Construction

Bricks shall be adequately soaked in water before use. Wetting helps in erasing dirt, dust and ash from the face of the bricks and in spreading of the mortar more evenly under the brick and also ensures better adhesion. It avoids absorption of water through the bricks from the mortar that may cause decrease in its strength. The bricks should be laid within courses according to the exact bond.

Bricks shall be laid on a full bed of mortar. Each brick shall be properly bedded through slightly pressing so which the brick surface is fully in contact along with the mortar. All joints shall be properly flushed and packed with mortar so in which no hollow spaces are left. Properly filled joints make sure strength of the masonry and resistance to penetration of moisture.

The thickness of joints shall not exceed 1 cm. Whole the face joints shall be raked to a depth of 15 mm during the progress of work while the mortar is still green to ensure proper keying of plaster or pointing. Where plastering or pointing is not to be completed, the joints shall be finished flush at the time of lying.

                                                  Figure : Flemish Bond