[Ice]

I need to build a base three bricks high for my new, (thanks Henry), lean to greenhouse.
1.  How do you cut bricks in half?
2.  How do you do a corner?
3.  What mix will I get my servant son to make?

If it works the next project is an extension and downstairs loo.

[Ruth Cross]

One for me I thinks! :roll:

1. Unless you have got a disc cutter, with strong (very expensive) diamond disc/blade, you'll probably do best by using a a hammer and brick chisel. Unless you want to fork out for the proper tools, it is literally hit and miss. But if its only a lean to greenhouse wall and only 3 bricks high, I would guess you only need to half 6 -9 bricks! So not worth the expense of new tools

2. As long as you stagger the brick joints, just turn the next one to a right angle....simple


3. A standard mortar mix is 1 unit cement, 5 units sand, 1 unit lime. Just bear in mind at the moment that if its cold the mortar won't set. You'll need a good couple of warm days

Hope that helps

[Ruth Cross]

....and if your worried about the strength of the corner, just lay some wire mesh in the mortar for reinforcement werks for me

[Trillium]

Cutting bricks with a brick chisel isn't at all hard.  Your workforce might need to practise on a trial brick, but it's easy enough though not as clean a cut as a stone saw. Just turn the brick so it won't show.  

[poultrygeist]

...and don't forget copious use of the spirit level and line to check it's level-ish and vertical-ish and try and enjoy it.

You can do a practice wall using just sand and lime mortar which won't set for days, meaning you can pull it apart and clean up easily.

Good luck !!  

[Ice]

Thank you, that looks easy enough although I imagine I may get through quite a few bricks before getting one the right size.

[gobs]

Don't you know someone who would cut a few brick for you who has a machine? Can be hard work.

Definitely so with paving slabs!

[Ice]

I don't know anyone with a machine.  My dad was a builder and he never used one. It's a vague memory but I think he used to hold the brick in his hand and hit it with a big hammer. Not something I will be trying. :shock:

[snozzer]

I need to build a base three bricks high for my new, (thanks Henry), lean to greenhouse.
1.  How do you cut bricks in half?

Use a bolster chisle (4") and an lump hammer, place the bolster on the face where you want to cut it, hit it once on the face (the front of the brick 65mm high for a standard brick), flip it over hit the back once, then do the same on the top a bit harder, it should now fall in 2.

2.  How do you do a corner?

See the image below, its called stretcher bond.

3.  What mix will I get my servant son to make?

The serf should mix 5 Sand to 1 Cement, no more no less.  Get nice soft builders sand and use a typical rugby special type cement.  No need for any admix for such a small job.

Always start on a corner and build it up, then run a course (layer of bricks ) to another corner and build that up.  The correct guage is 75mm, which is 65mm of brick and 10mm bed joint of mortar.  The perps (upright joints are also 10mm), once you have 2 corners up and level and plumb, run a string line between them and lay the bricks to the line, that way you do not need a spirit level on the long runs as a line pulled tight between to level points can only be straight and level.

Simply really.

[Ice]

Thank you, I am good with practical tasks and willing to tackle anything.  If it goes well I might just do a barbecue structure next.  But first things first.

[Ruth Cross]

By the sounds of it snozzer, I could do with you on some of my sites...you should see the state of some of the walls I have to ask to be knocked down, built again, knocked down again etc etc :roll:  :roll:

[Ruth Cross]

Don't you know someone who would cut a few brick for you who has a machine? Can be hard work.

Definitely so with paving slabs!

I thought crazy paving was actually popular

[gobs]

Only had to do one, so I thought, what the heck, grandpa finished it, bless, still looks, ahem.... :oops:      

[gobs]

I know women are good at multi-tasking but Ice, how are you building a wall whilst having a heart op? :?

[Ice]

One brick at a time Gobs, one brick at a time.  

Aidan is home from uni at the weekend to play hockey.  He is the brawn and I am the brain.  I can guilt trip for England.