Soaking of bricks should be done by submerging in a tank before use.
Soaking should be continue until the air bubbles are ceased.
Soaking should be for a period of 12 hour before use.
Mortar specifications for first class brickwork
Material of mortar should be of standard specifications.
For mortar, cement should be fresh ordinary Portland cement of standard specifications.
Sand should be sharp and free from organic and foreign particles.
If we want to make rich mortar, sand should be coarse or medium.
For weak mortar, local fine sand may be used.
Cement sand ratio of mortar should be 1:3 to 1:6 as specified.
To get the required proportion, materials of mortar should be measured with the measuring box.
Materials of mortar should be first mixed dry to have a uniform color.
The platform should be clean for mortar mixing.
Mixing should be done at least three times.
Then water should be added gradually for workable consistency.
Mortar should be freshly mixed.
Old mortar should not be used.
Mortar should be mixed with water for one hour work so that mortar may be used before setting.
Lime Surkhi mortar
If specified lime surkhi mortar, should be mixed in 1:2 to 1:3 ratio as specified, by grinding in mortar mill for at least three hours to use on the same day.
Lime should be fresh and should be screened.
Fresh mixed mortar should be used.
For small work, hand mixing may be allowed just as in the case of cement sand mortar.
Laying of first class brickwork
Bricks should be laid in English bond unless otherwise specified.
Every course of brick should be horizontal.
Wall should be truly in plumb.
Vertical joints of consecutive brick layer should not come on each other.
Vertical joints of alternate brick layer should come directly over one another.
Closers should be of clean cut bricks.
Closers should be placed at the end of the walls but not at the other edge.
Best shaped brick should be used for face work.
Mortar joints should not exceed 6 mm or 0.5 inch in thickness.
Joints should be fully filled with mortar.
Bricks should be laid with frogs upwards except in the top brick layer.
In the top course of brickwork, frog should be laid downward.
Brickwork should be done for 1 meter or 3 feet height at a time.
When one part of the wall has to be delayed then stepping should be done at an angle of 45 degree.
Projections where made should not be more than 1/4th of the brick in one course.
All joints should be raked and faces of wall should be cleaned at the end of every day’s work.
Curing of First class brickwork
Brickwork should be kept wet for the period of at least 10 days.
Top of the walls should be flooded with water at the end of the days work by making small weak mortar edging to contain at least 2.5 cm or 1 inch deep water.
Other considerations for first class brickwork
Brickwork should be protected from the effect of sun, rain, frost etc., during the construction.
Suitable Scaffolding should be provided to facilitate the construction of brickwork.
Scaffolding should be strong enough to withstand all the expected loads to come upon them.
Measurement of First class brickwork
Brickwork should be measured in cubic meter or cubic feet.
Different kinds of brickwork with different mortar should be taken under separate item.
Thickness of wall should be taken as multiple of half brick.
For example half brick wall thickness is taken as 10 cm or 4.5 inch.
Full brick wall thickness is taken as 9 inches or 20 cm and so on.
Rate should be for the complete work including scaffolding and all tools and plants used.
