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Brikmat systems:

1. Lay your first course of blocks without Brikmat and check/set level and alignment. Leave the mortar for a short time to stiffen/set before continuing with the build.

Note: by ensuring that the first course is level and plumb, the Brikmat spacer feet will retain and transfer the level and plumb from the first course to each subsequent course laid. It's worth spending a little more time at this point to save time overall and ensure a first class finish!

2. Lay the Brikmat (steel or plastic) centrally along the full length of all top surfaces of the block work.

Note: as Brikmat sits in each mortar joint, the instruction in this section and sections 3 and 4 applies to each course of blocks laid during the build.

3. Apply an even bed of mortar to cover the Brikmat section, ensuring it is kept central on the blocks. Furrow the mortar with a trowel as normal.

Note: it is not necessary to "bulk up" with mortar, a practice which uses excessive mortar leading to wastage, or "stiffen up" the mortar by adding extra cement, which can cause shrinkage cracks, all of which bricklayers would normally do when using heavy masonry units, as the Brikmat support feet will support the weight of the masonry units until the mortar cures, and prevent bed joint compression from occurring.

4. Press the block down firmly and evenly into the mortar until it comes to rest squarely on the Brikmat support feet, and remove any excess mortar with a trowel as normal.

Note: bricklayers using Brikmat for the first time tend not to push the block down firmly enough. Ensure the block is pushed down until it "hits/rests" squarely on the support feet: this ensures that level and plumb are maintained and transferred to the next course laid.

5. Repeat stages 2 and 3 for each course of blocks laid, and make regular checks for level and plumb, together with gauge height. Users will find that as the masonry is constructed, the courses are level, this being due to the support feet maintaining and transferring the level from the first course laid.  

6. Brikmat guarantees an even and consistent mortar bed throughout the construction, which is especially important when specified masonry gauge heights have to be achieved.

7. Finally, to complete the build, after leaving the mortar to set for a short period, normally between two and three hours, smooth the mortar joints with a pointing tool to the required profile to give a clean and professional finish, and brush down.

The result is a stable, accurate, high quality build which can support its own weight and more without any loss of bed joint height.