Do You Have to Use Mortar to Make a Brick Wall?

Mortar vs. Concrete

• While many people may equate mortar and concrete, they are not the same item, but each is a permanent bonding agent when used to fuse bricks. Concrete is a mixture of cement, coarse sand and water, and it often includes larger-sized grit or crushed stone particles. Mortar is higher in quality. It combines cement, water and fine-particle sand that has a butterlike or warm plasticlike consistency. The lack of grit and stiffness of mortar makes it superior to concrete in bricklaying.

Advantages

• Once mortar between joints of bricks in a wall dries, it supplies strength and structural integrity for the wall. The fine-textured mortar oozes and fuses to the porous brick surfaces well during construction. The mortar is easily manipulated, scraped or smoothed to form attractive finishes on a wall. Concrete may be used in place of mortar, but concrete's drier, grittier texture doesn't bond as completely as mortar. The grit in concrete can physically prevent perfect leveling, fusing or smoothing of spaces between bricks.

Structural Issues

• If neither mortar nor concrete is used in construction of a brick wall, then the wall's safety and structural integrity become serious issues. Outdoor garden walls made of brick are exposed to cycles of wet, dry, cold and hot weather. The foundation on which a brick wall stands must provide a consistent, steadfast base to prevent the bricks from moving over time. A brick wall without mortar relies on only gravity and surface tension to remain upright and sturdy; a soil depression, falling branch or other force readily compromises the wall's integrity. A brick wall below 2 feet tall may remain relatively strong and intact if no mortar was used for its construction, but a taller wall needs structural assistance to prevent it from toppling or collapsing from environmental stresses over time.

Regulations

• Building codes vary across the United States. Local regulations may prohibit the construction of a brick wall -- regardless of its use or size -- without mortar or concrete. The issue involves safety, property integrity and investment. Consult with city, county or homeowners' association to learn about all code requirements in brick wall construction in your area. The regulations also may dictate the need for a concrete foundation or specific thickness for a brick wall. Compared to a brick wall built without a bonding agent, a sturdy, long-lasting brick wall requires more expense and labor to meet building codes and poses less hazard to humans and property after it construction.