Can I learn to lay and re-point bricks?

[sixdogs]

Not sure where to post this but the guys that know are on this section. Could I dual post?

Can I learn to lay bricks sufficently enough to do a quality job on a 12' by 14' small building? I am a quick study and do quality work but know little of brickwork other than living in a brick (veneer) house. Also, I watched it on TV and watched a relative lay bricks decades ago.
As well, my in-laws house needs some bricks re-pointed and he is too old to do it himself so I figure to learn that too. I took a sample of his morter and will have in analyzed so the morter colors match. Thay's all I know so far and need help and advice.

Bricklayers--how long will it take me to learn how to lay bricks and do an acceptable job? How about re-pointing?

 

[Runner]

I am not a bricklayer, but I am a son of, a son of a bricklayer. I have watched my father and a lot of other bricklayers lay a lot of brick and block and have often wondered if I could do a decent job of it myself. Never tried...

My first conclusion is that it is a LOT harder than it looks. You can read about it in books, but there is a reason they have apprentiship programs for trades like this.

I would ask the reason to use this method of building the structure? Assuming it is for the appearance, and particularly if it is to match some other building(s) on the property, I would leave it to a professional.

On the other hand, if it's just for the fun and challenge of it, I'd say read up on it and go for it. Nothing superhuman about it, it just a lot of work and skill to have it come out right and looking good.

As for the tuck-pointing, I think that would be a lot easier for an amateur. Again, I haven't done much of it, but I'd probably use a chisel and angle grinder to remove the old mortar.

Even for the tuck-pointing, if I wanted it to look nice, I'd hire a professional.

 

[Reverend Blair]

You can learn, but my experience is that it's one of those "feel" things, and most of us don't do it enough to really get the feel.

My advice would be to do a few smaller projects first, things that you can learn by your mistakes on without having to stare at it every day. Make sure you have a solid, level base; get your level lines right and make sure you follow them, and make sure your mortar mix and mortar placement are good.

 

[/pine]

The key to doing brick or block work as an amateur is learning to lay to a string...

The tricky part is getting the leads set plumb and level on both ends of a wall...once this is done line blocks and a string can be stretched from one end to the other and moved up and down for each course...

If the leads are plum, square, level and true and you lay the units (brick/block) to a tight string your wall will be fine...there is no need to try and use a level on every unit...just keep the faces flush and the corners to the string...

Getting the technique down for applying mortar to the wall and buttering the next brick/block to tbe layed only takes time...it is not difficult just takes some practice.

Don't get ahead of yourself...always drop back and strike your joints and clean the faces or float the wall if using blocks...

 

[Travelover]

I had my chimney upper section rebuilt last year and was inspired, so I decided to redo about a dozen bricks on my garage's brick veneer. All I can say is that my first attempt was so pitiful that I tore it down before the mortar set up. My second attempt was better when I used some sticks with markings on them to keep the rows more even. Even today it catches my eye when I see it. YMMV :laughing:

 

[Egon]

Others have lain brick so why should you not be able to. It will take some practice to become adept though.:thumbsup:

 

[captaincrab55]

Others have lain brick so why should you not be able to. It will take some practice to become adept though.:thumbsup:

Egon, I like the way you think... Sixdogs, One will never know unless they try, go for it....

 

[arsenix2001]

I was a site preparation/ stone masonry contractor for 8 years. Short answer is can you do it, probably, would i reccomend you do it, probably not. We did flag, stone veneer and brick, and what i always hated getting my guys to do was brick... If you dont have exp it can be very very frustrating to butter the bricks properly to maintain strait coursing. If you take your time it can be accomplished. As mentioned above a string setup is crucial as is always taking back a step to eye out your work every once and a while. If you have no time constraint then give it a try on a couple courses, if its not working out find a brick sub that will just lay, and use your provided materials.

 

[Egon]

If you dont have exp it can be very very frustrating to butter the bricks properly to maintain strait coursing

How does one get experience?? Or are some just born with the skill!

 

[arsenix2001]

It not like he wants to learn the trade for a living, he wants to veneer a small building which may be more frustrating and time consuming than its worth, which is why I reccomended if he has the free time, give it a shot... Can always call someone later.

 

[crazyal]

Like was said earlier, make sure you have a level line to follow with each course. Also you can fill inside the blocks with mortar and rebar to help strengthen the wall. If your going to be using the plain old 8x8x16 gray blocks you can make your grout joints flush so when it dries the wall will just look smooth. It should hide some mistakes.

 

[Egon]

A lot of fellows will use a level instead of a line.

