What is considered the correct thickness of mortar joints in brickwork?

[pedrobedro]

I built my shed with concrete blocks and the front from old commons so I had to make the joints to tie the two together. It's not always written in stone. Don't make the joints too narrow or someone in the future will curse you when they have to repoint.

 

[brightspark]

I re pointed the whole of my house . 2 semi knocked together. I cut the bed out with a stihlsaw with 2 blades in it took no time at all .I used my air fed shot blasting helmet as u couldn't see or breath for dust

 

[mike os]

10 mm is standard, try to stick to it

 

[clift_d]

The joints need to be 10mm both horizontally and vertically.

Standard bricks are a nominal 215mm along the stretcher face, while perp ends are 102.5mm. Along a course you want (2 x perp ends) + 10mm mortar joint = 1 x stretcher face.

Vertically, standard bricks are 65mm high so, (3 x standard bricks) + (2 x 10mm mortar joints) = 1 x brick in soldier (vertical) orientation.

As previous posters have stated, if you don't follow this then all your bonding will go to pot.

Generally bricklayers will set out the first two or three courses exactly and then plumb up every third or fourth brick to check the perp ends align for horizontal setting out and they'll use a string set by a height rod for vertical setting out as they go.

 

[Blake's 7]

Hi guys, Thanks to everyone for all your replies.

I'll be using the bricks in the three inner sides of a big fireplace. They are only for show and won't be providing any structural support.

I was a hod carrier in London many years ago - around 1987 or so. The first site I worked on there was what is now the Communications Workers Union building on Wimbledon Broadway. The company I worked for was called High Tower. I'm surprised to see that hod carriers are still in demand as I thought it would be all done with teleloaders and similar nowadays

 

[Blake's 7]

We used to use some sort of acid mixed with water to clean the snots of mortar off the brickwork, at the weekends we'd soak our hods and shovels in it and come monday morning they'd be like new. What would you recommend to clean hardened mortar off my trowels, etc? Thanks.

 

[slim_boy_fat]

I'll be using the bricks in the three inner sides of a big fireplace. They are only for show and won't be providing any structural support.

Will you be using proper fire bricks, just in case SWMBO [or a subsequent property owner] decides they want to see real, proper flames?

 

[Blake's 7]

Will you be using proper fire bricks, just in case SWMBO [or a subsequent property owner] decides they want to see real, proper flames?

It took me a few moments there to figure out who SWMBO is :-)
The fireplace is being built specifically for a stove and I'll be using ordinary bricks to line the 3 sides. The opening will be 48" wide and around 30" deep.

 

[slim_boy_fat]

It took me a few moments there to figure out who SWMBO is :-)
The fireplace is being built specifically for a stove and I'll be using ordinary bricks to line the 3 sides. The opening will be 48" wide and around 30" deep.

Sorry for the abbreviation, it's a common one and one you'll come across on here quite a lot too.

I hope you don't think I was teaching Granny > eggs , it just occurred to me and hadn't been mentioned.

 

[Blake's 7]

Sorry for the abbreviation, it's a common one and one you'll come across on here quite a lot too.

I hope you don't think I was teaching Granny > eggs , it just occurred to me and hadn't been mentioned.

No problem, I was laughing at it when I had figured it out.

That's a good point and one I hadn't considered, but as I said the fireplace is being built specifically for a stove and the opening will also be almost the height of the room so as to expose quite a bit of the cast iron flue as well.

 

[slim_boy_fat]

That's a good point and one I hadn't considered, but as I said the fireplace is being built specifically for a stove and the opening will also be almost the height of the room so as to expose quite a bit of the cast iron flue as well.

I thought perhaps SWMBO had something like this planned.....

 

[angellonewolf]

[QUOTE="1Billion Amps, post: 1138873, member: 30789]We used to use some sort of acid mixed with water to clean the snots of mortar off the brickwork, at the weekends we'd soak our hods and shovels in it and come monday morning they'd be like new. What would you recommend to clean hardened mortar off my trowels, etc? Thanks.[/QUOTE]

wash them after use ?

 

[bigegg]

Brick acid.
It's hydrochloric I believe?
Jewsons sell it.

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

I re pointed the whole of my house . 2 semi knocked together. I cut the bed out with a stihlsaw with 2 blades in it took no time at all .I used my air fed shot blasting helmet as u couldn't see or breath for dust

Bit of overkill boss. One of these on a 4 inch is just as easy.

 

[bigegg]

Bit of overkill boss. One of these on a 4 inch is just as easy.View attachment 135302

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

More power holding the stihl saw horizontally you mean. Less Control too.

 

[brightspark]

no fannying around using it. just walk from one end of scaffolding to the other 40 foot long runs was out in no time would be 3 times as long with a little grinder

 

[B20]

Hi, When Brick laying, it`s always been 4 bricks to 1 Foot (12inches)
Cheers

 

[Blake's 7]

I thought perhaps SWMBO had something like this planned.....

Actually those bricks aren't too far off the style I'm planning to use, but apart from that my fireplace won't be anything like the photo.

 

[Blake's 7]

[QUOTE="1Billion Amps, post: 1138873, member: 30789]We used to use some sort of acid mixed with water to clean the snots of mortar off the brickwork, at the weekends we'd soak our hods and shovels in it and come monday morning they'd be like new. What would you recommend to clean hardened mortar off my trowels, etc? Thanks.

wash them after use ?[/QUOTE]

I do, but I'm now on my third dishwasher as the mortar hardens in it too.