Bricklaying

[rbattelle]

Anyone here a mason (amateur or professional)? My recent obsession is with brickwork.



As someone who is always dreaming up designs for his future workshop, I recently decided it would be awesome to build it out of brick! So, naturally, being someone with ambition far beyond capability or brains, I'd like to build it myself. [It could easily be 20 years or more before I actually build a structure... in the meantime I'll just practice in small scale]



But the question I keep coming back to is, how the heck do masons make such straight walls? I mean, I've heard that it's critical that your first course of bricks be perfect, but it seems to me my wall would be nowhere near straight after that (picture the leaning tower of Pisa).



How do you keep perfectly straight up/down and front/back for a long, tall wall? Lay out string?



Ryan

 

[nickleinonen]

from what i saw of brick laying when i worked with my pop, they sting a line horozontal, and use a plumb bob or level for the vertical. . i've seen a bunch of brick layers do a dead straight/level wall by eye... skill

 

[daytripper63]

I recently did a 45ft courtyard wall and I used a 3ft level as I set the bricks then used the straight edge of the level to make sure each new brick was level/even with the previous

Good luck

P. S. my wall looks beautiful but I will say if you look closely at the quality of workmanship you can tell where I started the wall and where I finished

Robert

 

[MFalkinham]

What Nick said. Remember too that your bricks aren't just standing there all by themselves. There is normally some sort of support wall behind them (wood or metal studs, concrete block, etc) that you attach the bricks to using metal brick-ties in the joints. THAT wall also has to be erected plumb or you'll have a tough time laying the facing bricks.

 

[klenger]

Brick Layer's Accident Report



So, you failed as a plumber and now you are looking for another respectable career?

 

[rbattelle]

Brick Layer's Accident Report

Did you see the Mythbusters where they tried to duplicate this? They managed to make it happen!



MFalkinham - certainly there doesn't have to be a wall behind the bricks? It is possible to build load-bearing walls out of brick alone. From what I understand, it isn't done anymore because the walls have to be too thick and the resultant structure too heavy for practicality.



But concerns about "practicality" have never stopped me before!



Ryan

 

[TowPro]

Another way to do this is with a Laser. My neighbor lets me use his when I need it. Its about the size of a pack of smokes, and shines a beam in 2 directions.

Lay one corner first using a GOOD level (not all levels are good levels, don't try to save money when you buy a level). Set the laser the top layer of the corner as you build the next corner, use a stick tape to measure down to each row as you build the 2nd corner. This gets your corners level, then lay each row with string blocks that hold onto the ends of the way.



When i did my Garage (28'x28") out of 12" block the laser was great to get all the corners the same hight so everything was level when the walls were done.

 

[rbattelle]

I have more projects than time

Someone pointed out to me that I could take the time to take on a monumental task such as building a large shop almost entirely out of brick. At the end of a very long project (several years?), then, I'd have the greatest shop ever. But all that time spent building the shop is time I'm not doing other big projects that I want to do, like buying and refurbishing tools to go in the fancy-pants brick workshop!



As I get older and realize not only my own mortality but my own gradual physical decline, I realize I simply will not live long enough to do all the things I'd like to do (at least in terms of hobbies).



My ambition far outstrips my longevity.



Ryan

 

[AKAMAC]

The technique used is referred to as; Build a lead and lay to a line.

You would start at a corner and build the "lead", usually 6 high. This would be your pyramid looking start point. Depending on length of wall you might need to build another "lead" midway between corners.

Because you poured your foundation using a transit your corners and midway points are pretty level so getting the first tier set will be easy.

Once the "leads" are built you just pull a line at each tier and "lay to the line".

On long runs, piers are often used to add lateral strength and support for trusses. These are boxes built in the wall reinforced with re-bar and grouted solid. They can be built so the box shows inside or outside.

If you are going to do this I suggest you be really ambitious... ...

 

[barbwire]

My ambition far outstrips my longevity.



Ryan

Don't feel all by your self!!

 

[nickleinonen]

when i eventually get my own home and garage, both will have vinyl siding on the outside. . the higher end sidings look pretty good, and is dirt easy/quick to put up. [i did learn how to do something when i worked with pops]

 

[MFalkinham]

MFalkinham - certainly there doesn't have to be a wall behind the bricks? It is possible to build load-bearing walls out of brick alone. From what I understand, it isn't done anymore because the walls have to be too thick and the resultant structure too heavy for practicality.

Its also about the cost of time and materials. A hundred years ago when materials and labor were cheap bricks were often used for the main structure. But after the development of concrete blocks and pre-cast concrete wall sections, bricks have now become a strictly cosmetic building material.

 

[rbattelle]

But after the development of concrete blocks and pre-cast concrete wall sections, bricks have now become a strictly cosmetic building material.

I find that a shame, for some reason. There's something "romantic" about brick, whereas concrete is "sterile". A brick facade just doesn't "do it" for me.



Oh well.



Ryan

 

[bighammer]

I find that a shame, for some reason. There's something "romantic" about brick, whereas concrete is "sterile". A brick facade just doesn't "do it" for me.

Oh well.

Ryan

Maybe look into split-faced block? You get a nice looking and solid wall. Not sure where they are pricewise, though.