Alright, let’s talk about them brick walls, you know, the ones that make up houses and stuff. I ain’t no fancy builder or nothin’, but I seen enough walls in my time to tell ya a thing or two.
First off, them bricks, they ain’t just mud slapped together, ya know. They gotta be made of somethin’ strong, like concrete or clay, baked real good so they don’t crumble. And they come in all sorts of colors, red, brown, even white sometimes, fancy folks like them white ones, I reckon.
Now, you can’t just stack them bricks on top of each other and expect ’em to stay put. You need somethin’ to stick ’em together, that’s where the mortar comes in. It’s like a glue, made of cement or lime, and it goes in between the bricks, keepin’ ’em snug and tight. They put it on real thick, ’bout half an inch or so, both sideways and up and down, so the wall’s strong every which way.
Building the Wall
Buildin’ a wall ain’t just throwin’ bricks around, there’s a way to do it. You gotta lay ’em flat, longways, then sometimes you gotta turn ’em sideways, crossways, ya know, to tie the wall together. That way, it don’t fall over when the wind blows or somethin’. And them walls, they can be straight, or they can be curvy, depends on what you’re buildin’, I guess.
- Straight Walls: Most walls is straight, easy to build, just keep layin’ them bricks in a line.
- Curved Walls: Now, them curvy ones, they take a bit more work. You gotta cut the bricks just right, so they fit together nice and smooth.
- Thick Walls: Some walls is thick, some is thin. The thick ones, they’re stronger, keep the cold out better, I reckon. They start at ’bout four inches thick, but can get way thicker, dependin’ on what ya need.
Different Kinds of Walls
There’s all sorts of walls out there, not just plain brick. Sometimes they put fancy stuff on the outside, like tiles or stones. Makes it look nice, but I don’t see the point, brick’s strong enough on its own, if you ask me. And sometimes they got these walls with spaces in ’em, lets the air flow, they call ’em rainscreens, sounds fancy, huh?
Problems with Walls
Even the best walls can have problems. Sometimes the bricks crack, or the mortar crumbles. That’s usually ’cause the ground ain’t steady, or the weather’s too harsh. And then you gotta fix it, chip out the bad bricks, put in new ones, it’s a pain, let me tell ya. You might try and try, but sometimes you just can’t fix it, like hittin’ your head against a brick wall, they say.
Keeping Water Out
Water is a big problem for walls. If water gets in, it can freeze and crack the bricks and mortar. So, you gotta make sure the water runs off, they put special things on top of the walls, like caps and copings, keeps the water from sittin’ there and doin’ damage.
Details Matter
It’s the little things that make a wall strong. Like makin’ sure them joints between the bricks is filled good, and makin’ sure the wall is level, and plumb. And when you’re puttin’ different things together, like brick and concrete, you gotta make sure they fit together right. If not, you gonna have problems down the road, cracks and leaks and such.
So, that’s about all I know ’bout brick walls. They ain’t rocket science, but they ain’t just piles of dirt neither. They keep us warm and safe, and if they’re built right, they’ll last a long, long time.
Tags: [brick, wall, construction, masonry, mortar, building, material, detail, brickwork, structure]
