1. SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE, BUILDING AND
DESIGN
Bachelor of Quantity Surveying (Honours)
INTEGRATED ASSIGNMENT:
MEASUREMENT I (QSB60104)
CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGY I (BLD 60104)
BUILDING MATERIALS (BLD 62003)
VIDEO SITE SVISIT REPORT
STUDENT NAME: LEE LIN HUI
STUDENT ID NO: 0322797
DATE OF SUBMISSION: 12TH
JULY 2016
3. Introduction
This is a report on a prepared based on the elements required in the integrated
assignment which incorporates with three different subjects, Measurement I, Construction
Technology I and Building Materials. A series of brickwork process were uploaded by the
lecturer, Ms. Azrina on 23rd June 2016. Students were required to study and understand the
method and process of brickwork to the sequence of the work site based on the video given.
The report shall incorporate all the learning outcomes of the construction site, the
introduction of the site and technical observations made on site. For this report, students are
required to study on brick wall and the elements need to be considered in are the bonding
type, method of construction and materials that involved in constructing brick wall.
4. Objective
The integrated assignment aims to achieve several objectives enlisted in the followings:
To be able to describe, explain and understand the basics of the construction process
To explain the construction of brick wall and the scientific principle of the design and
construction
Usage of construction equipment on site including machinery, plants, and tools
To identify various types of building materials and technology on site
To develop a better understanding towards construction knowledge through observations
To develop awareness of safety and rules on sites
To understand the importance of teamwork in building team
5. Content / TechnicalObservation
What is Brick wall?
Brick wall is a masonry done with bricks and mortar. Brick wall involves stacking bricks in
rows with mortar used to hold together. Brick wall provides shelter, security and divide
spaces into small areas, rooms between areas inside building.
Mortar
Mortar is workable paste made by concrete, sand, and water that used to bind building blocks
like stones and bricks that fill and seal the gaps between them.
Plastering
Plastering is to coat a layer of plaster on wall. The purpose of plastering is to give resistance
to wall, increase fire resistance and give good appearance to the wall.
Observations from video:
Type of Brick : Clay Brick
Dimension of brick: 220 x 73 x 106 mm
Type of Bonding : Stretcher Bonding
6. Video 1 - Process of Constructing Brick Wall
Step 1: Measure height of wall and Setting up a level line
Lay out the bricks at both ends of the wall where it will start. Before that, mark out the height
of each course on a piece of wood so it can be used as a guide to make sure it is straight.
Then, put the piece of wood next to the wall and so can feed the string line on it. The string
line is used to make a straight guideline for brick height. Sprit level is used to make sure the
straightness.
Step 2. Laying the first course of bricks
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 brick and tap slightly to
“bed-in” and “butter-up” one side of another brick with mortar and place next to the first
brick, at a downwards angle. Then, pull the string line to show the straight line that lay on the
first course of bricks as a guide line. After that, use a spirit level to make sure it is flat.
Step 3. Cutting a brick to size
When reaching certain courses, a half-brick is needed to lay. Use the back end of a claw
hammer to cut a brick to size. By doing so, mark where the cutting brick line and wear gloves
and safety glasses on, hold the brick in your hand and gently tap with a hammer until a half-
brick creates.
Step 4. Laying the next courses of bricks
Lastly, move the string line up to where the top of the next course of bricks will be. Use a
trowel to lay a bed of mortar on top of the first course of bricks. Then, use the trowel to
feather through it that to lay bricks on. Use the spirit level again to make sure it is flat and
place mortar on sides of bricks and lay them next to each other accordingly.
2. Laying the first course of bricks
3. Cutting a brick to size
4. Laying the next courses of bricks
1. Measure height of wall and Setting up a level line
7. Video 2 – How to Made Cement/Mortar
1. Open the cement mix bag from top and pour all contents into the mixer and plug-in to turn
on the mixer.
2. Cover the mouth of a mixer with a plastic trash bag to keep the dust to a minimum.
3. Blend for about 5 minutes until homogenous. Tip the mixer forward so it is horizontal.
Stop the mixer and break apart any remaining clumps by shovels.
4. Measure out 3/4 of the recommended water along with any liquid additives like pigment or
water reducers.
5. Add the water, distributing it evenly over the mix. Tip the mixer as horizontally as possible
before it spills out concrete and mix for 5-7 minutes. Leave the mixer is constantly rotating so
it will not able to settle and drying.
6. Turn off the mixer to check the consistency of the concrete before pouring off.
7. Continue mixing, adding the remaining water as necessary. If the mix is still stiff and
clumpy, add 8 oz. of water at a time and continue mixing.
8. Pour the mixed cement into a wheel barrow to transport to desired construction site.
9. Shovel the cement from wheelbarrow to pail and transport to necessary location.
10. Repeat the previous steps for construction needs
8. Video 3 – How to Plaster a Brick Wall
Step 1. Prepare the wall.
Use a paint brush to remove any excess dust and dirt from the wall. Lightly brush the bricks
with water, this helps the plaster to stick. Lay drop sheets in front of the wall.
Step 2. Make the plaster mix
Put on your dust mask, safety glasses and protective gloves. Pour water into mixing bucket
and add three buckets of sand, half a bucket of cement, and half a bucket of aggregate. Use
the mixer to combine all of the ingredients.
Step 3. Scoop up the plaster.
Put a corner of the harling trowel into the plaster mix and use the trowel to push the mix onto
the harling. Rest the trowel on the harling, tilt the harling back and scrape the plaster onto the
trowel.
