- 1). Mix mortar with water per your chosen product instructions. Use a paddle mixer to stir up the mixture; it should have the consistency of plastic or thick peanut butter by the time you are done.
- 2). Load a mason's trowel with mortar. Spread a layer of mortar on the front portion of your foundation, 1 inch thick, as wide (moving front to back) as one of your bricks and as long (moving side to side) as three to four of your bricks combined. Work only in these small sections or the mortar will dry before you can apply the bricks.
- 3). Set the first brick firmly in place and press down so excess mortar runs from below the brick. If necessary, for a lot of excess, scrape some away with the point of the trowel.
- 4). Spread a thin layer of mortar onto the face of the second brick that will connect to the first. Press the second brick firmly in place against the first so that mortar squeezes from below, as well as from the joint between the two bricks. Use a level to ensure that the two bricks sit completely even with each other. If necessary, tap one of the bricks down into place with the handle of the trowel to ensure levelness.
- 5). Spread a second long layer of mortar onto the rear portion of the foundation surface, behind the first; the wall must feature two layers of bricks for proper support. Repeat laying the first and second bricks of this secondary course the same way you did the first.
- 6). Continue to spread mortar and lay bricks in both courses of bricks, all the way along the length of the wall, until you complete the first layer. Be sure to check for levelness and to scrape away excess mortar with the point of the trowel.
- 7). Don safety goggles. Cut two bricks in half by scoring the center line with a chisel and hammer, and then using the chisel to cut through the scored line. These bricks will serve as the first bricks for both courses for the second tier of the wall, ensuring that joints between bricks are staggered for a stronger hold.
- 8). Lay the second tier of the wall using the same method used for the first. When you come to the end of the second layer, use the other halves of the first two bricks to finish the layer. Be sure to check for level after laying each brick in all courses.
- 9). Use full bricks on the ends of the third tier of bricks, half bricks for the fourth tier ends, and so on. Continue to lay mortar and bricks all the way up the wall until you have reached the desired height.
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