SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE,

BUILDING AND DESIGN

Bachelor of Quantity Surveying (BQS)

Name : YEOH SIN YUEN

Student ID : 0323737
Intake : March 2016
Assignment : BRICKWALL VIDEO REPORT
Modules : Measurement 1 (QSB 60104)
Construction Technology 1 (BLD 60104)
Building Materials (BLD 62003)
Lecturers : Ms ANG FUEY LIN
Ms AZRINA MD YAAKOB
Ms AISHAH KAMARAZALY
Submission : 12th July 2016

INTRODUCTION
Brick walls have been in use for several thousands of years; India and other near
eastern countries first started building brick walls about 5000 years ago. The ideas
behind the way brick walls and bricks are made have changed little over the years.
Even the size of bricks has stayed relatively unchanged.
The first video showed us the process of setting up the brick wall. They put the
bricks layer by layer from left and right. Hence, he will fill the hole between the
bricks using a small brick as finishing of brick wall.
The second video showed us that the workers put in different building materials
into the concrete mixer. Its actually tried to show us the process of producing mortar
using the concrete mixer or mortar mixer. In order make mortar successfully, the
mixture of the materials must be using with correct ratio. Mortar is a mixture which
consist of water, sand and cement.
Moreover, I also watched through the third video. The video briefly showed us
about how and the ways of using the rendering process. After they finish laying all
the bricks, he even the cement mortar by using a trowel to make the wall surface
smooth. This is because they need to finish the brick wall by filling any spaces
between ti bricks & layers of mortar.

PROCESS OF CONSTRUCTING A BRICK WALL

1ST STEP = PREPARING THE WALL
Make sure the right amount of bricks prepared because bricks can be in a
variety of shapes ans sizes.

 Dig out a trench for foundation in order to seat the wall in, which used to make
it solid with a layer of concrete. This is often called a footer or concrete
foundation.
Drive level wooden stakes into your trench. Use a level to ensure that the tops
of the stakes are completely level.
Mix and pour concrete up to the top of the guideposts. Use a flatiron to make sure the
top of the concrete is smooth and level before it starts drying.
Make your guideposts, or gauging rods. Take 2 long wooden boards or posts and
measure out each row of the brick wall, also known as a course. Mark the boards
where each brick should be, including the mortar lines.

2nd STEP = BUILDING THE FIRST ROW

Lay your first row of bricks in the foundation for a dry run. Then, Clamp a string on
your first guideline.
Lay the first 1/2 inch of mortar along the base of the foundation.Push down slightly,
then use your level to check that the brick even with the ground.
Lay mortar down for the next 2-3 bricks. Hence,Take a slab of mortar and coat the

end of the brick that will be pushed up against the first brick. Press the brick lightly
& use the level to ensure that the bricks are flush and at an even height.
Scrape away any excess mortar as your work. Keep adding bricks until the row is
finished. Remember to use the level and tape measure with almost every brick.

3rd STEP = BUILDING THE ADDITIONAL ROWS

Move your guideline up to the next marker.
Cut a brick in half with a firm tap from the pointed end of a hammer.
Start the second row with 1/2 a brick on both ends.
Mortar and place one full brick on top of your ends. Fill in the entire bottom row.
Continue building your wall from the ends inward.
4th STEP= FINISHING THE WALL
Try unique brick patterns for the top of the wall. (Soldiering & Headers )
Use a brick jointer to indent the mortar professionally.
Add pillars to your design.

Apply the render to the brick wall surface

using a trowel.

Flatten out the wall by screeding and touch

up.

Float the wall to close the surface and sponge it for a smooth surface.
Cut out and clean up around any vent using the brush.

THE TYPE OF BONDS

1. STRETCHER BOND
A stretcher is the longer face of the brick as seen in the elevation. In the brick of size 190
mm 90 mm 90 mm, 190 mm 90 mm face is the stretcher. In stretcher bond masonry
all the bricks are arranged in stretcher courses as shown in Fig-1. However care should be
taken to break verticaljoints. This type of construction is useful for the construction
half brick thick partition wall.

2. HEADER BOND
A header is the shorter face of the brick as seen in the elevation. In a standard brick it is
90 mm 90 mm face. In header bond brick masonry all the bricks are arranged in the
header courses as shown in Fig-2. This type of bond is useful for the construction of
one brick thick walls.

3. ENGLISH BOND
In this alternate courses consist of headers and stretchers. This is considered to be the
strongest bond. Hence it is commonly used bond for the walls of all thicknesses. To

break continuity of vertical joints a brick is cut lengthwise into two halves and used in the
beginning and end of a wall after first header. This is called queen closer. (Refer Fig-3).
Fig-3 shows typical one brick and one and half brick thick wall with English bond.

4. FLEMISH BOND
In this type of bond each course comprises of alternate header and stretcher [Fig-4].
Alternate courses start with stretcher and header. To break the
vertical joints queen closers are required, if a course starts with header. Every header is
centrally supported on the stretcher below it.
Flemish bonds may be further classified as

Double Flemish Bond

Single Flemish Bond.

In case of double flemish bond, both faces of the wall have flemish look, i.e. each course
consist of alternate header and stretcher, whereas single flemish bond outer faces of walls
have flemish look whereas inner faces have look of English bond [Fig-4 (a), (b)].

Construction of flemish bond needs greater skill. It gives more pleasing appearance. But
it is not as strong as English bond. If only pointing is to be used for finished wall, flemish
bond may be used to get good aesthetic view. If plastering is going to be used, it is better
to use English bond.

MATERIALS USED TO CONSTRUCT A BRICKWALL

BRICKS
A brick is building
material
make
pavements

used

to

walls,
and

other elements in

masonry construction. Traditionally, the term brick referred to a unit composed of clay,
but it is now used to denote any rectangular units laid in mortar. A brick can be composed
with clay-bearing soil, sand, and lime, or concrete materials.

SAND

CEMENT

WATER

\/ \/ \/ Combine to make... \/ \/ \/
Mortar Mix is a workable paste used to bind building blocks such as stones, bricks, and
concrete masonry units together, fill and seal the irregular gaps between them, and
sometimes add decorative colors or patterns in masonry walls.
MORTAR

MACHINNERIES + PLANTS + TOOLS USED TO CONSTRUCT BRICKWALL

MAGNETIC SPIRIT LEVEL

MORTAR MIX

WHEEL BARROW

TROWELS

HAMMER

SAFETY
GEAR

BRUSH

BRICKS JOINTER

CONCLUSION
A brick retaining wall supports a bank of earth on one side, and may be needed in a
sloping garden, or as a base for a boundary fence where the neighbouring garden is at a
higher level. It can be built of bricks or walling blocks in the usual way, but must be a
full-brick wall, about 225 mm thick, built with a strong bond and string mortar.
The strip footing should be set in a trench with the top of the concrete surface about
230 mm below the level of the lower ground, so that the bottom of the front of the wall is
a little below ground level. To allow for drainage from the banked soil, make weeper
holes through the wall. One way is to leave out the mortar in every other vertical joint on
about the second course above the lower ground level.
Through this assignment, I have understand the process of constructing a brick
wall and how the workers work which showed in the video. This already help us further
our understanding and knowledge on what we had study in class. I also learnt about the
building materials which enable for me to identify the different types of building
materials as well as the technology being used on site. I understand more about the brick
wall. Such as the process, the tools involved, the methods, and the types of bonding. All
of this particular process may make a different on the brick wall. It was a really cool
assignment for me.