely-bin or compost heap (sometimes one and the
same!), helping to provide a level site for the patio, screening off
neighbours, creating rooms, or simply acting as a boundary. They are
also quite useful for hanging gates on, and building arches in!
Most garden plans include a wall,
and of course the Victorians loved their walled gardens and brick
laying; or did they
love their gardens walled?
Garden walls have one
disadvantage. They can be expensive. One way around this is to cut
out the middleman - the bricklayer. (Most of the good ones are busy
building houses again anyway). That means someone else will have to
do the bricklaying - build the wall - You! (Yes you can).
Most garden walls are less than a
metre high - well within the scope of any `handy' person. In this
article we will be dealing with the basics to get you up to this
height. In following articles we will be looking at more
substantial, ornate and stone walls.
PLANNING
before you start brick laying
All garden walls should be
designed on a piece of paper - a plan. It may well be that you only
want a short straight wall, and don't see the point of putting a
straight line on a piece of paper. So, let's give it the `5W' test -
What, why, where, when, who? Why do you need a wall - instead of a
fence, trellis, shrub border or a few planted tubs? Where is it
going to go - will anything be in the way (Services, tree roots,
etc)? Who is going to build it; order the materials; clean up after
you etc? What is it for - what bricks are you going to use; there
are many types - not all will be suitable. When are you going to do
it - how long will it take; will you have the time?
On your `master plan' you should
plot the dimensions of your wall, which will enable you to work out
the measurements for the foundations (footings). Then you can
estimate the quantities of materials you will require. When
designing your wall, aim for measurements that are in multiples of
the size of bricks or walling blocks that you are going to use. The
sizes are usually quoted as being `nominal'. This simply means that
this is what they should measure once they are laid with the
recommended 10mm width joint of mortar.
QUANTITIES
Bricks normally measure 215
x 102.5 x 65mm (8.5 x 4 x 2.5in) but can vary from brick to brick.
With the mortar joints added, this normally means 4 bricks for every
900mm (3ft) length of wall and 4 bricks for each 300mm (1ft) height
of wall. Allow 58 bricks for each square metre surface area of wall
(48 per square yard). You should also allow an additional 5% for
cutting and breakages. These quantities
are for a single width wall. For a double wall, you simply double
the quantities. Don't forget to allow additional bricks for building
the piers, including for any additional height of the piers.
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If the wall is to have an
ornamental as well as functional use, then it will be a good idea to
be aware of the orientation. For instance, if your house and garden
faces south and you propose to build a wall across the garden (i.e.
from W to E), then the wall face that you see will effectively face
north. It will get little or no sun, and could be quite somber in
appearance. It could also `mature' quite quickly, with algae and
other growths. |
On the other hand, if the wall
that you see faces East or West, then a recessed mortar joint would
enhance the brickwork in the morning or evening sun respectively. If
the wall is exposed to the normal Westerly rain, then a different
type of joint is called for - together with a modified mortar mix.
PIERS
Walls over certain lengths and
heights will need to be strengthened at regular intervals with
piers. These piers will have to be provided for when constructing
the foundations. Even the smallest single brick-width wall will
benefit from piers at any free standing end.
Any single-width wall over 300mm
(12 inches) height should have piers at intervals not exceeding 3
metres (9ft 9in). Walls shorter than this will also benefit from the
inclusion of piers. The piers should be no less than double the
thickness of a single brick wall. They can be simply constructed
with galvanized wall ties, but it is quite easy to bond a pier into
a single brick width wall. There are several ways of doing this.
FOUNDATIONS
Once the dimensions of the wall
have been determined together with the position of the piers, the
foundations can be designed. Everything to do with `hard landscape'
requires suitable foundations. Walls are no exception, and I make no
apologies for repeating myself: I cannot over-state the importance
of proper foundations.
For most garden walls, a `strip'
footing is used. This is simply a straight-sided trench filled with
concrete.
The trench should be dug out of
firm soil. It should not be dug out of ground that has been recently
filled, such as is often found on building sites. If your trench
starts to fill with water from surrounding ground, then expert
advice should be sought before proceeding. This is not likely to be
the case in these days of low water tables.
Your trench bottom should be firm
base soil. If it is not, then you will need to dig deeper than the
recommendation and back fill with compacted hardcore before filling
with concrete.
The overall depth of your
trench should allow for the stated depth of concrete, and also for
two courses of bricks to be laid below ground level. This will
enable planting to be carried out at the base of the wall, or for
paving to be laid right up to the wall if that is to be the case.
