In the top course of brickwork, frog should be laid downward.

Bricks should be laid with frogs upwards except in the top brick layer.

Joints should be fully filled with mortar.

Mortar joints should not exceed 6 mm or 0.5 inch in thickness.

Best shaped brick should be used for face work.

Closers should be placed at the end of the walls but not at the other edge.

Vertical joints of alternate brick layer should come directly over one another.

Vertical joints of consecutive brick layer should not come on each other.

Every course of brick should be horizontal.

Bricks should be laid in English bond unless otherwise specified.

For small work, hand mixing may be allowed just as in the case of cement sand mortar.

Lime should be fresh and should be screened.

If specified lime surkhi mortar, should be mixed in 1:2 to 1:3 ratio as specified, by grinding in mortar mill for at least three hours to use on the same day.

Mortar should be mixed with water for one hour work so that mortar may be used before setting.

Then water should be added gradually for workable consistency.

Mixing should be done at least three times.

The platform should be clean for mortar mixing.

Materials of mortar should be first mixed dry to have a uniform color.

To get the required proportion, materials of mortar should be measured with the measuring box.

Cement sand ratio of mortar should be 1:3 to 1:6 as specified.

For weak mortar, local fine sand may be used.

If we want to make rich mortar, sand should be coarse or medium.

Sand should be sharp and free from organic and foreign particles.For mortar, cement should be fresh ordinary Portland cement of standard specifications.Material of mortar should be of standard specifications.Mortar specifications for first class brickwork

Soaking should be for a period of 12 hour before use.

Soaking should be continue until the air bubbles are ceased.

Soaking of bricks should be done by submerging in a tank before use.

See the characteristics of first class bricks.

All of the bricks used should be of first class.

1st class work