Ryan

Photo taken 15th Oct '10

Photo taken 22nd Oct '10

Photo taken 4th Nov '10

Photo taken 5th Nov '10

Brickwork designed by Anne Nov '10

Curves are a bit difficult to do in bricks and pixels, so this is an experiment to see what works. Some of the shapes were changed to avoid tiny cuts

Photo taken 25th Nov '10

I made a wall with the NCN logo constructed into it. I choose to do this wall because it looked a challenge and an interesting wall.

I started building up the corners of the wall on both sides so I could string a line up and run the middle of the wall.

When I had to start to make the bottom of the flag it was very difficult to make the cuts right and precise. It was difficult for all the cuts that I had to do.

When I finished my wall I was pleased to see it done and looking like the plan.

Ryan Conway
17. 12. 10

Photo taken 10th Dec '10

Gareth

Step by Step
Guide of Building
A Corner on the Brick Wall

Gareth Jackson
17. 12. 10

What is the corner of my wall?

Traditionally, the corner of the brick wall is built first because it helps most bricklayers have a guide, to how they will lay the wall plumb and level. Most commonly nowadays, bricklayers lay straight across instead of building corners first. This is why it was most challenging.

Image from: Carillion (2008) Brickwork 2nd Edition page 169

I have inserted this picture to show that the corners still have to be built first, because the profiles need to be attached to something. Once these are fixed, level and to gauge, a line can be set up for the brick courses

How did I build the corner
and why it was the most challenging

First of all, I cleaned up my area and stacked enough bricks for both corners. This is always best so it saves time, which equals more time on the practical part.

Start the corner by laying one brick horizontally to the edge of the blocks. Don't worry if the corner does not hit the line. When checking for plumb, it will most probably be the blocks that are out.

Lol...me and Will built that blockwork!

I used four bricks to build the bottom and another three making an 'L' shape. To start rising, do this again for the second course, but instead of laying the first brick horizontally, lay it vertically on the blocks, which will show what half a brick looks like, when facing your brickwork

Brickwork drawn by Anne Dec 10

I have inserted this picture, to show the brick on the second course is rotated, to ensure the brickwork is half-bonded. If you lay it vertically, you'll get a soldier course

My corner was exactly five courses high with the last three courses rising up, making a pyramid shape. Each mortar gap should be no wider than 10mm or 1cm. Make sure you check every brick is level.

The reason why building the corner is the most challenging is because you are not laying to a line, so it is hard to see if your bricks are out, slanting or level with the other bricks

How could I improve and where would I use these skills?

Next time, the one thing I could have improved is making my mortar gaps to the right measurements. If they are off and one is right, one brick will be laid higher than the other.

I could use these skills in many places, from building garden walls at home to building brick sheds and just normal walls at college or work in construction

This is an excellent piece of writing. Well Done!

Jamie

Photo taken 24th Nov '10

Photo taken 3rd Dec '10

Photo taken 9th Dec '10

Tom & Craig

Photo taken 25th Nov '10

Brickwork designed by Craig

Photo taken 3rd Dec '10

I came to this course late and had to learn quickly.
My 1st task was to make a corner.

You must look at the drawing to make sure you know what you’re doing the whole time, to get it right. You would need to find a clean area to work. From there, you would need to make sure you load out the required bricks and mortar close by. Make sure you have got enough room to work, so it is not too tight.

To get started, you should get the correct tools for the job. Lay the 1st brick. Make sure it is plumb so then you can continue without going back to check. Check the height; you may be going too high which then requires a step-up to reach places. From there keep going back to the drawing to make sure you’re doing it correctly.

Thomas Sunderland
17. 12. 10

Trevor

Photo taken 15th Oct '10

I arrived at the course a few weeks later than everyone else, but my brickwork skills, I think, are coming on well. Also my progression of understanding how to be a bricklayer are coming on strong as well.

When I start a job, I make sure I have all the tools and PPE I need ready. Also I have to load out the bricks and mortar and make sure I have enough space to work in and it's not too tight or cramped.

When I get started I lay out my bricks beforehand, each with a 10mm gap inbetween each brick, so I know exactly what I am doing before I start laying. When I lay my first brick, I make sure it is level and plumb, otherwise the rest of my work would be out and I would have to start over again.

When I have finished laying my bricks and my wall is built, I would have to point-up and clean my wall. Once I have done that I would clean my area and my tools and then pack my tools away

Trevor Walters
17. 12. 10

Photo taken 3rd Dec '10

Jordan

Photo taken 12th Nov '10

Photo taken 12th Nov '10

Photo taken 17th Nov '10

Photo taken 27th Jan '11

Charlie

Photo taken 15th Oct '10

This is an example of Polychromatic Brickwork
It is Flemish Bond, with the Headers in a contrasting colour

Brickwork designed by Charlie Nov '10

Photo taken 18th Nov '10

Photo taken 25th Nov '10

Chris

Brickwork designed by Anne Nov '10

Photo taken 4th Nov '10

The first few courses were laid, taking particular care
with the length and the gauge

Photo taken 12th Nov '10

Blocks were used for the back of the panel
These were bonded into the brick pillars

Photo taken 14th Nov '10

Because the design is quite complicated, a full-scale template was drawn onto a piece of plywood.
My kitchen table was used as a work-bench ...

Photo taken 14th Nov '10

...but the cat kept getting in the way!

Photo taken 15th Nov '10

Each brick was then cut according to the template

Photo taken 17th Nov '10

String lines were set up for the diagonals and the arris of each brick was laid to these lines. An additional line was attached to check Face Plane Deviation

Photo taken 18th Nov '10

Chris is a Level 1 Student and has only been laying bricks for 3 months

A Brickwork Essay

I am really enjoying my brickwork course. At the moment, I am doing a decorative wall panel. It is very time-consuming and quite a challenge

To start with, Anne had to cut a lot of bricks into different shapes and sizes. While Anne was doing that, I got to work on my side walls. I think I put them up quite well considering I have very limited space to work with.

I also had to put up a support wall of concrete blocks at the back of my decorative wall. When I had finished with the support wall and side walls, the hard part started.

I had to put up three lines for guidance, which was hard in itself. Next to do was the cuts. It took time to do, but it is almost complete now

Looking at my work now, I think it looks quite good. I feel that I must have done okay, as lots of students have made positive comments about it, but I do know that I can do a lot better.

For one thing, it could have been a lot cleaner and I made one or maybe two big joints, which left a little problem on the right-hand side.

But in the coming months, I want to give it another go and I will improve as I want to be a professional bricklayer. If I was to mark my work so far, I would give myself 6 out of 10

Chris Meli
17. 12. 10

Unfortunately, this work was demolished before any more photos were taken

DNA Ladder

Continues from Structure of DNA

Photo taken 18th Jan '11

Photo taken 20th Jan '11

Photo taken 28th Jan '11

Photo taken 28th Jan '11

Unfortunately, the structure collapsed and degenerated into a pile of rubble. 'Just one more course' Oh, hum...

Photo taken 28th Jan '11

As can be seen from Jake' work, using cement in the mix, might have provided that extra bit of strength. And, as Scott said, the Angle of Rotation was too big.

Otherwise, I am not sure how we could improve the design of this structure

Tom Bramley

Photo taken 15th Oct '10

Design of Brickwork needs completing

Photo taken 2nd Dec '10

Photo taken 3rd Dec '10

Photo taken 9th Dec '10

Photo taken 10th Dec '10