Mortar mix for internal load bearing wall, engineering bricks

[OldKettle]

Hi,
I just wanted to check that the following mortar mix would be appropriate for a bricking up a hole (900mm x 600mm) in an internal loading bearing wall (using Class B engineering bricks).

3 parts building sand
1 part cement
No lime
+ Bostik Cementone Mortar Plasticiser

Any thoughts much appreciated.

 

[tony1851]

That sounds more than adequate but equally - if not more important - is ensuring that the new brickwork is either bonded to the existing wall, or mechanically fixed with two or three brackets.

 

[OldKettle]

Thanks.

I've done the first three courses. First bricks I've ever laid, so I realise that they aren't going to win any beauty prizes, but do they look good enough? (whole wall is going to be battened and plasterboarded so aesthetics are not a problem)

Can you see any fundamental problems? I think the mortar mix was OK, but because the drill attachment didn't fit, I mixed it by hand rather than with a paddle mixer as planned.

Any further thoughts would be much appreciated.

 

[stuart45]

Looks a neat job, but you could put a few more ties in.

 

[^woody^]

^

 

[HERTS P&D]

Woody, I think Stuart was taking the Michael.

 

[^woody^]

Woody, I think Stuart was taking the Michael.

Yes, I know. It made me laugh.

 

[EddieM]

What's at the top of the void? If some form of lintel/steel, then why engineering bricks?

 

[OldKettle]

Woody, I think Stuart was taking the Michael.

Thanks for all the gentle support Nobody has pointed out anything catastrophic, which is all I wanted to check.

What's at the top of the void? If some form of lintel/steel, then why engineering bricks?

There is a concrete lintel at the top. Those bricks were just the cheapest at Wickes (56p) so, as it is an internal wall, I thought there was no point getting anything else. I'm also going to be bricking up a similar sized hole in the same wall that currently has a gas flue box in it.

 

[EddieM]

Thanks for all the gentle support Nobody has pointed out anything catastrophic, which is all I wanted to check.



There is a concrete lintel at the top. Those bricks were just the cheapest at Wickes (56p) so, as it is an internal wall, I thought there was no point getting anything else. I'm also going to be bricking up a similar sized hole in the same wall that currently has a gas flue box in it.

Fair enough, would blocks have been cheaper?

 

[OldKettle]

Fair enough, would blocks have been cheaper?

On unit price, yes, but taking into account the quantity and the delivery cost, I couldn't find anything else cheaper locally.