Bricks, Masonry, Asphalt and Concrete - Used Brick
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CA LADY
09-28-02, 07:41 PM
Two questions regarding used brick: (1) What is the easiest and best way to clean loose used brick. (2) They are to be used for an entry courtyard. What is the best setting?....sand or mortar?
Thanks.
Thanks.
pmgca
09-28-02, 09:02 PM
Hi,
About how to clean the used brick, if it is common dirty, use just water. You can fill a bucket with clean water, and clean one at each time.
Most products (soap, chlorine) can spot the bricks.
About how to set them, bricks are not compact and hard units, so if you place them with sand, they are not going to set uniformly and they are going to crack. Mortar is the best option.
Hope this helps
About how to clean the used brick, if it is common dirty, use just water. You can fill a bucket with clean water, and clean one at each time.
Most products (soap, chlorine) can spot the bricks.
About how to set them, bricks are not compact and hard units, so if you place them with sand, they are not going to set uniformly and they are going to crack. Mortar is the best option.
Hope this helps
Canoe Peter
09-29-02, 12:29 PM
Hi,
if you refere `cleaning´ just to common dirt, try this:
Instead of brushing each brick on it´s own, lay them first and
clean them afterwards with a coarse broom and just water.
As to the bed: sand is not reliable as it tends to float away and
also gives way if punktual loaded (car tires, i.e.).
If frost is an issue where you live, mortar is not a good idea either:
The bricks may freeze up.
You should put your bricks onto a bed of very fine gravel, about 2 inches thick. If you plan to drive on your finished bricked yard,
put a bed of compacted, coarse gravel underneath the finer gravel.
My last home had a driveway, made that way, and we where able to
drive with 5ton trucks on it without damage.
if you refere `cleaning´ just to common dirt, try this:
Instead of brushing each brick on it´s own, lay them first and
clean them afterwards with a coarse broom and just water.
As to the bed: sand is not reliable as it tends to float away and
also gives way if punktual loaded (car tires, i.e.).
If frost is an issue where you live, mortar is not a good idea either:
The bricks may freeze up.
You should put your bricks onto a bed of very fine gravel, about 2 inches thick. If you plan to drive on your finished bricked yard,
put a bed of compacted, coarse gravel underneath the finer gravel.
My last home had a driveway, made that way, and we where able to
drive with 5ton trucks on it without damage.
pmgca
09-29-02, 01:11 PM
Hi,
Use the brick without washing could be a not good option. Even common dirty makes an invisible layer that avoids bricks to set properly. That is why, before to set a brick in a wall, you need to wet the bricks or blocks. In this way, you allow the brick to absorb water, for a perfect placement.
You can't set your bricks if it is freezing, but there are not restrictions about the use of mortar in bricks' walls, driveways, or any other outside work, in freezing regions
About the gravel, could be an issue, depending of ground type.
Hope this helps!
Use the brick without washing could be a not good option. Even common dirty makes an invisible layer that avoids bricks to set properly. That is why, before to set a brick in a wall, you need to wet the bricks or blocks. In this way, you allow the brick to absorb water, for a perfect placement.
You can't set your bricks if it is freezing, but there are not restrictions about the use of mortar in bricks' walls, driveways, or any other outside work, in freezing regions
About the gravel, could be an issue, depending of ground type.
Hope this helps!