Laying

Planning is one of the key things to do before you even think about laying the bricks on your job.
Whether it is a small or large job, preparation is vital for a good outcome.
Free plans

You will already have a task in mind, maybe its that letter box, fence or BBQ that you have put off for so long.

You will need a good foundation for the brickwork to sit on, start by digging out the soil where your project is to go.

For a BBQ/Letterbox you need about 100mm of concrete plus at least 1 row of reinforcing steel bar.
For a letter box or fence pier it is better to go deeper and wider as the area of brickwork will be a lot smaller in comparison to a BBQ and will not have the area to distribute the weight

The bigger the footprint of the concrete foundations in relation to the job, the better the chances of the brickwork lasting for ever and not keeling over.

If for example you want to build a 2 brick X 2 brick pier (470x470mm pier.) then I would make the foundations 700x700mm x depth.
•As a rule of thumb, the concrete foundations should project from the brickwork about 100mm to 150mm, the more the better.

•The depth all depends on the soil type, very reactive soil like clay needs deeper foundations than non reactive soils like sand, loam or rock.
Reactive is the change in the soil when moisture is either present or not, clay is very reactive, sand is not.

Concrete can be either flush with the ground or below it, it all depends on the final finish around the brickwork.
For example, if you want to pave around the BBQ you are building you will have to leave the concrete below the ground level at least the thickness of the paver plus some.
Or for a letter box leave the concrete flush with the ground, that way you will have a mowing strip for the mower.

I always find it easier to get a ready mixed concrete truck to deliver the concrete, most concrete companies have a mini mix truck for small jobs, this will save you time and effort.
•If you are doing a very small job you can get pre mixed concrete in bags, all you do is add water.
•Foundation failure if the biggest cause of cracked brickwork.
If you get the foundations right the brickwork should last for ever.

Setting out your job.
Mark out where you want your BBQ to go on the concrete. ( everyone wants a BBQ, so we'll assume thats what you are building ).
Start by laying the first course of bricks "dry", set them as you would if you were actually laying them, allow a 10mm perpend joint between each brick.

Most BBQ's I have built have the hot plate in the middle, and a surface either side, (I normally use concrete pavers as they are the right size ) for plates, food etc.
You need to set out your BBQ to suit your, plate/burner size, its always a good idea to buy your BBQ prior to doing the brickwork as there is no standard size for hotplates/burners.

Profiles. It always pays to set up some profiles unless you are just doing a course or two.
•These are just some pieces of timber or steel that have straight edges set up plumb so that the wall you build is plumb and true.
Mark the top of your project on the profiles so that it is level and work the gauge down from the top, pull the string line off the profiles using corner blocks.

String line. a string line is used as a guide to lay your bricks to, and a guide only, if you actually lay the bricks to the line, as in touching it, you will find that the wall will soon develop a bend or curve which is not desirable.
•The bricks must be close to the line but not touching it.
•The string line is set up between two profiles, or straight edges and is held in place using corner blocks.
•The line must be pulled tight so as to stop any sag, if the line is sagging the brickwork will follow it as you lay, and you will see the sag in the finished brickwork.
•Try not to pull the line over too big a distance as it will sag no matter how tight you have it.
•Pull the line tight almost to the snapping stage, if you snap the line from pulling it, good, you now have the required tension, just dont pull it so tight next time.
•You cant have the line tight enough to ensure a level and straight wall.