Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Nov 24, 2009 11:22 pm Hi all A technical question for anyone with a bit of knowledge in brick & concrete work. How important is a clean, smooth & level footing to place the first course of bricks on. Is the mortar bed for the first course thinker/higher than the mortar for the rest of the bricks? Some of the slab rebates and footing I’ve seen on slabs are perfect and some well not so perfect. Does this make it hard for the brickie? Thanks kindly Regards KW............ “It's just as unpleasant to get more than you bargain for as to get less” George Bernard Shaw. Re: The first course of bricks. 2Jan 05, 2010 8:03 pm King, all of the brickies work is in the set out and laying of the first course, not only to ensure the bricks are level from 1 corner to the corner of the house, but to make everything work out to brickwork and square things up. This concrete rebate is never perfect at the very best is will have imperfection where the form work was joined and removed, it is also never trowled off so the finish is always round, this also aids in allowing the first mortar bed to adhere to the concrete. Have look at your house plans and you will probably find that brick articulation joint has been missed. Maximum allowable spacing is 6M or 5.5M for a wall with window… 17 20556 DIY, Home Maintenance & Repair to do it properly you need to dig out the garden and waterproof the outside of the wall. There are some products you can put on the face of the bricks but the water is… 2 4611 |