Bricklayer/Articles

Read up wise.

The reference work for the masonry trade: bonds and joints, brick and mortar consumption, foundations and rendering — explained so it can be used on site.

Articles

25 articles

Become a bricklayerGet started · 5 minThe bricklaying trade builds the country brick by brick: façades, foundations, chimneys, tiling and plaster. It is a craft with a visible result, a strong sense of teamwork on site and a straight path from apprentice to journeyman — with pay during training. Here is why you should consider the trade.Pavers per m² — why it isn't a single fixed figureMeasurement · 6 minThe number of bricks per m² depends on the brick format and the joint width. Here's how to work it out yourself instead of looking up a figure.Bond and joints — what governs the consumptionMasonry · 10 minThe bond and joint width determine the appearance, the strength, and how many bricks and how much mortar are used.Mortar — joint volume and what affects consumptionMortar & render · 11 minMortar consumption is first and foremost the volume of the joints, but mixing, suction and method shift the real consumption.Foundation and concrete volume — from drawing to m³Concrete & foundation · 11 minHow to work out the concrete quantity for a foundation as pure geometry, and which classes are determined by the designer.Rendering — layer thickness, substrate and consumptionMortar & render · 10 minRender volume is area times layer thickness, but the substrate and its suction determine the actual consumption and durability.The standard hierarchy for masonry – Eurocode 6 in DenmarkStandards & legislation · 7 minBrickwork in Denmark is designed according to Eurocode 6 (DS/EN 1996 series) with Danish national annex. Here is the hierarchy, what is mandatory, and the trap with the new 2022 version.Compressive strength for masonry — the f_k formula in Eurocode 6Sizing · 12 minCharacteristic compressive strength for masonry f_k is calculated as K · f_b^0,70 · f_m^0,30. Here are the K coefficients, the limits and a worked example.Slenderness and load-bearing capacity of masonry wallSizing · 12 minA masonry wall must be checked for slenderness (λ ≤ 27) and for load-bearing capacity N_Rd = Φ·f_d·A. Here is the Eurocode 6 method step by step.Wall ties — quantity, placement and corrosion classMasonry · 10 minWall ties connect outer and inner leaves in cavity walls and cladded walls. Here are minimum quantities per wall type, edge rules and when stainless steel is required by law.Moisture barrier and foundation paper — layers, placement and radonMoisture & wet rooms · 10 minBuilding paper as damp proof membrane at foundation and plinth — two layers in cavity wall, 150 mm above ground level, 20° slope, and how the membrane also plays a role in radon protection per BR18 §332.Frost classes and exposure classes for clay bricksMaterials · 10 minThe frost resistance of brick masonry units is specified in class F0, F1, or F2 according to DS/EN 771-1. Here is the link to the exposure classes MX1–MX5 and what a normal Danish facade requires.Wet rooms — membrane, slope and tile adhesiveMoisture & wet rooms · 14 minWet rooms require MK-approved membrane, correct floor slope and at least C2 adhesive. Here all the requirements from BR18 §§334–339, SBi 252 and tile adhesive standard are collected.Quality assurance in masonry — the QA package in practiceQuality assurance · 8 minThe bricklaying trade uses a standardized QS package with documents x.100–x.700. Here is what each document covers, and which control points count most on site.History of the bricklaying trade — from craft to constructionThe craft's history · 7 minThe bricklaying trade is among the oldest Danish crafts, and it has developed from a purely empirical trade to a norm-governed discipline. Here we follow the trails that can be documented: the arrival of brick in the Middle Ages, the trade in guilds, the standardization of mortar and bonding, the transition to Eurocode 6 and today's education and focus on documentation. Claims that cannot be traced to a source have been deliberately omitted.Work environment and safety in masonryWork environment & safety · 11 minThe four major occupational hazards of masonry are respirable quartz dust, wet cement, heavy lifting and falls from height. Here are the exposure limits, specific rules and protections that safeguard body and lungs throughout a working life.Chimneys and fireplaces — construction, fire and draughtChimney & fireplace · 11 minBricklaying chimneys and fireplaces is classic masonry work with strict fire and draught requirements. Here is the chimney's structure, DS/EN 1443 classes, distance to combustible material and rules for notification to the municipality.Winter masonry and weather precautionsMasonry · 10 minMortar does not cure at low temperatures, and frost in fresh mortar damages the masonry. Here are the temperature limits, winter mortar and additives, and how to protect fresh masonry from frost, rain and drying out.Restoration of old masonry — lime, rewetting and conservationRestoration & preservation · 12 minMuch of masonry work is renovation of older and listed buildings, where modern cement mortar directly damages the soft, vapour-open masonry. This is where lime and hydraulic lime, humidification, repointing, and conservation principles come in.Lintels, sockets and openings in masonryMasonry · 12 minEvery door and window opening requires a load-bearing lintel. Here are the lintel types, requirements for bearing and support, and the classic brick arches — arch, flat arch and plank arch.Tiled roof and roof covering — laying of tile and concrete roof tilesRoof & roof covering · 12 minLaying clay and concrete roof tiles is classic masonry/roofing work. Here is the roof's structure from bottom to top, batten spacing based on tile coverage, roof underlay's role, roof edge and hip — and why storm securing is crucial.Masonry and bonding — autoclaved aerated concrete and aerated concrete blocksMasonry · 11 minBack walls and light partition walls are today often built in light brick or pore concrete blocks with thin joint/glue mortar. It is a different technique than brick with KC mortar: first course in mortar, blocks glued with thin joint, tight tolerances and dust considerations when cutting dry.Movement and dilation joints in masonryMasonry · 11 minTemperature and moisture movement in long cavity walls causes cracks if the masonry cannot work. Vertical movement joints absorb the movement. Here is why brick expands and concrete shrinks, where joints are placed, and how they are formed with sliding ties and elastic joint sealant.Building technical drawing reading and measuringMeasurement · 11 minReading plans, sections, elevations and details, understanding scale, dimensions and building symbols, and carrying out material take-offs is a fundamental masonry competence. Here are the drawing types, standard scales, the dimension system and the path from drawing to stone, mortar and concrete quantities.Energy refurbishment and retrofitting insulation of masonryEnergy & renovation · 11 minRetrofitting of masonry is a growing part of the craft: cavity wall insulation, internal and external retrofitting. Here are the three methods, their thermal bridges and moisture risks — and why internal insulation is the one that most often goes wrong.