Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Chapter 12 Laying Brick 251 12.4.2 Hollow Brick Pier Piers are similar to columns except they are shorter and generally do not support a load. They are commonly used as gateposts at corners or openings or ends of a wall. For example, a garden wall with piers is generally referred to as a pier and panel wall because the piers are used to brace the wall panels. Prior to constructing the pier and wall panel, a foundation wall and footing must be constructed at a required depth below the frost line. Check with the local building official to determine the exact depth required for the footing. Footing and foundation construction is dis- cussed in Chapter 15, Foundation Systems. Piers can be constructed of a one-wythe wall 4″ thick. The bond pattern is usually staggered so the wall is tied together from a different side in each course in an interlocking fashion. Piers that are exposed to the weather must be capped to prevent water from entering at the top. Weep holes may be required. 5. Lay the seventh course as a header course with full mortar joints. 6. Continue to lay the wall until you reach the height where the corbel course is to begin. Check your progress often to be sure the wall is plumb and straight. 7. Begin the corbel course by projecting headers out 3/4″ beyond the course below. Fill the extra wide head joint with mortar. 8. Lay the second corbel course using stretchers along the front and headers along the back wythe. Fill in the space between with bats. Be sure the course is level and straight. 9. Lay the third corbel course using stretchers on the front and back wythes and three-quarter headers between the two wythes. Each corbel should project out 3/4″ beyond the course below. 10. Lay the next course the same as the first course of the wall—headers on the front wythe and stretchers on the back wythe. Continue the wall to the desired height. 11. Finish all joints when the mortar has set to thumbprint hard. 12. Clean the wall with the trowel and bricklayer’s brush. Code Note Pier Cap The International Residential Code (IRC) specifies that hollow piers should have 4″ (102 mm) of solid masonry or concrete cap, a masonry cap block, or cavities of the top course filled with concrete or grout. Laying a 16″ by 20″ Hollow Brick Pier The following procedure is suggested for laying a 16″ by 20″ hollow brick pier. See Figure 12-67. 12.5 Cleaning New Masonry The finished appearance of a masonry wall depends not only on the skill used in laying the units but on the cleaning procedure as well. The appearance of a masonry structure can be ruined by improper clean- ing. In many instances, the damage caused by faulty cleaning techniques or use of the wrong cleaning agent cannot be repaired. All cleaning should be applied to a sample test area of approximately 20 sq ft. Take the following general precautions to promote a cleaner wall during construction: ■ ■ Protect the base of the wall from rain-splashed mud and mortar splatter. ■ ■ At the end of the day, turn scaffold boards that are near the wall on their edges. This prevents possible rainfall from splashing mortar and dirt directly on the completed masonry. P R O C E D U R E Laying a 16″ by 20″ Hollow Brick Pier 1. Prior to constructing the pier, a footing and foundation needs to be built. The depth of the footing is determined by the local or state frost codes. Contact your local building official to determine the correct footing depth. 2. Locate the exact position of the pier on the foundation and snap a chalk line to preserve the location of the outside faces of the brick. 3. Lay the bed course on a generous mortar bed. Check the brick to be sure that they are level and straight and that the corners are square. You may use either 1/2″ or 3/8″ joints. Refer to the first course plan in Figure 12-67. 4. Lay the second course as shown in the second course plan. Brick should be positioned so head joints are offset to provide an interlocking connection. Level, plumb, and square the course. 5. Lay successive courses alternating the patterns used in the first and second courses until the pier has reached the desired height. Twelve courses should be adequate for practice. Avoid dropping any mortar inside the pier. 6. When the mortar is thumbprint hard, tool the joints and clean off any fins with the trowel. Clean the surface with a bricklayer’s brush. 7. Piers and brick walls need to receive a cap. Pier caps can be made of concrete or stone, depending on the desired effect and application.