One of the main benefits of using brick in construction is flexibility. You can arrange your bricks in different patterns to give your home the desired look. If you plan to use brick in your next home improvement project, you’re probably overwhelmed with choosing the right arrangement. Can you lay brick sideways?
You can lay brick sideways when building a one-brick-thick wall. Measure your space and lay your first row of bricks. The first row should direct you on how to place the following rows. Lay your bricks sideways to create durable, visual lines. Use mud/cement to strengthen your brick arrangement.
Brick is an excellent construction material if well installed. For the best results with the sideways arrangement, use whole-quality bricks so that the pattern can come out well. Involve an expert and ensure you have all the tools.
Note that brick is a highly porous material that can cause moisture issues. Inspect your drainage well to avoid moisture issues, which results in cracking. Regularly monitor the condition of your brick masonry and repair any cracks before the problem persists.
Read on to learn more about laying bricks sideways on your projects and what you may need to accomplish your project.
Should You Lay Brick Sideways?
You can lay brick sideways and improve your property’s appeal. However, brick is highly fragile, so you should handle it well to avoid breakages. This section discusses the main problems to look out for when laying bricks sideways to achieve your desired results.
Bricks quickly absorb water, so moisture issues may arise. Laying bricks sideways requires expert installation along the edges to create uniformity and avoid possible problems. Failure to fill bed joints may affect the overall stability of the wall/building.
Poor artistry is the primary source of the main problems of laying bricks sideways. You can avoid most issues with expert installation and enjoy your new home improvement.
Water absorption is the main issue of laying bricks sideways because brick is a porous material. Avoid this issue by ensuring no gutters, windows, or doors continuously leak water on your bricks. Excessive water on your bricks increases moisture and may later bring mold or cracks.
Work on your drainage before installing your bricks for the best results.
Another issue is poor edges which may lower the aesthetics of your house or damage the structure. Avoid this issue by aligning your edges well during the construction process. Create a sketch of your expected outcome to follow it and achieve your desires.
You should also consider stability when laying bricks sideways. Fill in the space between your bricks with mud/cement to strengthen your bricks and increase the strength of your brick walls.
Use a sealant (optional) to protect your bricks from harsh environmental conditions, which might make your walls fall, bend or crack. Use high-quality bricks, too, to increase the lifespan of your building. Durable bricks can stay for years, even with harsh climatic conditions.
What Tools Do You Need to Lay Brick Sideways?
Laying brick sideways requires multiple tools to perfect your results and facilitate the process. This section discusses the main tools you need to construct your brick wall by laying the bricks sideways.
To lay brick sideways, you will require a brick trowel, brick hammer, bricklayers pins, bolster chisel, tape measure, pencil/chalk, and safety goggles. Other tools include a wheelbarrow, a shovel, string, a mortar bucket, spirit level, and a soft brush.
A brick trowel is a must-have tool for spreading mortar. It ensures you pick the right amount of mortar for the mixture and put it in the right place. A brick hammer comes in handy when you need to strength-fix the bricks on the mortar, so they don’t tilt.
Bricklayer’s pins are for marking your walls. They ensure you work in the desired area to avoid making mistakes. As for a bolder chisel, you will use it to ensure your bricks are arranged in the same position. The tool ensures uniformity of your bricklaying.
You may also need a pencil or chalk, which you use to mark your bricks or surface to avoid measurement mistakes. Similarly, a tape measure helps you obtain exact measurements for your bricklaying. Safety goggles protect your eyes during the process, and you may also use hand gloves to protect your hands.
You need a wheelbarrow to facilitate the transportation of bricks and other tools required to lay bricks sideways. A string ensures your bricks are on the same level, while a shovel is used in digging and aligning your bricks.
Each tool should be in excellent working condition to save time and effort when laying bricks.
What Preparations Do You Need to Lay Brick Sideways?
Preparations make the process easy because you already have what you will use. This section discusses the main preparations to make ahead of laying bricks sideways.
Acquire the tools you will use and keep them near the work site. Clean and prepare the work site for bricklaying. Bring the bricks alongside other tools you will use near the worksite. Lastly, prepare a sketch for laying brick sideways. The sketch will guide you during the actual process.
The first step is to buy/gather the tools you will require to lay your bricks. The tools should be clean, and you should keep them near the work site to avoid unnecessary movement on the actual days of side laying bricks.
The next step is to inspect the site and prepare it for the work. Are there plants, debris, or other materials that might interfere with your work? If the area is dump, you may need to treat it before starting your brick masonry.
Carry your bricks and any other equipment and bring them near the construction area. When done, you may create a sketch for laying bricks sideways. A sketch guides you to achieve what you exactly want.
How To Lay Brick Sideways
Laying bricks sideways is easy when you have the right tools and have made the required preparations. This section provides a highlight of the general process of laying bricks sideways.
To lay bricks sideways, create a strong foundation below the ground level. The deepness of the foundation depends on the size of your project. Mix mortar and start laying your bricks sideways. Apply your mortar in between the bricks and a sealant. Clean the site when done.
Here is a simplified step-by-step process for laying brick sideways:
Copyright protected content owner: ReadyToDIY.com and was initially posted on December 22, 2022.
Step 1: Dig the ground to create your foundation. The deeper you dig, the stronger your foundation will be. Be sure to measure the area first before you dig.
Step 2: Prepare mortar. Mortar is created by mixing sand, water, and cement. The mortar shouldn’t be too dry or too thin.
Step 3: Lay the brick sideways. The first line of bricks requires utmost attention because the rest of the brick lines will follow it. Be gentle when handling bricks because they break easily.
Step 4: Apply mortar in between your bricks. The mortar should stick on the sides of your bricks well to prevent shaking or falling.
Step 5: Check your edges to see if they are okay, and then apply a sealant to make your brick wall more durable.
Copyright article owner is ReadyToDiy.com for this article. This post was first published on December 22, 2022.
Step 6: Clean the work site.
Laying brick sideways requires high-quality bricks. Get the right bricks and prepare the site. Mix mortar, arrange bricks, and carefully apply the mortar. Involve a brick masonry expert if possible for the best results.
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ReadyToDIY is the owner of this article. This post was published on December 22, 2022.