SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE, BUILDING AND DESIGN

BACHELOR OF QUANTITY SURVEYING (HONOURS)

MARCH INTAKE 2016

SEMESTER 1

[QSB 60104] MEASUREMENT 1

- Sr. Ang Fuey Lin

[BLD 60104] CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGY 1

- Pn. Azrina Md Yaakob

CONSTRUCTION OF BRICK WALL REPORT

INDIVIDUAL ASSIGNMENT

Lily Then (0313973)

1

TABLE OF CONTENT1.0 Introduction 12.0 Objective 23.0 Content / Technical Observations 34.0 Brick 4-5

4.1 Mortar 6-94.2 Bonding of Bricks4.3 Types of Brick Wall

5.0 Construction of Brick Wall 10-116.0 Machineries, Plants and Tools 12-137.0 Conclusion / Learning Outcome 14

2

1.0 IntroductionIn this assignment, we were required to produce a report for combination of 3 subjects which are Building Materials, Construction Technology 1 and Measurement 1.

On 23rd June 2016, our Construction Technology lecturer Pn Azrina Md Yaakob had uploaded 3 videos into our Facebook group (QS Sem1-March 2016). The contents of videos are method of laying brick, the production of concrete using concrete mixture machinery and method of wall plastering.

The main objective of this site report is to give exposure to students where they will be able to describe, explain and understand the method and process of construction in accordance to the sequence of work on site, especially the BRICKWALL.

A brick is regular in shape and of size that can be conveniently handled with one hand. Bricks may be makes of burnt clay or mixture of sand and lime, or flyash line and sand, or of Portland cement concrete.

A brick also known as building material used to make walls, pavements and other elements in masonry construction. Bricks are laid in courses and numerous patterns known as bonds, collectively known as brickwork and may be laid in various kinds of mortar to hold the bricks together to make a durable structure.

3

2.0 ObjectiveThe objectives of this report are:

To let us experience the actual working environment and learn more about the life of being a Quantity Surveyor on site.

To understand the basics of the construction process. To witness the usage of construction equipment on site including mechanical plants. To explore and identify various types of building materials and technology on site. To explain the construction of buildings and the scientific principles that underpin the

design and construction. To gain more construction technology knowledge that new to us. To allow us to have a better understanding of the types of the building materials

involved in the construction site. To enable us to understand the building structure and the sequence of constructing a

brick wall. To make it easier for us to get clearer image of how the structures look like in real

life.

4

3.0 Content / Technical ObservationsIn the first video, it shows how the construction workers lay the bricks. The worker uses the common type of bricks and lays the bricks in a Stretcher Bond type by using the mortar paste. Mortar is a mixture of sand, a binder such as cement or lime, and water.

In the second video, it shows how the concrete is made. The main materials for concrete are Cement, Sand, Water and Aggregate (either course or fine).

In the third video, it shows how the construction worker plastering on the wall. The main materials used for plastering are mortar.

Through all of the videos, I also can see that there are few machineries and tools that involved at the construction site.

5

4.0 Brick Brick Classifications

Bricks may be classified according their uses as follows, bearing in mind that it is sometimes possible for a brick to come under more than one heading:

Facing Bricks Common Bricks Engineering Bricks Special Bricks

Facing Bricks

Facing Bricks are intended to provide an attractive appearance. They are available in a range of brick types, colours and textures. Some may not be suitable in positions of extreme exposure. Some facing bricks have engineering properties.

Common Bricks

Common Bricks are suitable for general building work not chosen for its appearance. These are bricks for ordinary work that is not exposed to view, for example walls that are to be plastered or built underground.

Engineering Bricks

Engineering Bricks are hard burnt bricks that are very dense. They have a minimum compressive strength and minimum water absorption. They are not chosen for their appearance. There is no requirement for colour. These are bricks suitable for ground works, manholes and sewers, retaining walls or as a ground level damp proof course to free-standing walls and situations where high strength and low water absorption are the most important factors.

Special Bricks

A wide variety of bricks are available in special shapes or sizes, to blend or contrast with most facing bricks. Squints are an example. They are manufactured to special shapes that enable the bricklayer to build angled corners at 45 degrees or 60 degrees. They are used to reduce the thickness of a wall and still maintain the face texture of the wall or remove the sharp corners from a brick wall or pier.

6

General Characteristics of Good Bricks

The essential requirement for building bricks are sufficient strength in crushing, regularly in size, a proper suction rate, and a pleasing appearance when exposed to view.

