Most people will choose summer and autumn months for their brick laying and masonry projects. Their goal is to ensure the weather is nicer so it is safer to work outside and to avoid issues with working in the cold. However, there are also some issues when you work in really hot conditions. As one of the leading brick layers Bradford has, we want to share some advice about this.
What is the biggest problem?
The thing you have to keep in mind is that the hotter it is outside, the faster the mortar will set. This happens because of a number of reasons. Firstly the water in the mix will evaporate faster. Secondly, hot bricks will absorb more of the moisture from the mortar. In the worst cases this can take too much water from the mix and result in crumbly masonry. In addition, working with hot cement and sand is a problem too. It will have a big impact on the quality of the mortars.
What do you need to do?
One of the most important things to do is to keep the materials as cool as possible. You should store all sand, cement, and bricks in the shade so they are not warming up in the sun. That means they will be cooler when you come to use them and avoid some of the issues with absorbing too much water. You can even lightly dampen the bricks.
Another good tip is to use smaller batches of mortar. It may be more practical to do a large batch but the longer it sits, the more water will evaporate. That can mean it becomes harder to work with and does not create good quality joints. The best thing to do is keep each batch small and do a new one when you are running low. When you are not laying the mortar you should use a damp cover to protect it.
A final tip is to make sure you are working with cold water where possible. Some sites don’t have access to mains supplies so water is in tanks or barrels. However, if it gets too warm it will cause big problems. It is worse to use hot water to mix mortar than it is to use hot sand or cement.
Call us for brick layers in Bradford
Best Brickwork is a company that sets very high standards. We prioritise excellent workmanship, ensuring we are helping to create structures that will last. In addition, we want the walls to be great aesthetically. That is why we take our time and maximise the quality.
So, if you are thinking of a project, choose us to work with the top brick layers Bradford has. You can rely on us for repairs, new builds, extensions, and more. We even offer masonry, blockwork, and ashlar walls.