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The reference work for the masonry trade: bonds and joints, brick and mortar consumption, foundations and rendering — explained so it can be used on site.
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Become a bricklayerGet started · 5 minThe bricklaying trade builds the country brick by brick: façades, foundations, chimneys, tiling and plaster. It is a craft with a visible result, a strong sense of teamwork on site and a straight path from apprentice to journeyman — with pay during training. Here is why you should consider the trade.Pavers per m² — why it isn't a single fixed figureMeasurement · 6 minThe number of bricks per m² depends on the brick format and the joint width. Here's how to work it out yourself instead of looking up a figure.Bond and joints — what governs the consumptionMasonry · 10 minThe bond and joint width determine the appearance, the strength, and how many bricks and how much mortar are used.Mortar — joint volume and what affects consumptionMortar & render · 11 minMortar consumption is first and foremost the volume of the joints, but mixing, suction and method shift the real consumption.Foundation and concrete volume — from drawing to m³Concrete & foundation · 11 minHow to work out the concrete quantity for a foundation as pure geometry, and which classes are determined by the designer.Rendering — layer thickness, substrate and consumptionMortar & render · 10 minRender volume is area times layer thickness, but the substrate and its suction determine the actual consumption and durability.The standard hierarchy for masonry – Eurocode 6 in DenmarkStandards & legislation · 7 minBrickwork in Denmark is designed according to Eurocode 6 (DS/EN 1996 series) with Danish national annex. Here is the hierarchy, what is mandatory, and the trap with the new 2022 version.Compressive strength for masonry — the f_k formula in Eurocode 6Sizing · 12 minCharacteristic compressive strength for masonry f_k is calculated as K · f_b^0,70 · f_m^0,30. Here are the K coefficients, the limits and a worked example.Slenderness and load-bearing capacity of masonry wallSizing · 12 minA masonry wall must be checked for slenderness (λ ≤ 27) and for load-bearing capacity N_Rd = Φ·f_d·A. Here is the Eurocode 6 method step by step.Wall ties — quantity, placement and corrosion classMasonry · 10 minWall ties connect the outer and inner leaf in cavity walls and facing walls. Here are the minimum numbers per wall type, edge rules and when the ties must be corrosion-resistant.Moisture barrier and foundation paper — layers, placement and radonMoisture & wet rooms · 10 minBuilding paper as damp proof membrane at foundation and plinth — two layers in cavity wall, 150 mm above ground level, 20° slope, and how the membrane also plays a role in radon protection per BR18 §332.Frost classes and exposure classes for clay bricksMaterials · 10 minThe frost resistance of clay bricks is given in class F0, F1 or F2 according to DS/EN 771-1. Here is the link to the exposure classes MX1–MX5, and why driving rain decides whether a facade is MX3.1 or MX3.2.Wet rooms — membrane, slope and tile adhesiveMoisture & wet rooms · 14 minWet rooms require an approved membrane, a fall towards the floor drain and an adhesive that suits the system. Here are the requirements from BR18 § 339, the guidance on SBi Guidelines 252 and the tile adhesive standard in one place.Quality assurance in masonry — the QA package in practiceQuality assurance · 8 minWhen is quality assurance a legal requirement, and what does the executive order require of the contractor? Here are the rules for social housing, the common numbering x.100–x.700 and the check points that count most on site.History of the bricklaying trade — from craft to constructionThe craft's history · 7 minThe bricklaying trade is among the oldest Danish crafts, and it has developed from a purely empirical trade to a norm-governed discipline. Here we follow the trails that can be documented: the arrival of brick in the Middle Ages, the trade in guilds, the standardization of mortar and bonding, the transition to Eurocode 6 and today's education and focus on documentation. Claims that cannot be traced to a source have been deliberately omitted.Work environment and safety in masonryWork environment & safety · 11 minThe four major occupational hazards of masonry are respirable quartz dust, wet cement, heavy lifting and falls from height. Here are the exposure limits, specific rules and protections that safeguard body and lungs throughout a working life.Chimneys and fireplaces — construction, fire and draughtChimney & fireplace · 11 