1. Concrete foundations provide structural stability and are made of a mixture of coarse aggregate, fine aggregate, and cement. 2. There are several common types of foundations used in bricklaying including traditional strip foundations, raft foundations, and trench fill foundations. 3. Cavity walls are the main type of external walls constructed and are made up of two masonry leaves bonded with cavity wall ties to form a solid mass.

1. Basic
Bricklaying
The House

2. Tutor Copy

3. Section
through a
traditional
cavity
structure
Apex or Ridge
Truss
Eaves
Finished
Floor Level
Joist Hanger
Floor Joist

4. Concrete Foundations
The foundations in all
buildings are made of
concrete.
This provides structural
stability.
Concrete is a mixture
of:
1. Coarse aggregate
2. Fine aggregate
3. Cement
Section through a typical strip foundation
Additives and reinforcement
can also be used

5. Concrete
When mixed with water the cement turns to a paste.
This paste hardens around the aggregates bonding it all together.

6. Ground Conditions
Concrete foundations need to be placed on
a good sub base.
Excavating down to suitable ground is
important.
The excavation will need to be inspected by
the Local Authority (LA) before concrete is
poured.

7. Reinforcement
Concrete is used to spread the load of the foundation.
Concrete is good in compression but weak in tension.
Therefore, it will crack if bent.
Reinforcement would be required to prevent cracking.
Steel reinforcement is most commonly used.

8. Concrete Foundations
There are many types of foundations used
in construction but the most common used
in bricklaying are:
• Traditional Strip
• Raft
• Trench fill

9. Foundation
A foundation transfers the loads imposed upon it
to the subsoil beneath.
Natural Foundation
Artificial Foundation
wall
Load imposed by the building

10. Strip Foundation
The width of the strip will depend on the load
to be carried and the strength of the ground.
Strip foundation

11. Raft foundations
Thickened edge
Raft Foundation
used in poor soil
conditions
No thickened toe
on edge required
for lightweight
buildings
Reinforced concrete raft Thick Raft Foundation

12. Narrow strip or trench fill
foundation
Mass concrete poured into
the excavations to finish two
courses below ground level.
This method can be used if
there is little space for the
bricklayer to work in the
footings.
Great care is needed with
regard to planning of
services and drainage with
this method as mistakes will
be costly to correct.

13. Solid Ground Floor.
Ground level
Floor finish Insulation
Site concrete
Blinding
DP membrane
Hardcore
Section through a solid ground floor

14. Section through a hollow floor supported by metal joist hangers
External brickwork
Internal blockwork
Cavity insulation
Air brick and liner
DPC
Joist
DPC membrane
Oversite concrete
Hardcore
Cavity fill
Foundation
Joist ends treated with preservative
Mild steel galvanised joist hanger
Suspended floors using timber
joist hangers

15. Suspended floors using sleeper
walls and timber joists

16. Walling Methods
External walls can be constructed in two
ways.
• Traditional cavity walls – made up of
two masonry walls with a cavity
between.
• Timber framed – made up of timber
internal frame with an external wall of
masonry / cladding.

17. Cavity Walls
The main design of a cavity is so
water/moisture cannot penetrate to
the inside leaf.
Modern construction is generally built
using two leaves of either brick or
blocks bonded in half bond.
These Half brick walls would be
weak on their own but strength is
gained through the use of cavity
wall ties which hold the two leaves
together as one solid mass.

18. Cavity Wall Ties
These have a design feature of a drip which helps
prevent a passage for water.
Ties are made from materials which are strong and do
not rust.
Stainless steel is the best material for wall ties.

19. Timber Framed Construction

20. Internal
partitions
Metal internal partitions
Timber internal partitions

21. Insulation
Insulation is used to prevent heat loss
through walls.
This insulation is usually placed in between
the inner and outer walls.
Insulation can be made from materials such
as:
•fibre glass
•expanded foam covered in foil (known as
PIR/Kingspan)

22. Insulation

23. Lintels
Lintels are used in construction to bridge openings such as
windows or doors.
Lintels can be made from concrete or metal which is coated /
galvanised to prevent rusting. The most common types are the
boot or box lintels. The minimum seating of a concrete lintel is
100mm and a steel lintel is 150mm.

