Why Are Bricks Soaked in Water Before Use?

Do you also feel lazy to give water to bricks, it seems boring work. if it seems wasteful, must read this civil experience article Why Are Bricks Soaked in Water Before Use. later you will never skimp on giving water to bricks.

Why Are Bricks Soaked in Water Before Use?

Civil Engineers know why bricks are soaked in water before use. But when we talk about common people, they always avoid bricks watering before use and many of them are curious to know the facts behind this civil engineering action why bricks are needed to soak in water. Before we start the Brickwork article Join Us now and share this in groups.

In brick masonry, we use cement mortar which is made by a mixture of cement and sand in a certain proportion with water. (If you want to calculate the quantity of cement and sand in cement mortar then must read => Calculation of Cement Mortar). Cement Mortar is a paste/slurry form that helps to lay the bricks correctly in alignment also creates bonding between two bricks.

What Happen if we Use Dry Brick in Construction?

If we use dry bricks in brickwork construction, it will absorb the water from cement mortar, and laying bricks may not be properly as well as the dry mortar will lose strength, hence the brickwork will be weaker.

Cement mortar needs a sufficient amount of water to achieve its full strength but if water is absorbed by dry bricks the strength of mortar will be reduced. So, before starting work bricks are soaked well in water so that they can not absorb water from the mortar.

In turn, it also maintains the moist condition of brickwork which helps in curing mortar for further strengthening.

What is Efflorescence in Brick?

The most vital reason is efflorescence. Efflorescence is a white crystalline salt deposit on the face of a brick as well as on the wall.

It is a most common problem in almost all buildings where clay bricks are used.

• A good quality brick should not absorb water more than 15% of its weight. The more absorption the more efflorescence.

A study indicated that the type of brick determines whether efflorescence will occur or not. A brick with a high rate of water absorption was used with a high-cement mortar, the structure was heavily affected by efflorescence whereas a brick with a low rate of water absorption, was unaffected by efflorescence even though the same mortar was used.

So, soaking of bricks well before brickwork help in draining out the soluble salts from the bricks and thus reducing the effect of efflorescence.

When bricks are underfired this phenomenon will take place of erosion while immersed in water. Certainly, those are the bad quality bricks and use to be avoided.

What is the Technical Reson for Bricks Soaked in Water?

The technical reason for providing sufficient water in the cement mortar is, cement containing lime (CaO) requires water to become Calcium hydro-oxide, thereafter, absorbs carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to form calcium carbonate also develops strength.

If water from the mortar is soaked by the bricks, will not get enough water to complete the chemical reaction. Consequently, the mortar will have low strength.

You can not add more water in the mortar preparation as then mortar will not be workable concrete. Therefore, soaking of clay bricks in water is a must 24 hrs after laying of bricks, water curing is also important for the above reason (complete chemical reaction of the cement mortar)

For good construction, always prefer first class bricks that should be fully immersed in water for 16 hours before use. But due to various constraints nowadays it is not followed.