How to build the brick house foundation

Building foundation formwork

Step 1: Dig the trenches for the concrete foundation. A brick house needs a sturdy foundation,
therefore you have to dig deep trenches and install a rigid structure of reinforcing bars. Consult a
qualified structural engineer to determine the depth of the footings (according to the soil
structure) and the needed amount of rebars.
Step 2: Build the wooden form for the concrete foundation. Before pouring the concrete you
have to use 210 wooden boards to build the form and secure it with 24 braces. Brick House
Construction
Step 3: Pour the concrete foundation. If you want to keep costs as low as possible, you could
mix the concrete by yourself with a power mixer. Nevertheless, it will take longer and the
concrete wouldnt have the same quality as the one from your local company (they add
special additives to enhance the concrete rigidity).
Step 4: The foundation will dry out is several weeks. Nevertheless, you should leave it for about
one week and then you can build the brick walls. The first step is to move the bricks on the
concrete slab and to lay the walls.

How to build the brick house

Building brick house
Step 5: Build the brick walls as straight as possible, using a string to guide you. After you lay
each row, you should raise the string. Leave about 1/3 between the bricks and use mortar to
secure them.
Step 6: Leave enough space for windows and door openings, following the house plans. Use a
plumb line or a large spirit level to make sure the walls are perfectly vertical. After you have lain
six rows of bricks, you should use metal ties to secure the wall to the pillars.

Building ceiling formwork

Step 7: Build the form-work for the concrete ceiling. In order to pour a concrete ceiling, you
have to use 210 wooden boards and 44 posts to support the weight of the rebar structure and
of the concrete. If you can afford, we recommend you to rent adjustable metal posts, as they will
secure the ceiling formwork better.
Step 8: Pour the interior concrete stairs once with the ceiling. In this manner, the concrete stairs
will bond to the ceiling and increase the rigidity of your house. Read more about how to pour
concrete interior stairs.
Work with great care and with good judgement, as to get the job done in a professional manner.
Use a spirit level to make sure the walls are perfectly plumb and a tape measure to check if the
measurements are accurate. Use the right mix of concrete for every job, otherwise the foundation
and the ceiling might crack over time.
Building concrete ceiling
Step 9: Install the reinforcing structure for the concrete ceiling. As you can see in the image, you
need to install a dense net of rebars and beams over the walls. In addition, we recommend you to
place a plastic foil under the reinforcing structure, otherwise the concrete juice would leak
through the gaps between the wooden boards.
Step 10: Pour the concrete ceiling. Compute the needed volume of concrete and order it to your
local concrete company. Rent a pomp and vibrate the concrete, to remove the air pockets.
Building brick walls
Step 11: Build the brick walls in the same manner as shown above. Remember that the concrete
pillars must be rigid and bond the walls together.
Step 12: Make sure you use the right mix of mortar, otherwise the bricks wont be secured
properly. Work with great attention and wear appropriate safety gear for each procedure. Take
accurate measurements and follow the plans, otherwise you would spend a great amount of
money to fix the issues.
Building wood floor
Step 13: Use large wooden beams to build the attic flooring or pour a concrete ceiling. Next, you
have to fasten wooden boards to the beams, making sure they are in great condition (they should
not be cracked, curved or chipped).

If you cannot handle these procedures by yourself, you should hire a qualified team of builders.
From our experience, we can assert that building a brick house is not an easy job especially if
you dont have any expertise in the field.
Brick house construction
Step 14: Use wooden beams and boards to build the roof of your brick house. Work
with patience and make sure you follow the construction plans. Next, you have to insulate the
roof against the heat and vapors, by installing tar paper.
Step 15: Install asphalt or metal shingles to your roof, to protect it against rain. Each of these
approaches has its own advantages and disadvantages (the metal shingles are more durable), but
you should choose the one which fits you needs and budget.
How to build a brick house
Step 16: After you have built the brick house, you should install the windows. Therefore,
measure the window openings and order them from your local supplier. From our experience, we
recommend you to install Pvc windows, as they are very durable, easy to maintain and insulate
your house properly.
The Pvc windows come in a large variety of shapes, colors and designs, so that you can choose
the one which fit your needs and tastes best. If you dont like their aspect, you could
install pricier windows, with a more exquisite look.

How to finish brick house

Electrical system for brick house
Step 18: Install the water pipes and the electrical cables in the brick walls. Create grooves in the
brick walls and fit the electric cables and the water pipes inside them. Afterwards, the cement
render will cover the groves and secure the pipes into location.
Smart tip: From our experience, we recommend you to mark the location of the electric cables
and pipes in a notebook, to avoid accidents when driving in screws to the walls (hanging a
picture or a cabinet).
Cement rendering walls
Step 17: Cement render the brick walls. Use a power mixer to prepare cement render and cover
the walls till you obtain a nice finish. There are cases in which you could apply the plaster
directly over the brick walls, but in most of the cases it is advisable to cement render the walls
first. This process is time consuming, but if you understand the basic techniques, you will get the

job done in a professional manner. Use a spirit level to make sure the walls are perfectly plumb.
In addition, work with great care and apply the cement render as uniformly as possible.
Insulating house with polystyrene sheets
Step 19: Install polystyrene sheets insulation on the exterior walls. The installation of
polystyrene sheets will improve the thermal insulation of your house, while keeping costs under
control. If you use quality and efficient bricks, there are situations in which you dont have to
add the insulation layer, but in most of the cases the polystyrene sheets will decrease the heating
costs during winter by 30-50%. You can finish the polystyrene insulation with mud and then
apply texture paint. If you use the right techniques, the exterior finish will resist for many years,
just make sure you use quality materials.
Painting brick house
Step 20: After you have applied the texture paint on the polystyrene insulation, you
should dissemble the scaffolding and continue the work by installing the front door and the
interior doors.
Remember that a brick house has many advantages as compared to light constructions, but you
have to put a lot of effort in order to obtain a great result. Therefore, you have to use the right
mix of concrete for each job, follow the plans and take accurate measurements.
Leveling screed
Step 21: Pour screed to cover the heating pipes and the electric cables. Screeding a floor is not
difficult if you use a straight edge and a large level, to make sure the floor is perfectly horizontal.
In most of the cases, the layer of screed should be around 2, as to cover the irregularities and the
cables, but you can adjust it to fit your needs. The screed is a mix of sharp sand and cement and
it should be semi-dy.
If you can afford, we recommend you to pour a thin layer of self leveling screed to make the
floor perfectly horizontal.