minBricklaying chimneys and fireplaces is classic masonry work with strict fire and draught requirements. Here is the chimney's structure, DS/EN 1443 classes, distance to combustible material and rules for notification to the municipality.Winter masonry and weather precautionsMasonry · 10 minMortar does not cure at low temperatures, and frost in fresh mortar damages the masonry. Here are the temperature limits, winter mortar and additives, and how to protect fresh masonry from frost, rain and drying out.Restoration of old masonry — lime, rewetting and conservationRestoration & preservation · 12 minMuch of masonry work is renovation of older and listed buildings, where modern cement mortar directly damages the soft, vapour-open masonry. This is where lime and hydraulic lime, humidification, repointing, and conservation principles come in.Lintels, sockets and openings in masonryMasonry · 12 minEvery door and window opening requires a load-bearing lintel. Here are the lintel types, requirements for bearing and support, and the classic brick arches — arch, flat arch and plank arch.Tiled roof and roof covering — laying of tile and concrete roof tilesRoof & roof covering · 12 minLaying clay and concrete roof tiles is classic masonry/roofing work. Here is the roof's structure from bottom to top, batten spacing based on tile coverage, roof underlay's role, roof edge and hip — and why storm securing is crucial.Masonry and bonding — autoclaved aerated concrete and aerated concrete blocksMasonry · 11 minBack walls and light partition walls are today often built in light brick or pore concrete blocks with thin joint/glue mortar. It is a different technique than brick with KC mortar: first course in mortar, blocks glued with thin joint, tight tolerances and dust considerations when cutting dry.Movement and dilation joints in masonryMasonry · 11 minTemperature and moisture movement in long cavity walls causes cracks if the masonry cannot work. Vertical movement joints absorb the movement. Here is why brick expands and concrete shrinks, where joints are placed, and how they are formed with sliding ties and elastic joint sealant.Building technical drawing reading and measuringMeasurement · 11 minReading plans, sections, elevations and details, understanding scale, dimensions and building symbols, and carrying out material take-offs is a fundamental masonry competence. Here are the drawing types, standard scales, the dimension system and the path from drawing to stone, mortar and concrete quantities.Energy refurbishment and retrofitting insulation of masonryEnergy & renovation · 11 minRetrofitting of masonry is a growing part of the craft: cavity wall insulation, internal and external retrofitting. Here are the three methods, their thermal bridges and moisture risks — and why internal insulation is the one that most often goes wrong.The journeyman's test for bricklayers — how it worksEducation · 6 minThe journeyman's test is the last exam of the education. Here are the rules from the education regulations for bricklayers that apply from 1 August 2026: when and who, exam form A or B, the 40 and 50 clock hours, the weighting 1/3 and 2/3 — and that you may use generative AI.Reclaimed bricks — documentation and carbon accountingMaterials · 6 minReclaimed bricks save CO₂, but they must be documented before they may be laid again. Here are the five properties DS/INF 167 requires to be documented, why bond is the special thing about reclaimed bricks, and BR18's limit values for climate impact.The bricklayer's Denmark in figures — what the houses are built ofGet started · 5 minHow many brick houses are there, when were they built, what are the roofs made of, and where can there be asbestos? Four charts with figures from the Building and Housing Register (BBR) via Grundfast, updated every night — and what to watch out for when you read a register figure.Asbestos — rules and safe workWork environment · 9 minOld insulation can contain asbestos. Since 21 December 2025 a new Asbestos Executive Order applies, and everyone who carries out asbestos work must have AMU training. Here are the rules step by step: pre-survey, notification, cordoning off, low-dust methods, protective equipment, waste and the limit value, which falls from 0,003 to 0,002 fibres per cm³ on 21 December 2029.ID cards on large construction sitesWork environment · 4 minThe Danish Parliament has passed an act on ID cards on construction sites with a construction sum over DKK 100 million. Here are which sites are covered, what the card must show, who is responsible for it, and the rules on checking in and out. The date of entry into force has not yet been set.