Brick Masonry Charleston SC is a method of constructing walls with bricks. There are several different types of brick wall construction, including solid brick walls and crinkle-crankle walls.
Before starting a brick wall, you must set up guide lines, called gauging rods. These are freestanding rods that mark where each row of bricks, or course, should be.
Brick masonry is the art of using bricks to build walls. Bricks are made from clay and baked at high temperatures to create a strong material that can hold up the structural components of your building. It can also be used to add a decorative element to the exterior of a building or in a fireplace. Brick masonry is usually combined with mortar to form a wall that will be both watertight and solid.
Bricks are made in a variety of shapes, sizes, and textures. Smaller bricks are molded into specific shapes by hand, and larger ones are pressed into shape by hydraulic pressure or with heat and pressure from a machine called a pug mill. Pressing bricks creates a harder and denser product than molding them by hand and requires less water. This is why bricks are often considered a durable and environmentally friendly building material.
After a brick is formed, it is dried to remove any moisture that could cause cracking when the brick is fired. The drying process is done in a tunnel dryer that uses long chambers through which the bricks are pushed and heated by hot air. Drying bricks helps ensure that the bricks will fire properly and be resistant to water damage once they are installed in a structure.
The color of a brick is determined by the minerals and chemicals in the clay it is made from, as well as the firing temperature. Clay with a high iron content will create reddish bricks, while clay with a high lime content produces yellow or white bricks. Different firing temperatures will create a range of colors, from light brown to dark gray.
Once a brick is fired, it can be formed into different types of special bricks that are designed for certain applications, such as engineering bricks, fire bricks, and paving bricks. Engineering bricks are created to be extra durable and have low porosity, which makes them suitable for use in sewers, retaining walls, foundational work, and underground tunnels.
Bricks can be arranged in courses that are referred to as bonds. A bond arranges the bricks in such a way that the vertical joints of successive courses do not lay in the same direction and can be used to strengthen a wall and make it more visually appealing. The horizontal space between the vertical joints is referred to as a “lap,” and a piece of brick that is placed at the end of each course to close up the bond is known as a “closer.”
Types of Bricks
Bricks are available in many sizes and types. Choosing the correct brick for a specific job is determined by factors such as color, surface texture, density and weight, absorption and pore structure, thermal characteristics, moisture movement, and fire resistance.
The most common brick is the standard brick. It is available in several colors and has a rough, compact surface. Standard bricks have sharp edges and make a ringing sound when struck. They are often colored by sintering with oxides of iron and manganese, giving them a reddish-brown color. The standard brick has good crushing strength and can be used for load-bearing walls of multi-story buildings and partition walls.
Other bricks include curved and perforated bricks. They are made of fireclay (a type of clay that contains silica and alumina) and have high heat resistance. They can withstand extremely hot temperatures, making them perfect for use in places that need to be protected from fire and smoke. Perforated bricks are also great for ventilation, reducing the risk of moisture inside a building.
A dry-pressed brick is similar to a soft mud-molded brick but starts with a thicker mix of sand and clay and uses more hydraulic power and pressure to compress the mixture into molds. This method results in more precise, harder bricks with better edges, but is more expensive.
When selecting a brick, the mason must also consider its size and shape. Standard bricks come in a variety of dimensions and colors, and there are also modified shapes such as rounded and squat ones. These are more aesthetically pleasing and can be used for decorative purposes or to add extra strength.
Bricks can be arranged in various courses depending on their height, with the first course consisting of header bricks followed by stretchers. It is important that the header bricks are level and plumb and that the height of the wall is checked regularly with a level or theodolite to avoid errors in construction. The header bricks should be laid with their wide sides facing outward, which is called a soldier bond, while the stretchers are laid with their narrow faces exposed.
Brick Joints
A brick wall requires a substantial amount of mortar to hold it in place. As the mortar ages, it degrades and may need to be replaced. The greatest degrader of mortar is water penetration. Various types of mortar joints allow for varying degrees of water resistance. Additionally, mortar joints affect the overall appearance of a wall. Some joint profiles accentuate individual bricks, while others seamlessly blend the bricks and mortar to form a homogenous surface.
A common type of joint is the flush joint. A flush joint sits exactly in line with adjacent bricks on a wall. As a result, the mortar cannot be compressed into the joint, making it more susceptible to water penetration. Flush joints are often used on walls that will be plastered or painted, so their use is largely stylistic.
Another type of mortar joint is the beaded joint. A beaded joint features a sloping bottom ledge of mortar between each brick. This type of joint is more susceptible to moisture penetration than the concave mortar joint because water tends to cling to the lower ledge and can erode or damage the lower brick.
A more durable and aesthetically pleasing type of mortar joint is the concave mortar joint. This mortar joint is created by squeezing the bedding mortar between each brick with a tool called a jointer. The tool compresses the bedding mortar to create a tight seal. This mortar joint is the best at resisting water penetration, but it can still be damaged by improper dampening and shrinkage cracks. In addition to being less prone to water penetration, concave mortar joints are easy to maintain. To keep them looking good, a mason should rake the brick mortar periodically using a joint scraper or old screwdriver to remove loose bits of mortar. If the grout is severely degraded, it should be removed and replaced with new mortar using a process known as repointing.
Laying Bricks
Brick masonry is an ancient art that requires practice to perfect. It’s a good idea to start with a smaller project, such as a small garden wall, before attempting anything larger. The key to a successful brick structure is the mortar, which must be properly mixed and applied. It’s also important to use a level, theodolite, or transparent hose level to trace a building axis and wall alignment on the ground before beginning.
Once the foundation is laid, it’s time to begin laying the bricks. Start by using a line block to create a guide along the length of the desired wall, using string and other material as necessary. This will ensure that the vertical joints of the bricks are staggered, giving the structure more strength and stability.
When constructing a brick wall, the first course of bricks should be built in a stretcher bond to allow for the proper expansion and contraction of the mortar joint. After laying this first row, begin to add the header bricks to create the wall’s head joints. This will help keep the wall from becoming crooked as it gets taller.
It is important to make sure that the header faces are facing upwards for structural and acoustic reasons. Also, make sure that all of the bricks have their indentation (also known as a frog) facing upwards, which helps to reduce airborne dirt and debris.
To ensure that the walls are straight, it is recommended to use a spirit level and a plumb bob on a regular basis. A level and spirit level are easy to purchase from any home improvement store, and they will make the construction process much easier.
Once the bricks are laid, they should be combed with a wire brush to remove any loose bits of mortar and ensure that the surface is smooth. Once this is done, the bricks can be finished with a clean water hose to rinse off any remaining mortar and sand. It is also a good idea to apply a brick fungicide once the job is complete to prevent fungal growth and rotting of the bricks.