Step 4. Apply the plaster to the wall
When applying plaster to the wall, work from top to bottom and from right to left. Evenly
spread the mortar across the wall. Use the brick lines as a guide, start at the bottom of a brick
and spread the plaster upwards about two to three bricks. Continue applying the plaster until
you’ve covered all of the walls.
Step 5. Screed the wall
Once the plaster is touch dry, screed the wall. Do this by dragging the straight edge along the
wall. Screeding takes any excess plaster off the wall to give it a nice flat finish. Start at one
side of the wall and work your way across, keeping the straight edge level. Then work your
way back across the wall.
Step 6. Check the plaster is level
Hold the spirit level vertically against the wall to check that the plaster is flat and plumb. If
there is too much plaster and the wall isn’t flat, rub the spirit level into the plaster until it’s
level. Repeat this for the other side of the wall.
9. Step 7. Screed the wall
Use the straight edge to screed the wall, back to the lines you created with the spirit level.
After doing this, use the spirit level to check that it’s plumb.
Step 8. Patch up the wall
After the last screed, there might be areas where the plaster is uneven or patchy. Use the
trowel and hawk to apply plaster where it’s needed.
Step 9. Screed the wall
After patching up the wall, run the straight edge across it, to make it level. This should be
easier because the base layer of plaster will be drier.
Step 10. Cut the corners of the wall
Run the side of the trowel along the four edges of the wall – the left and right-hand sides and
at the top and bottom. This is to make sure the plaster is square to the wall, ceiling, and floor.
Use the trowel to scrape and clean up any plaster that has fallen on the floor.
10. Items Involved in Constructing Brickwork
1. Machinery
– Concrete Mixer
A concrete mixer is referred to as a cement mixer. The function of a concrete mixer is to
combine cement with aggregates including sand or gravel, and water to form concrete. The
most common type of concrete mixer uses a revolving drum to mix the cement, aggregates
and water. Whereas, based on the video, a hand-fed concrete mixer is used in the site. Hand-
fed concrete mixers is designed for needs of small construction requirements as it is light in
weight and can be easily moved around a construction site. The mixer is usually equipped
with wheels and towing tongue so that it can be transported easily. The revolving drum
provided a constant movement that prevents concrete being drying and allowing a longer
time to achieve between mixing and pouring. The concrete mixer can be either diesel or
electric powered supplied.
2. Tools
- Brick Trowel
A brick trowel is used for spreading mortar on bricks or concrete blocks. The pointed shape
of the blade allows for accurate control of mortar placement.
- Concrete Finishing Trowel
This trowel is used to smooth a surface of wall or floor after the floating to produce smooth,
hard and dense slab surface by moved with sweeping arc across the surface for smoothing.
11. - Harling Trowel
Harling is used to describe of a wet mortar to a surface to create finish. A specific technique
is required to distribute the mortar on harling trowel. The purpose of the design is to allow the
mortar to place on the harling trowel and allow the user to turn the trowel to paste mortar on
the wall.
- Wheelbarrows
A wheelbarrow is a small, hand-propelled cart that designed to carry moderately sized loads
or heavy construction materials like bricks, cement, rocks, wet concrete, construction waste
and etc. It is worked by one people unless worked by two people with really heavy items.
- Shovel
Shovel is used to carry or move the cement or mortar from floor to pail (referred to videos).
- Nylon String
The string is used to make a straight guideline in constructing brick wall height.
12. - Spirit Level
A spirit level is an instrument designed to indicate whether a surface is horizontal or vertical.
- Claw Hammer
The hammer is used to cut brick into a half-sized brick with its claw.
- Safety goggle
It is a protective eyewear that protects eyes from surrounding area in order to prevent
particulars, water or chemicals from striking the eyes.
- Gloves
Gloves protect the user's hands from general risk such as heat resistance, cut resistance,
chemical resistance, flame retardation, hand visibility, enhanced grip and etc.
- Plastic Pail
The pails are used to carry a small amount of mortar from wheelbarrow to transport to
necessary location or used to carry water to pour into concrete mixer.
13. - Aluminium MasterFinish Screed
This screed is used for smoothing and levelling concrete after it placed on a surface. With
“clamp on’ style handle, it is easier for the user to use on both sides.
3. Material used for Brick Wall
Left to Right: OPC Cement, Sand, Water
OPC Cement from Lafarge S/B
4. Material used for Wall Plastering
Left to Right : Wallcrete Cement, Sand, Water, Aggregate
Wallcrete Cement from Lafarge S/B
Aggregate from W&H Wallcorp S/B
14. Photo and Description
Video 1 – Brick Wall
Figure 1: The worker is laying the bricks with mortar
Video 2 – Concrete-Making by using Concrete Mixer
Figure 2: Two workers are making the cement using concrete mixer. They are using shovel to
move the cement onto wheelbarrow so it can be moved to necessary sites.
Video 3 – Wall Plastering
Figure 3: A worker is doing plastering work using tools like trowel and harling.
15. Conclusion
From this report, I get to understand about the progress of brickwork and the materials
required. I did many types of research on brick wall and plastering to understand the process
of constructing it. I have also developed a better understanding towards the process of
brickwork constructing and different types of building materials, machinery, tools, equipment
and more. I also felt appreciate that the topic given is brick wall so I have the chance to
understand the scope of my father’s work.
Although we did not get the chance for a site visit, but I am still looking forward to
the site visit in next semester so I am able to get to explore and understand what I have
learned in lectures as what a quantity surveyor need to know.
Lastly, I would like to express my respect and appreciation towards all workers who
build buildings for us. Also, I would like to thank all my lecturers, Ms. Ang, Ms. Azrina and
Ms. Hasmanira who guided us in this semester that develop a basic construction knowledge
to everyone in the lecturers.
