If new
brickwork is not protected at the end of a working day, it can easily
be damaged by the weather.
For example, if
rain or snow build up on the top of walls, the brickwork can become saturated. This can lead to efflorescence or can cause leaching of lime from
the mortar joints.
Also, when new
brickwork is wet, a frost could turn the water to ice and cause the
bricks and mortar joints to crack.
1
Polythene sheeting
Lay
a plank on the top of the brickwork and then use polythene sheeting to
protect the sides.
You can use bricks to hold the polythene sheeting down.
An air gap must be left between the sheeting and the brickwork to allow it to dry naturally without sweating.
In frosty winter months you should use
a sheet of hessian material underneath the
polythene to insulate the brickwork.
2 Scaffolding boardsAs
brickwork is built, drops of mortar will fall on to scaffolding boards next to
the wall.
At the end of a working day these boards need to be cleaned to stop rain splashing the mortar up on to the walls.This can leave a tide mark effect on the wall where the mortat has splashed up.You
can also turn back the scaffolding boards away from the wall to leave a gap.