Size and Shape: The brick should have uniform size and plan, rectangular surface with parallel sides and sharp straight edges.

Colour: The bricks should have a uniform deep red or cheery colour as indicative of uniformity in chemical composition and thoroughness in the burning of the bricks.

Texture and Compactness: The surface should not be too smooth to cause slipping of mortar. The brick should have pre-compact and uniform texture. A fractured surface should not show fissures, holes grits or lumps of lime.

Hardness and Soundness: The bricks should be so hard that when scratched by a finger nail no impression is made. When two bricks are struck together, a metallic sound should be produces.

Water Absorption: Should not exceed 20 per cent of its dry weight when kept immersed in water for 24 hours.

Crushing Strength: Should not be less than 10N/mm2 Brick Earth: Should be free from stones, kankars, organic matters, saltpeter, etc.

Advantages of Bricks

Uniformity is size and shape. Therefore it can be easily laid in masonry. Unlike stone brick do not need dressing. Therefore there is reduction time and labour and

moreover skilled labour is not needed. Bricks are cheaper than the stones. Though same quantity of brick cost more than same

quantity stone. More expenditure is consumed on processing of stone masonry, such as breaking of stone into smaller size and dressing.

Smaller in size and lighter therefore less effort is required while building brick masonry.

Disadvantages of Bricks

Bricks are less durable than stone. Plastering is required. Alkalis & salts present in the brick earth have hygroscopic properties. They absorb

moisture from the air and creating a damp and unhygienic condition.

7

4.1 Mortar Mortar is a workable paste used to bind construction blocks

together and fill the gaps between them. The blocks may be stone, brick etc. Mortar is a mixture of sand, a binder such as cement or lime, and water and is applied as a paste which then set hard. Mortar can also be used to fix, or point masonry when the original mortar has washed away.

Masonry mortar is composed of one or more cementitious materials, clean well-graded masonry sand, and sufficient water to produce a plastic workable mixture.

Types of mortar used in masonry work- Cement Mortar Lime Mortar Cement-lime Mortar Lime-Surkhi Mortar Mud Mortar

4.2 Bonding of Bricks Bonds in brick-work:

on account of their uniform size and shape, the bricks can be rise to different types of bonds.

Bonding is essential because it eliminates continuous vertical joints both in the body as well as in the face of the

wall. imparts strength to the masonry.

Defective arrangement of bricks reduces the strength and durability of the structure. The choice of the bond is influenced by the situation, function and thickness of the wall:

English Bond Flemish Bond Stretcher Bond

English Bond

The strongest English Bond consists of alternating course of stretchers and headers. A quarter bond is maintained by incorporating queen closers in every second course. English Bond is generally used in one brick walling.

8

Flemish Bond

Flemish bond consist of alternating headers and stretchers along each course with the headers centred on the stretchers above and below.

Single Flemish Bond:

Combination of English Bond and Flemish Bond In a course, facing is Flemish Bond and backing is English Bond Cannot be adopted in walls having thickness less than one and half brick Provided for the attractive appearance of the Flemish Bond Slightly stronger than Double Flemish Bond

Double Flemish Bond:

Each course presents the same appearance both in the face and back of the wall Every course consists of headers and stretchers alternately Best suited for consideration of economy and appearance This type of bonding is comparatively weaker than English Bond

Stretcher Bond

Stretcher bond is the commonest bond used today and the least interesting in appearance. It can be made more interesting by laying a course of different coloured bricks or to lay such bricks to form a pattern on a wall.

Stretcher Bond Wall Stretcher Bond Wall with Piers Strecther Bond Piers

9

4.3 Types of Brick WallBuilding to Gauge

It is essential to consider the height of the wall when building. Bricklayers use a gauge rod to ensure that the beds of mortar between each brick are uniform and to monitor the overall height of the wall as each course is laid. Gauge rods are generally made by bricklayer using timber but they can also be bought in stainless steel.

Racking Back and Stopped Ends

It shows a half brick wall with a stop end and racking back. This method of construction is commonly used by bricklayers to build plumbing which allow them to plumb either end of the wall and build to a line in the middle of the wall. This process is much quicker than building the wall one course at a time.

Return Corners

10

It shows a half brick wall built with a return corner. This means that the wall turns (usually 90 degrees) and continues in another direction. We should notice that the bond remains unchanged and that the course height remains constant on the return.

Toothing

It shows a half brick wall which has a stop end and is toothed. The purpose of toothing the brickwork is to allow for plumbing to be taking higher than a racking would normally allow. We should try to avoid toothing brickwork to a significant height.

