BRICKLAYING TIPS & ADVICE

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Tools required :-  Spade / shovel, spot board, bucket, bricklaying trowel, 150mm boat spirit level, 600mm - 1000mm spirit level, lump hammer, bolster chisel, tape measure, plumb line (a length of string with a couple of nails attached), a piece of metal or rubber tube 20 - 25mm dia, soft hand brush. Bricklaying usually requires a bit of practice in order to 'gain the knack' (Most DIYers, myself included usually ' jump in with both feet' and start the project straight away), if you have never laid bricks before it is good practice to build a sample wall first, e.g.  a four brick course, … [Read more...]

MIXING CONCRETE OR MORTAR BY HAND

Tools required :- Spade / shovel, spot board and bucket. Safety tip :- Bags of sand, cement and aggregate are heavy so care should be taken when lifting them, squat down and gripping the bag lift the weight with your legs rather than your back. Use gloves as cement can irritate and burn skin.   To mix concrete or mortar by hand you will first need a spot board, (a piece of wood board approximately 3 ft square) placed on the ground, a spade or shovel, the ingredients for the mix and water. Use the spade to place the sand, cement and aggregate if required on to the board in the … [Read more...]