Planning to do some work on my brick veneer garage and house and never worked with brick before. With the exception of the 1st floor wooden lintel replacement the majority of the work will be brick replacement, some tuckpointing and resetting a top row of bricks. Any books, articles or websites for a wannabe mason.
Thanks in advance
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FHB hasn't done a lot on laying brick. I edited this article and shot the video (It was a very early attempt at having editors shoot video concurrently with the magazine photo shoot, so it's not as good as video has become): https://www.finehomebuilding.com/2017/05/11/draft-video-268-ca-moving-opening-brick-wall
It's mostly about reworking, but most of the techniques would work just as well on new construction.
Thanks Andy:
Will view it and continued success with FHB.
Wayne
P.S. Just watched it and skimmed through the article and it was helpful. Thank you again for sharing.
I was a mason for a few years (family business), and laying brick can be a bit of a technical challenge, but it's doable.
My top things:
- It's all about the mud. Mix it too wet and you have a mess on your hands. Too dry, the joints will be too big. Peanut butter...
- Just do a bit at a time, since you need to strike the joints once it sets a bit. Don't let it get away from you.
- As my grandpa used to tell me: Anyone can pick up a brick, only a mason can let go of it. Set the brick and leave it - don't fiddle with it.
- Once you get the mud on your trowel, tap it - it won't fall off.
- Use end boards, layout marks and a mason's line.
- Do not strike the brick with your fingers - you'll wear them to the bone and not know it. cement acts like an anesthetic. That night you'll be sorry.
- Don't make your first project something anyone will see. Trust me, it will look a bit dumpy. My dad would say "you should start laying brick in the closet where the light's not so good."
- Hum an unintelligible song to yourself while you work. Same one over and over all day. People will think you're a pro.
The best resource I know of online: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VC06DfVrUJo&list=PLDrfNaY9xgYFbMCxGwcG6fvzfvFki-E6U&ab_channel=MikeHaduckMasonry
Mike knows his stuff.
Best of luck.