Building a brick wall can be intimidating to the novice handyman, but with the right information and preparation, it doesn’t have to be. We’ll show you how to choose the right type of brick wall for your project. We’ll show you what materials you need and where to get them. And we’ll walk you through every step of building a brick wall foundation from beginning to end. Whether this is your first project or if you’ve built many foundations before, our step-by-step guide will help make sure this one goes smoothly.
Build up a base.
You will need to build up a base for the foundation. The base should be at least 4 inches thick and level, sturdy, and at least 2 feet wider than the foundation. It also needs to be at least 2 feet longer than the foundation.
Lay out the form boards and dig a trench.
Lay out the form boards and dig a trench.
The trench should be about 3 inches deep. The form boards should be spaced about a foot apart in a diamond pattern that overlaps at each corner. Make sure to set them so they are level with each other and straight up and down, as this will make it easier for you to pour in the concrete later on. The bottom of the hole should be approximately 4 inches deep so that the rebar isn’t visible in your finished wall once it’s been installed (rebar is what keeps your wall from falling over).
Place the sill plate.
The sill plate is the lowest horizontal structural member of a building foundation. It is typically made of 2-by-12-inch lumber and serves as the base for all other components that will be placed on top of it. The sill plate must be level with, or slightly below, the surface of your crawlspace floor so that you can install floor joists without hammering them into dirt or rock.
To place your sill plate:
- Mark out its location using stakes and string lines to ensure it’s parallel to your wall foundation (i.e., along an axis)
- Dig out any rocks or roots in this area with an excavator if possible; otherwise use a shovel to clear away loose dirt until there are no obstructions within 1 foot from either side of where you want your beam to rest—this way when you pour concrete around it later on they won’t interfere with each other’s stability
Lay in the rebar and connect them together with connectors or tie wire.
Rebar is a steel reinforcing bar used in concrete to make it stronger. It is typically made of galvanized steel, and its primary function is to help hold the concrete together while it hardens. Rebar can also be used to help resist bending and pressure.
Place the form boards over the area you want to pour the concrete and nail them into place.
- Place the form boards over the area you want to pour the concrete and nail them into place.
- Make sure the form boards are level, straight and tight by using a level on top of each board as you nail it into place.
- After nailing each board in place, use a chalk line to mark any places where your lines need to be straightened or corrected before pouring concrete.
Measure and cut two 2-by-4 boards to fit between two stakes.
- Measure and cut two 2-by-4 boards to fit between two stakes. If the posts are close together, you can use a single 2-by-4 board. If they are farther apart, use two 2-by-4 boards. The boards should be long enough to span between the posts and should be the same length as one another (so that they will remain level). These boards will be used as temporary stringers, or supports for the form boards we’ll build later on in this project.
- Position your first stringer at least eight feet away from your stake wall, making sure its top edge is parallel to the ground and level with one another (using a level if necessary). Place some short lengths of wood across each end of this stringer so that it doesn’t move around while you’re working on it—you may want to keep these pieces there until after pouring concrete if you’re using soft ground or loose gravel beneath your form board system (see step 3).
Attach a 4-by-4 inch block to each support post on top of the concrete footing.
- Place the 4-by-4 inch block on top of each support post and use a level to make sure that it’s straight.
- Use a hammer to secure the blocks to the posts. Make sure each block is level and straight by using another level as you hammer in each bolt until it’s tight.
Repeat for all posts along one side of the building, so that the top of each 4-by-4 inch block is level with all others.
Using a level, plumb bob and string, check each post to make sure it is level and plumb. Measure the distance between posts with a tape measure to ensure they are all the same length.
Once you have verified that your posts are properly positioned, add gravel at the bottom of each trench. Use 2x4s around the perimeter of the trench and hammer them down so they form a base for your concrete foundation wall. Mix up a batch of concrete that is twice as strong as what you’d mix for normal use—you want it extra sturdy because this is where your entire house will be built upon! Pour some mortar into one side first, then place bricks on top of it until they’re evenly spaced apart (about 16 inches) going up both sides until they meet in the middle at their tops; repeat this process on both sides until you reach desired height (approximately 6 feet), finishing off by pouring more mortar over top before covering everything with dirt
Insert a nail into each corner formed by two blocks, then run string back and forth along each row of blocks from one end of the foundation to the other, driving nails into each corner as you go.
Insert a nail into each corner formed by two blocks, then run string back and forth along each row of blocks from one end of the foundation to the other, driving nails into each corner as you go. The string is your level, alignment guide and square; it will also help you check for plumb (vertical), perpendicular (at right angles) and squareness.
The process for building a brick wall foundation is similar for both small and large walls.
The process for building a brick wall foundation is similar for both small and large walls. It is relatively simple, quick and inexpensive. The main difference between a small wall and a large one is the amount of time it takes to complete the project. A smaller wall will take less time than larger ones do because you have to do less digging with each row of bricks.
You can build any size of foundation depending on your needs for either residential or commercial properties. If you are just starting out with home improvement projects then we recommend that you start small until you get comfortable with this process before moving onto bigger projects later on down the road when experience has been gained through practice first hand on smaller scale tasks such as this one here today so let’s get started.
Conclusion
Once you’ve poured the concrete and built a form, you’re ready to lay bricks! This is where you can really get creative and have fun with it. Get your kids involved, or invite some friends over to help out. Before you know it, you’ll be on the way to building your dream backyard oasis.
