QUESTION 1 : I have just finished building and my clay brickwork is covered with a white

deposit. What is it and how can I get rid of it?

ANSWER : Your brickwork is showing signs of efflorescence. This is a deposit of crystallized
salts which may appear on the brickwork as it dries out. There is no cause for alarm. The deposit
will probably wash off in the first shower of rain. If not, it can be removed with a firm bristle
brush. There is absolutely no need to use chemicals, acids or any other proprietary treatment to
solve this problem.

QUESTION 2 : I am going to use clay face bricks for the first time. Ive seen walls on face
brick buildings that look patchy because the bricks are slightly different colours. How can I
avoid this?
ANSWER : Clay face bricks are a natural product so slight colour variations are to be expected. It
is however not desirable to have a few dark bricks on an otherwise light shaded wall. This gives the
patchy effect that you mention. The solution is simple. Always have at least two packs of bricks on
site and draw from each pack as you work. This is known as on-site blending and will ensure that
you achieve an overall evenness of shade and tone. Never build from one pack of bricks at a time.

QUESTION 3 : I built my house with clay face bricks and the walls have started to leak.
Whats wrong with the bricks?
ANSWER : It is extremely rare to find brick walls that leak due to a fault in the brick. Damp is
usually the result of poor construction techniques, inadequate window and sill detailing, lack of
proper damp proof coursing and /or cracked walls. Buildings must be properly constructed with
appropriate damp coursing, cavity walls where appropriate and suitable roof overhangs in order to
avoid water ingress. NB: A cracked exterior face brick wall will not lead to water penetration if
correct waterproofing techniques have been followed.

QUESTION 4 : How strong will my clay brick building be?
ANSWER : Generally speaking, loads imposed on brickwork are very small in comparison with
the load which the brickwork carries. Brickwork is strong under compression, so the greater the
load imposed on the brickwork, the more stable it becomes. When building boundary walls and
other free-standing brick structure make sure that you provide appropriate foundations and
reinforcing.

QUESTION 5 : How can I clean brickwork?
ANSWER : During construction, protect the brickwork from cement smear, paint and other
substances. Once finished, buildings constructed from clay bricks, clay face bricks, and clay
roofing tiles require little or no maintenance. We do not recommend the application of unnecessary
and costly sealants on our products. Click here for more information (how to care for clay brick)

QUESTION 6 : I would like to use clay bricks (or specifically, clay face bricks) but I think
they may be too expensive.
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ANSWER : Because brickwork is the largest visible component of a building, the perception exists
that the major cost of a building must be the brickwork. However, this is not the case. They are in
fact extremely cost effective. The cost of clay plaster bricks and clay face bricks for an average
house is between 6% and 8% of the total building costs. The cost of clay face bricks and plaster
bricks for a non-residential building (factory or office block) is approx 2% - 3% of the total
building costs. In the case of clay face brick building, once the plaster and paint component is
added to the building process and the long term maintenance cost of repainting and replastering is
added to the life of the building, clay face brick is a clear cost winner.

QUESTION 7 : How many bricks, how much cement, and how much sand will I need for my
project?
ANSWER : To lay 1 000 bricks in a Class II mortar (1:6 mix) will require 0,5m sand and 2,5 x
50kg bags of cement.

BRICK QUANTITIES
BRICK
FORMAT
WORK SIZE BRICKS PER M BASED ON
SINGLE-SKIN CONSTRUCTION
WITH 12MM JOINTS
SQUARE METRES
PER 1000 BRICKS
Imperial
(Standard)
222 x 106 x
73mm
52 19.23
CoroMaxi 90*
222 x 90 x
114mm
34 29.40
CoroMaxi
140**
290 x 140 x
114mm
27 37.00
* Only available in KwaZulu-Natal and Western Cape ** Only available in KwaZulu-Natal.


MORTAR MIX PROPORTIONS
Good brickwork is
impossible without good
mortar!
Mortar plasticizer (eg. Lime) should not be used with
masonry cement. A plasticizer may only be used with the
approval of the designer.
1000litres =1m
1 Bag Cement =33 litres
2 Bagx =1 Builders Barrow
(65 litres)
Mortar sand should comply with the requirements of SABS
1090 Sand for Plaster & Mortar.
If masonry cement is used,
reduce volume of sand by
10%.
Use only enough water to produce a workable mix that
spreads easily.


PROPORTION OF MORTAR
CLASS CEMENT:SAND COMMON
CEMENT
SAND BRICKS LAID IN
230MM WALL
(APPROX.)
I 1:4
1 bag =50kg =
33litres
130 litres 300

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II 1:6
1 bag =50kg =
33litres
200 litres 410
III 1:9
1 bag =50kg =
33litres
300 litres 590
NB: No allowance has been made for waste. Where poor workmanship and / or poor supervision are
encountered the number of bricks laid can easily be reduced by 25% - 30%.
The applications of the different classes of mortar are as follows:
Class I
Highly stressed masonry, incorporating high strength structural units such as might be used in multi-
storey load bearing building
Class II
Normal load bearing applications, as well as parapets, balustrades, free-standing and garden walls
and other walls exposed to possible severe dampness.
Class III
Lightly stressed (e.g. single-storey) walls where exposure to dampness is not severe.
Note
Increasing mortar strength reduces the ability of the structure to accommodate movement due to
settlement, temperature and moisture changes

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