Surface bonding is a method of construction using bricks. The bricks can be made out of concrete, adobe, CEBs, EPS crete or any other strong brick material. Bricks should be consistent, with variances less than 1/8”. Surface bonding is strong, simple and fast, and is suited to the home-builder. Careful attention to a few details in the planning stages can avoid hassle down the line and make for a fast and easy construction process.

Surface bonding consists of dry stacking a brick wall, and then covering it with a special fiber-reinforced tensile stucco. These walls are stronger than normal, mortared brick walls, and construction and labor costs can be cut in half. If the bricks are properly sized to the room dimensions, cutting bricks can be avoided, and construction speed will improve. It is not uncommon to dry stack and entire home in one or two days. It is important to get the first course of bricks level, so these bricks are usually set in a mortar bed, and the tops leveled as the bricks are placed in the course. Bricks can then be stacked in a running bond pattern all the way up to the bond beam.

Windows and doors should be planned ahead of time, and the cores of the bricks on either side of the opening should be filled with concrete and reinforced with steel. The foundation and bond beam must also be reinforced to create a pressure sandwich that holds the wall together.

Once the bricks are stacked, the bond beam poured and cured, the surface bond is applied. Surface bond is cement, lime, reinforcement fibers, and a waterproofing agent. You can buy it premixed and ready to use in 50 pound bags or make your own. The layer should be applied all at once and troweled smooth. You are aiming for a 1/8” thick layer on both sides of the wall. Wet the bricks before application so that the surface bond will not dry out too quickly. It is important to mist the surface layer for several days after application to insure a proper cure.

Surface Bonding is not complicated, but the steps and construction must be done right to enjoy the benefits of this method. Most of the preparation beforehand will save a lot of time and money during the actual construction of the building.