DIMENSIONS OF CONCRETE FOOTINGS
Minimum depth of concrete = 150mm
(6 inches)
Width of trench/footing = 300mm
(12 inches)
(Where piers are to be
incorporated - normally double brick width - then suitable footing
(450x450mm) should be allowed for, and accurately sited within the
footing.)
Double width wall... (213mm or 8.5
inches)
Minimum depth of concrete = 225mm
(9 inches)
Width of trench/footing = 450mm
(18 inches)
(If piers are to be included, then
the concrete pad for the pier should extend at least 150mm on each
side of the pier. i.e. for a 325mm pier (One and half
bricks) the pad should be at least 625mm (25inches) wide and for a
450mm pier (Two whole bricks) then the pad should be at
least 750mm wide.
NB. For stand-alone piers -
pergola, gate supports etc - the footing pad should be considerably
wider than above and will be covered in a following article.
If you aim to have the first two
courses of bricks below ground level, then you will need to excavate
a further 150mm, to allow for the two courses of bricks and mortar
joints.
The concrete for the footing
should be mixed in the volume ratio of 1:6 (Cement to `all-in'
ballast). Volumes should be gauged accurately. The mix must not be
sloppy and wet, refers) but should have the least amount of water added to the dry
mix in order for it to be workable. An overly wet mix will
considerably weaken the strength of the concrete footing. A wet mix
may be easier to spread, consolidate, and float-finish to a level,
but it is wrong.
The concrete is placed into the
trench and well compacted with a punner/rammer to ensure that there
are no air voids within the footing. If your mix has the right water
content, then you can leave a semi rough surface by tamping with the
edge of a board. This will help to bond the first course of mortar
and bricks to the footing.
Allow three to four days before
starting your brickwork, and during this time make sure that the
concrete is allowed to cure slowly. Place a sheet of plastic along
the surface and secure with bricks or boards. The bags from your
ballast can be used for this.
A problem can occur if building
your footings in extremely dry conditions - seemingly unlikely as I
write this. The dry sides of the trench can draw off the water from
the concrete quite quickly. Concrete should never be allowed to dry
too quickly. Anything that can be done to keep the surrounding soil
moist will help, though you will not want water lying in the bottom
of the trench. It will also help if you can spray the setting
concrete each day. Do not drown it.
On sloping ground you will need to
construct `stepped' footings. Ensure that any timber shuttering is
sturdy enough to take the weight of the concrete and your
compaction. This also applies, if some of the footing is above
existing ground level. The timber shuttering must be up to the task
of holding the concrete in place without any bulging or sagging.
LAYING THE BRICKS
You will be confronted by a huge
range of bricks. Not all are suitable for exterior works, and some
may only be suitable for sheltered positions.
Bricks come in many colours and
textures, and various qualities. `Facings' are usually suitable for
most exterior work for the `faced' edge is normally water and frost
resistant. `Commons' are for interior work only. Ordinary quality
bricks are suitable for most exterior situations, but can suffer if
exposed to continual driving rain or severe frosts. `Specials' or
`Best' quality are suitable for all exterior works including steps
and retaining walls.
Before you even start to mix up
the cement mortar for your first ever course of brick laying, lay
out the first course of bricks without mortar - just to make sure
that it all works out on the ground. Allow for the mortar joint
between each brick. (10mm is ideal). If it is your first attempt at
building a wall, try a dry run with a few courses. Use your spirit
level in the vertical and horizontal positions to get used to it.
You could even lay a few courses of a short wall onto a sheet of ply
or hardboard, using a mortar mix. In particular, build a corner or
end section to four courses high. The mortar can be cleaned off the
bricks once it is semi-dry.
The Mortar Mix
The mortar mix for laying bricks,
should be of the ratio of 1 part cement and 5 parts soft builder's
sand (1:5). In very exposed situations, or for brickwork below
ground level, this mix should be modified to 1:4. Do not add more
cement, thinking that you will have a stronger job - you will not;
in fact it will be weaker.
Add only enough water to make the
mix firm and pliable, but not runny. If you bounce a dab on your
trowel, it should not sag and should remain on the trowel when it is
turned upside down. It may help to add some liquid plasticiser. This
will make the mix easier to work. If you do so, then read the
instructions carefully. Incidentally, all the mortar colourants that
I have used have had a plasticising effect on the mortar.
For most of my work, I tend to
leave the mortar mix in a wheelbarrow, moving it to where it is
required. Spot boards are fine for the experienced bricklayer laying
a long row of bricks, but not too efficient for the more time
consuming ornamental walls. In the wheelbarrow, you can re-liven the
mix from time to time with a shovel or trowel, adding more water
(sparingly) when required. Do not mix more mortar than you can use
within half-hour and make sure that you have a uniformly mixed
mortar.
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