Brick walls are built so that the bricks are stacked according to certain rules in horizontal layers and are connected to each other with mortar.
There are several types of mortar that we use for building:
- Lime mortar is the weakest in terms of strength and resistance. It is made from hydrated lime and sand with the addition of water in a ratio of 1: 3 or 1: 4
- Cement mortar is the strongest and least prone to deformation. It is made from cement and sand with the addition of water in a ratio of 1: 3 or 1: 5
- Extended mortar is stronger than lime mortar. It is made by adding lime to the cement mortar, which extends the setting time of the mortar (hence the name). For building walls, a mixture is made in a ratio of 1: 3: 9 or 1: 2: 5 (lime: cement: sand). This mortar is also called lime-cement mortar or reinforced lime mortar.
The space between the bricks is filled with mortar and is called a joint or bed. Horizontal joints are about 12 mm wide and are called bed joints. Vertical joints are about 10 mm wide and are called head joints.
A brick that is built into a wall so that its longer side is parallel to the face of the wall is called a stretcher, and a brick that is built with its length perpendicular to the face of the wall is called a header (it binds and stiffens the wall).
The strength of the wall does not depend only on the strength of the brick and mortar, but also on the method of construction. The strength of the wall is most affected by the proper laying of bricks according to a specific brick bond.
A basic masonry rule is that vertical joints should not pass through two layers, but in each subsequent layer, they must be shifted by ¼ or ½ of a brick.
Bricks are made from high-quality cleaned clay, shaped, dried, and fired at a temperature of 800 - 1,000oC.
According to size and shape, we distinguish:
- bricks of normal format (NF)
- bricks of increased format (modular bricks and blocks, plates)
- radials
According to structure, we distinguish:
- solid bricks
- hollow bricks (with horizontal and vertical cavities)
- porous bricks
- façade bricks
The basic concept of the wall composition solution depends on the role of the wall: whether it is load-bearing, where it is located, whether it needs specific protection, intended design, etc.
Actual measures of length, thickness, and height of walls, projections, openings, etc. are derived from the dimensions and number of unit pieces, headers, and stretchers.
For walls made of modular blocks, these measures will be multiples of the basic module of 10 cm, and for walls made of NF bricks, multiples of the module of 13 cm, and for the Porotherm system 12.5 cm (25 cm)