A plumb line is used in checking that a brick wall is vertical.
The plumb line is usually tied round and notched into a board which is then placed on the top course. The end of the plumb line hangs down the wall - gravity gives you a vertical line downwards. This gives you a perpendicular guide while you’re constructing a wall.
A roller pointing tool uses different blades for shaping different shaped joints between stretchers and courses. i.e it creates smooth pointing within brickwork.
Alternatively, you can use a piece of sacking to smooth out flush joints or for inverted joints you could use a bent piece of copper tubing or even a piece of hosepipe.
A brick bolster is used for cutting bricks into various shapes and sizes. This implement should always be used with protective goggles.
A brick bolster is typically spade shaped and incorporates a 100mm blade width.
The English Garden Wall is usually constructed using three courses of parallel stretchers alternated with one header course (a course of bricks laid horizontally).
In order to stagger the header course you will need to lay closers (infill bricks).
This can be used for a one brick wall, but is not as stable as a flemish bond. During construction you will need to add movement joints.
A wall constructed using flemish bonds is simply a variation on the stretcher method.
Pairs of parallel stretchers going length ways alternate with one brick going horizontal across the course - this gives you a slightly thicker wall of 215mm.
The joints within alternate courses are staggered by closers. Walls using the flemish technique are know as “one brick walls”. This type of bond gives you a thicker and much stronger sort of brick wall.
This method requires some where in the region of 110 bricks per 0.8 sq m. The foundations for a one brick wall up to 1.2m should be 0.5m deep. The foundations should comprise 25 cm of concrete and 25 cm of hardcore. If the wall is any higher then you will need to seek professional advice as to depth and composition.
