Carrying out bricklaying activities

1. Level 1 Diploma in Bricklaying
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Session 4
Unit 104: Carrying out bricklaying activities

2. Level 1 Diploma in Bricklaying
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Cut bricks in a broken bond should be placed as near
to the centre of the wall as possible.
If there are doors or windows in the wall, the broken
bond can be placed underneath one of them.
When a half-bat is built into a course of brickwork,
the course above and below it will contain two three-
quarter cuts (or bats) to maintain the bond.

3. Level 1 Diploma in Bricklaying
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When cutting bricks, the aim is to
produce clean, sharp edges
especially on the face side of the
cut brick.
This will ensure a good appearance
in the finished wall.
Make sure you are using the right
PPE (safety glasses or goggles,
etc) and workers nearby are
aware that you are cutting bricks.

4. Level 1 Diploma in Bricklaying
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It’s a good idea to gently
press the edge of the
palm of your hand against
the surface you’re cutting.
This will ‘damp’ the vibrations going
through the brick and help to prevent it
shattering.
Many bricks have good compressive
strength but are brittle and shatter easily.

5. Level 1 Diploma in Bricklaying
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In stretcher bond, the most frequently used cut is a half-bat.
We could use a
tape measure
and a pencil to
mark the size of
the cut.
The dimension of a half-bat is the same as the header face
of a standard brick (102.5mm).

6. Level 1 Diploma in Bricklaying
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If we have a large number of cuts to produce, we could
use a brick cutting gauge to speed the work up.
Whether we use a
brick gauge or a tape
measure and pencil to
mark the brick, always
aim for accuracy.
This will make producing a quality piece of brickwork a
much easier task.

7. Level 1 Diploma in Bricklaying
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Any questions?