 

[Regneufeld]

most certainly you can do this job. my neighbor who is a train conductor did the whole from of his house and detached garage. Looks as good as anyones. it is best to have an actual mortar mixer as mixing batches in a wheel barrow besides being hard work does not get enough air into the mix so the mud is harder to work with. A good long level is a great help or use the string. Stay consistent with amount of mud on each course so your lines are the same thickness and you will have a great job, of course go look at the neighbors job to see how the pros work around windows and corners.

Good luck and post some pics when your done

 

[magicheater]

The key to doing brick or block work as an amateur is learning to lay to a string...

The tricky part is getting the leads (corners) set plumb and level on both ends of a wall...once this is done line blocks and a string can be stretched from one end to the other and moved up and down for each course...

If the leads (corners) are plum, square, level and true and you lay the units (brick/block) to a tight string your wall will be fine...there is no need to try and use a level on every unit...just keep the faces flush and the corners to the string...

Getting the technique down for applying mortar to the wall and buttering the next brick/block to tbe layed only takes time...it is not difficult just takes some practice.

Don't get ahead of yourself...always drop back and strike your joints and clean the faces or float the wall if using blocks...

VERY well said!! :thumbsup:

 

[/pine]

A lot of fellows will use a level instead of a line.

A lot of ornamental brick work and things like columns and pedestals etc require a lot more skill and experience than merely laying bricks/blocks in a "standing" or "running" bond in multiple courses of a wall...

...it is impractical to set common units in a wall using a hand held level...when running courses the string is actually a "level"

There are a lot of new laser tools that have replaced the need for a lot of strings, plum-bobs and spirit levels...[off/topic]

anyone ever used a flat stick to "toss bricks" if you know what I mean !

 

[BHD]

I have never layed much brick, but have layed enough block , and a lot of stone,

once one builds the corners, some use a story pole, a stick with the level of each course, and use a level to get the end course vertical and level,

then set a string when the corners set up, the trick is not to touch the string in the setting of the block or brick, if you do you will end up bowing out the wall, use a level in the setting process to keep the block/brick, level across, (I liked a torpedo level, I keep a sting on the level as fishing out out of a block wall is many times not possible).

mix the mortar up, and get ti tempered, it may take a little experimenting, to get the water mix correct, to soupy and it will not support the block and to stiff very hard to set the block, it is close to correct when one can take a bit of mortar on a trowel and throw it against a block or brick wall and it will stick and stay or a lot of it will.

If your trowel is to large it is difficult to use and handle with mud on it, and to small you will not be able to have enough mud to prep the block or brick for setting.



on the tuck pointing , one can use a grinder with a diamond blade on it to clean it up some more, take a tuck point trowel and and hawk or brick trowel and set the hawk/trowel up to the joint and use the trowel to fill the joint, and then use a jointer to finish it off,

Brick
YouTube - The Art of Laying Brick
IMO you want to butter both sides of end of the brick,

block
YouTube - Brick Laying and Masonry www.masonryworktools.com

 

[forgeblast]

check on ebay for a pointing kit, bricklaying kit. there was this kit that had a jig to help you point, and get the right spaceing, it was inexpensive ~25-30 dollars

 

[David Devuono]

If you do the project post some pictures. I plan to do the same when I retire in a few years. I want to build something that can withstand the flying embers of a forest fire and stop an errant hunters bullet.:thumbsup:

 

[nuffer460]

I learned allot of technics during a 2year masonary class given by my high school as a trade credit. It was a great coarse. Just about all of the primary issues have been covered here so far.
First of all what you want to do is completely doable. The only thing, I can add is to practice on several small projects that include straight walls and double corners. The next thing we used in the classroom was a mortar made from sand and lime only. Don't use portland cement yet. This type of mortar acts just like regular mortar. The great thing is lime mortar can be reused over and over. Just breakup your projects and put the lime mix back into a mixing system and added water. Electric mixer or by hand with a mortar hoe, your coice.

 

[mmurphy]

I learned allot of technics during a 2year masonary class given by my high school as a trade credit. It was a great coarse. Just about all of the primary issues have been covered here so far.
First of all what you want to do is completely doable. The only thing, I can add is to practice on several small projects that include straight walls and double corners. The next thing we used in the classroom was a mortar made from sand and lime only. Don't use portland cement yet. This type of mortar acts just like regular mortar. The great thing is lime mortar can be reused over and over. Just breakup your projects and put the lime mix back into a mixing system and added water. Electric mixer or by hand with a mortar hoe, your coice.

That is a great idea.:thumbsup:

My thought is if you have the desire you will do it.
Like Egon said, only way to get experience is to do it.