24. Damp proof course
The damp proof course
(DPC) runs along the bed
joint at a minimum height of
150mm above ground level
on both inner and outer
leaves of brickwork.
This is to prevent the water
at ground level outside,
soaking into the brickwork
and rising up the wall.
150mm min
DPC

25. Tray DPC
The tray DPC is designed to shed water away from the inner leaf
wall wherever the cavity has been bridged, such as over air bricks
or lintels.
Ideally the tray damp will need an escape for this moisture by
means of a weep hole.
Examples of weep
holes

26. Damp Proof Membrane (DPM)
A DPM is a sheet of tough plastic that is laid beneath the over site
concrete to prevent dampness from underground rising into the
downstairs floor.
It is laid on top of a sand blinding course to prevent the hardcore
base from puncturing it.
Joints must overlap 150mm and also be taped together to prevent
moisture penetration.
Over site concrete DPM
Blinding sand Hardcore
DPCs and DPMs do the same job but are located in different
positions in the building.

27. Pitched roof (gable ended)
Flat roof
a flat roof is so called because it has a maximum pitch of 10º
Lean to
roof

28. Flat Roofs
These are usually covered in felt (bitumen based product)
A seamless covering is achieved by sealing the joints with bitumen.

29. Traditional roof
A pitched roof made in situ from timber bearers
covered with tiles or slates.
Hipped Roof

30. Traditional Roofing Parts
Apex of roof ridge
Eaves

31. Modern roof
These roof structures are generally pre made off site.
Timber roof TRUSSES are pre ordered and fixed into position.
Accuracy of the wall plate is important as these trusses would be
made to measure.

32. Roof Coverings
Tile Slate
Felt Metal

33. Wall plate straps/Anchor
straps
Wall
plates are
on inside
blockwork
and help
carry the
load
Facia is fixed
on this
projection
Soffit and air
vents fixed
here
Water drip on
ties
Anchor strap screwed to the
wall and wall plate

34. Galvanised steel joist hangers and
restraint straps
This is for joist fixings
not a roof fixing

35. Lead
Flashings
Chimney
These are used to
cover the gap between the
roof coverings and the vertical
masonry such as
chimneys or parapet walls.
Lead is very expensive but
there are modern (man-made)
alternatives available.

36. Green Roofs
A modern method of roof covering.
The materials used are more sustainable than traditional roof
coverings.
These roofs have excellent thermal values and are environmentally
friendly.

37. Utilities
Utilities are services to and from buildings,
such as:
– Drainage
– Water
– Gas
– Electricity
– Communications (telephone and Data cables)
– Ducting (heating and ventilation)

38. Bricklayers use Many
materials, from the clay
used to make some bricks,
to the sand, lime and
cement used to make
mortar.
Once these raw materials
are altered into a product to
be used, they become a
solid mass which is difficult
to dispose of.
Sustainability

39. Finite Materials
Natural raw materials that will eventually run
out.
Renewable Resources
Plant based products that can be grown and
used in construction such as:
Hemp, Sheep wool, Timber, Straw and Linoleum.
Sustainability

40. • Buy materials locally, saving on
delivery fuel costs and supporting the
local economy.
• Use managed resources, so they
don’t run out.
• Use alternative materials that will do
the same job but with less impact on
the environment.
Sustainability

41. Sustainability
Design buildings in a way that:
• reuses waste
• reduces heat loss
• uses less or reduced energy
• use natural energy (wind, water, solar)

42. Sustainability
The way we construct buildings can also
affect the resources we use.
E.g. Insulating a building will mean less
energy is needed to heat it, saving
resources.
Use energy saving light bulbs and
fittings