11

5.0 Construction of Brick Wall

Step 1: Plan out the wall & Purchase the right amount and type of bricks. Using string, a level and a tape measure, plot out the exact dimensions of our wall, enclosure and structure. Bricks come in a variety of shapes and sizes, but the most important thing to remember is that we must adjust the size bricks we buy to account for the mortar. We must add the mortar measurements when planning our wall. The combination measurement of brick and mortar is called the brick’s nominal size.

Step 2:Prepare all the materials (bricks, mortar, machineries & tools) that are needed.Once we have mixed the mortar and we can start to lay the bricks, we have to use all the mortar and strike the joints before quitting.

Step 3:Make Guideposts, or Gauging Rods. With this method, we can ensure our wall’s level. First, take 2 long wooden boards or posts and measure out each row of the brick wall, also known as course. Next, mark the boards where each brick should be, including the mortar lines. It is important to make sure that we can drive the posts into the ground so that they can be freestanding.

Step 4:Clamp a string on first guideline and lay the first row of bricks for a dry run. Lay a small bed of mortar for the first brick to lie on and use the spirit level to make sure it’s level. Next, place a small amount of mortar on the top of the first bricks and place another brick on top of it, at a downwards angle. Then, lay a bed of mortar on the solid foundation for the wall. We can use the tape measure to make sure that they are the correct distance apart and spirit level to make sure it’s flat.

12

Step 5:Laying the next course of bricks.

First, move the string line up to where the top of the next course of bricks will be then lays a bed mortar on top of the first course of bricks, so that it’s in a triangle shape. Next, take a slab of mortar and coat the end of the brick that will be pushed up against the first brick. Now, use the trowel to feather through it to create an air pocket for laying the bricks on. We can use the spirit level to ensure that the bricks are flush and at an even height then pushing on them lightly to make sure that they are perfect. Besides that, we also need to scrape away any excess mortar away. Then place mortar on the side of the bricks and lay them next to each other. Repeat this step until the wall has reached the height that had been set.

Step 6:Plastering the wall.

First, we have to ensure the wall is clean and free from dust, and any loose part of mortar from brick laying process. We can sprinkle water over the surface to ensure better sticking of the plaster. Then starting at the bottom of the wall, use nice and smooth strokes with trowel and press the mortar onto the wall and try distribute the plaster on the trowel evenly over a certain area. We should always keep that trowel as slight angle when applying plaster. Keep repeating the process with the other area until the wall is fully covered with the plaster. Wall corner should be the last to be plastered. To allow the plaster to dry, we can increase the air ventilation if possible, such as opening windows for air to come in.

13

Machineries, Plants and Tools

Line and Pins

Two pins with a line wound onto them. Used in the laying of wall bricks. Where the sills protrude out from the wall the pin is driven into the brickwork each end of the sill and the line set parallel with the two end sill bricks. Also used as a means to connect the line into an internal corner where it is impossible to use line blocks.

Brick Hammer

This tool is used for hammering nails and for splitting block or brick with the other end. One end is square and flat and is used like a hammer. The other end is sharp, like a small chisel. The sharp chisel-end is used to make a cutting line around the masonry to be split.

Brick Jointer

The brick jointer is used to apply a mortar finish to the beds and joints of a brick wall. It has a convex curve on either side and produces a “bucket handled” finish.

14

Pointing Trowel

Pointing trowel is a bricklayer's tool used for filling and shaping the mortar in between bricks, a process known as pointing. It has a triangular blade of around five inches (12.7 cm) in length, joined onto a handle made of either plastic or wood.

Brick Bolster

This tool is used for cutting bricks and stones.

Tape Measure

Tape measure is used in the checking of profiles at the beginning of a job, and frequently used in the constant checking in the requirements of bricklaying (windows and door heads).

Spirit Levels

These are metal straight edges specially fitted with glass tubes containing a spirit and a bubble of air. It used for keeping brickwork upright and level.

15

6.0 Conclusion / Learning Outcome

After this meaningful report done by me, there are countless of valuable information of knowledge gained by me. I have better understanding about how a construction of brick wall now after this report.

I had seen and explored various materials and tools used from the videos that had provided by lecturers. This is an eye opener for me as I have never had the chance to see it with my own eyes.

In conclusion, this report has greatly enhanced my knowledge about construction of brick wall. I am very grateful to have a chance to do this report as I have gained a lot of knowledge. I wish that I could have more chances like this in the future as in really benefit me a lot.

16