Q&A for How to Lay Brick

The main thing is to make sure that you put down your line, that every joint is aligned. Your objective is that after you're done, everything must be symmetrical, all the lines straight and everything squared off with the ground. So basically, when you do that, just make sure that the first two to three courses are perfectly squared and aligned, and after the first three courses from there on it's pretty pretty easy. When you have your foundation of the first four or five courses settled perfectly, from then on it's a faster process.

Bricks are made from clay and shale. They are heated inside a kiln from up to 2000 degrees fahrenheit.

If it is a one brick pillar three feet high and is not carrying any downward load, dig down with a shovel 500 mm x 500 mm square and fill that to a 150 mm depth of concrete.

The minimum temperature for mortar work is +5° Celsius.

24 to 48 hours for most mortar. Brick mortar made from Portland cement can require up to 28 days to dry.

This depends on a few factors: how hot the day is, how dry the mortar is, and how long the "structure" is. 4' should be a fine goal.

Three-eighths of an inch is best, because it is fast, and easy to level. If you use less than this, it is harder to level bricks that are not the same height as the others. If you go larger, you will take more time and more mortar to do the job.

This is not necessary. You should, however, swipe it with a broom to remove dust.

Do not use a mortar bag, and do not use a mortar gun tool, the guns do not work at all, and the bag does not work well. With a chisel and hammer, chip off any debris that is loose, then clean off dust with a paint brush. If there is any mold, you might need to use a steel brush and a nozzle on your hose to get it all off. Don't use soap, because the mortar does not stick well to soaps. Do the following: 1) Use a pointer tool to push the mortar into the joint. 2) Use a piece of pipe or wood dowel to smooth out the joint. 3) Run a small wet sponge over the joint to fill in small cracks. 4) With a large sponge, carefully clean the bricks.

If your mortar is at the right consistency, you will not need to moisten the bricks. Very dry bricks, on a very dry day, can suck the water out of the mortar, preventing a good stick. In this case, it is best to lightly hose off all the bricks with water just before you start.

Don't be afraid to remove a brick, mix the mortar to reuse it, and re-lay the brick. That is how you learn. If you remove a brick, it is best to soften the mortar so that it will stick to the brick. More than 20 minutes and you will find it hard to reuse the mortar. If you have some very straight 2x4s, you can tap the bricks in place (with the hammer hitting the 2x4) as you go and the work will go much faster. The 2x4s can be tapped on the top to level and on the front and back to straighten.

Bricks laid in the upright position are called "soldiers". You butter the side of the brick as you normally would on the end of the brick.