Function of Mortar in Brick Walls

Question

Explain the function of mortar in brick walls?

Answer 1

A typical brick wall structure normally contains the following components:

a) coping on top of brick wall in order to protect it from the weather;
b) firm foundation in order to support the loads on brick wall; and
c) damp course close to the base of brick wall to prevent the existence of increasing damp from the ground.

Bricks are bedded on the mortar that serves the given purposes:

a) bond the bricks as single unit to help resisting lateral loads;
b) render brick wall as weatherproof and waterproof; and
c) provide even beds to improve constant distribution of loads.