I was laying a herringbone brick walkway with a gentle curve in a backyard in Oak Park. Figuring out the exact radius and getting every brick in that first row to line up perfectly took me and my helper from 7 AM until almost noon. We must have reset it four times before the mortar was right. What's your go-to method for setting a clean curve without wasting half a day?
I used to build crowns with a basic 1:3 cement mix, but after that one failed in under five years, I switched to a pre-bagged, high-flex mortar with polymer additives. The freeze-thaw cycles here in Michigan just wrecked the old method. What's your go-to mix for a durable crown that can handle serious weather?
Always thought the machine was overkill until a job in Tempe where the heat was setting the mix too fast. Used a cordless drill with a paddle mixer for a 5-gallon bucket and it saved the whole afternoon. Anyone else switch to power mixing for patches under 20 square feet?
Had to stop everything, clean the whole mess out, and start a fresh batch while the cat just stared at me from the roof. Anyone else had a job get weirdly sabotaged by a pet?
Tried it on a small patio job in Phoenix last month, and the stuff set up way too fast in the heat. Had to tear out three courses before it locked up for good. Anyone else think we should steer new guys away from these quick mixes?
Back then, clients just watched from a distance. This guy's help meant we spent hours fixing his watery mix.
We had a project fixing an old brick wall. The boss wanted to use rapid-set for speed. I knew it was a bad move because old brick needs to breathe. Sure enough, cracks appeared everywhere after it dried. Now we're stuck with a bigger mess, lol.
Most crews think I'm crazy for skipping the power mixer, but I swear you feel the texture better. Had to do a quick repair with just a hoe and bucket, and it came out smoother than any machine job, lmao.
I've been spotting more homes with muted brown and gray bricks... instead of the classic red. Builders say it's to match modern minimalist styles. Are you guys using more of these colors on your projects too?
I always thought string lines were the only real way to keep a wall straight. Then our foreman caught his boot on mine and dumped a full cup of coffee onto the blueprints. It was pretty awkward watching him blot the sheets with his sleeve. I finally borrowed a laser level the next day, and it just works better. Guess I was wrong about the old way.
Honestly, tracking down the correct materials for historical work just became a huge chore.
I swear by using just a brick hammer for cutting and shaping, but everyone else says dedicated tools are faster and safer! This came up after I finished a complex arch solo. Am I stuck in the past or onto something?
I was working on a small wall by myself and didn't have a string line. Using my level to keep things straight worked great. Idk, maybe it's just me, but it helped a ton.
I remember helping him cut bricks with a simple hand saw and water. These days, crews bring out loud electric saws for every little cut. Sure, it's faster, but you lose the touch for judging the material. He could tell if a brick was brittle just by the sound it made while cutting. I still use his old saw on small jobs, and it never lets me down.
I mean, I was really proud when he tried to mix the mortar on his own for the first time. He got the consistency way too thick, and our foreman walked over and asked if we were using glue instead. We all had a good laugh, and now it's a funny story we tell new guys. It's just a small win seeing him learn from it and get better.
I was at my cousin's wedding last month, stuck making small talk with her new father-in-law. He found out I lay brick and immediately started questioning my methods. He's old school and believes dry mortar should always be mixed by hand for proper feel. I've done jobs where we used a mixer and the bond was just fine, especially on big commercial projects. We stood there arguing while the bouquet toss happened behind us. It was funny but also a bit tense. Where do you stand on this? Do you ever get into these debates at social events?