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Bricklaying Courses
This bespoke course is for anyone wishing to build a house extension, the course centers on teaching you the skills and knowledge required to build the extension, including building regulations, the needs of other trades, and structural requirements, it is a hands on practical course for 4 weeks and includes a Goldtrowel training certificate.
4.9 All Levels Over 8,000 enrolled
Goldtrowel will teach you all the practical bricklaying skills required to successfully build a house extension, the course focus is on teaching you the bricklaying skills to set out your build, lay bricks and blocks and how to build structural elements, learn about foundation types and requirements, how to understand and work from drawings, working with and liaising with professionals (building inspectors, architects, councils) costings and contingencies, this course is aimed at single story extensions but you are welcome to bring your own drawings if available.
During training please feel free to ask any questions you have, we actually welcome your questions, and remember there is no such thing as a `stupid` question! your training will not be rushed, we know exactly how to get every individual to their best, you will be working in large open area's both inside and outside (weather permitting) so that you learn how the environment conditions affect your bricklaying, the bricks, blocks and other materials are of the same standard found in everyday construction builds.
Pre-course Study Guide and After Care Support
Before starting your course you will have access to our unique Goldtrowel 
purpose made full colour illustrated training manual which you can download or print.
Upon completion of your course you can call our helpful and friendly staff if ever you need advice or guidance on any matter. Goldtrowel also offer and can supply bricklaying tools and equipment, ensuring you don`t waste time and money on inferior tools, this package is unique to Goldtrowel students.
Monday
Each technique is demonstrated before you proceed with your first practical exercise. With this day over you would have built a single skin brick wall in Stretcher Bond with returns and piers. Correct footings for walls are also discussed.
Tuesday
A demonstration of various brickwork bonds proceeds your practical exercise for today which will be to build a double skinned wall with a pier and a return.
We cover English Bond, Flemish Bond and a variety of Garden Wall Bonds. We also cover using creasing tiles and brick on edge coping.
Wednesday
Therefore we start with theory on damp-proof courses and cavities, and then you will start to build a small extension / porch module to building regulations using face brickwork and lightweight blocks incorporating a cavity with ties and insulation.
Thursday
Continues the construction of the extension/porch. The methods used are typical of new - build properties across building authorities within the uk. We show you how to use door/window profiles and close the cavities using vertical dpc.
Friday
Will involve finishing the brickwork on the module and setting the lintel with a cavity tray and weepholes. Laying a soldier course above the window is also covered.
Removal and cleaning of structures built, tools and equipment, end of course re-cap and distibution of course notes and awarding of Goldtrowel training certificate.
Week 2
You will start training in both City & Guilds units and required brick working skills, units of assessment will include the following
Week 3
This week will continue your house extension training,
Week 4
During this week you will be assessed on all the bricklaying units that you learnt in your previous weeks.
Below are the most common questions that we get asked.
.accordion-body, though the transition does limit overflow.Perp = Perps are the end side of a brick.
Bed = This is the mortar that bricks and blocks sit in or 'bed in'.
Mortar = This the mix of either sand and cement or sometimes lime that holds the bricks or blocks together.
Air brick = A brick with perforations to allow the passage of air through a wall. Usually used to permit the ventilation of underfloor areas.
Bat = A cut brick. A quarter bat is one-quarter the length of a stretcher. A half-bat is one-half.[1]
Bullnose = Rounded edges are useful for window sills, and capping on low and freestanding walls.
Cant = A header that is angled at less than 90 degrees.
Closer = A cut brick used to change the bond at quoins. Commonly a quarter bat.
Queens closer = A brick that has been cut over its length and is a stretcher long and a quarter-bat deep. Commonly used to bond one brick walls at right-angled quoins.
Kings closer = A brick that has been cut diagonally over its length to show a half-bat at one end and nothing at the other.
Coralent = A brick or block pattern that exhibits a unique interlocking pattern.
Corbel = A brick, block, or stone that oversails the main wall.
Cramp = Or frame cramp is a tie used to secure a window or door frame.
Creasing tile = A flat clay tile laid as a brick to form decorative features or waterproofing to the top of a garden wall.
Dog leg = A brick that is specially made to bond around internal acute angles. Typically 60 or 45 degrees.
Dog tooth = A course of headers where alternate bricks project from the face.
Fire wall = A wall specifically constructed to compartmentalise a building in order to prevent fire spread.
Header = A brick laid flat with its width exposed
Honeycomb wall = A wall, usually stretcher bond, in which the vertical joints are opened up to the size of a quarter bat to allow air to circulate. Commonly used in sleeper walls.
Indent = A hole left in a wall in order to accommodate an adjoining wall at a future date. These are often left to permit temporary access to the work area.
Movement joint = A straight joint formed in a wall to contain compressible material, in order to prevent cracking as the wall contracts or expands.
Noggin = Infill brick panels in timber framework buildings
Party wall = A wall shared by two properties or parties.
Pier = A free-standing section of masonry such as pillar or panel.
Plinth = A stretcher that is angled at less than 90 degrees.
Quoin = A corner in masonry.
Racking back = Stepping back the bond as the wall increases in height in order to allow the work to proceed at a future date.
Rowlock = A brick laid on the long narrow side with the short end of the brick exposed
Sailor = A brick laid vertically with the broad face of the brick exposed
Saw tooth = A course of headers laid at a 45-degree angle to the main face.
Shear wall = A wall designed to give way in the event of structural failure in order to preserve the integrity of the remaining building.
Shiner = A brick laid on the long narrow side with the broad face of the brick exposed
Sleeper wall = A low wall whose function is to provide support, typically to floor joists.
Slip = A thin cut of brick, sometimes referred to as a tile[2]- used on internal spaces or in cladding systems.
Snapped header = A half-bat laid to appear as a header. Commonly used to build short-radii half-brick walls or decorative features.
Soldier = A brick laid vertically with its long narrow side exposed
Squint = A brick that is specially made to bond around external quoins of obtuse angles. Typically 60 or 45 degrees.
Stopped end = The end of a wall that does not abut any other component.
Stretcher = A brick laid flat with its long narrow side exposed
Toothing = The forming of a temporary stopped end in such a way as to allow the bond to continue at a later date as the work proceeds.
Tumbling in = Bonding a battered buttress or breast into a horizontal wall.
Voussoir = A supporting brick in an arch, usually shaped to ensure that the joints appear even.
Withe = The central wall dividing two shafts. Most commonly to divide flues within a chimney.
All prices exclude VAT unless otherwise stated.
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