Hello all, I am interested in take a bricklaying workshop, and can’t seem to find one in New York city. I would like to renovate my front yard by building a retaining wall but I don’t have to much skills when it comes to bricklaying, so I’ll like to take a workshop but can’t find one in NY city.
Dose anybody know any workshop around the tri—state area
Replies
Herrington's in Hillsdale, NY has one for stone retaining walls. Check your local stone and brick dealers.
"It is what it is."
Never would have guessed that you are in NY................;~)
I'm in Putnam County, I have friends and relatives in Copake and Schodack/Castleton. I know the yard you mentioned.
Where you at?[email protected]
He is in Albany!
Yeah, I guess my name leads to confusion. I should change it to
ChicagoNowLivesInVoorheesvilleNYMike.
It just doesn't have the same ring to it.
ChicagoMike is a nickname I picked up from a few friends after I moved here.
"It is what it is."
Nah, we just need people to pay attention!
Chicago Mike via Albany!
Voorheesville, just outside Albany.
"It is what it is."
Thanks.............I need to pay better attention sometimes![email protected]
You are almost my next door neighbor.
Where are you at?
"It is what it is."
Guilderland off Johnston road
Wow, that is real close. Are you a builder?
"It is what it is."
Only my own projects, sometimes I do some side work.
By profession I am an Architect.
So you don't know any workshop in the tri-- state area?
Are you looking for someone to show you the basic fundamentals?
Like how to mix your mud just so, and how to keep the courses
running true?
If that's all, grab some supplies and start laying up your first
very messy wall.
It's a learned skill, that requires practice more then anything.
Isn't NY the state you live in? Can't get much closer that that.......
"It is what it is."
i'd hire a bricky and tell him you want to be his mortarman
eugenebuilder
The way I've learned to master a unknown skill isn't to pay anyone, rather I spend a few hours quietly watching a pro do it.. Then go home and attempt it myself..
I tried doing brick but I didn't like the boring repetitive nature of the work. Instead I did stone..(for examples go to 94941.1) the work is nearly identical but a bit more interesting in that you fit stone together like a puzzle. The principles are the same in that you don't want joints to line up and the mortor thickness should be the same for a proper look.
In talking with masons it seems that there are stone masons and brick masons each can do the others job but the best ones really are good at one and not the other. A stone mason won't be as productive as a brick mason doing brick work but a brick mason won't be nearly as good doing stone work..
One bit I can tell you is the 1000 brick a day goal I know many pros do isn't going to come easily so don't berate yourself for being slow, get the technique down before you even think about speed and productivety.
A couple of other pointers, first buy bag mix morter. Don't try to mix your own. You are unlikely to save much money and it's so much more convienant and less likely to have issues. Plus if rain should happen it's easy to cover up the bags and keep them from being ruined as compared to a pile of sand and a bags of cement.
Next if this is your first attempt take the time to do a lay out. Often you can avoid cutting brick if you slightly widen or narrow the spacing . Don't go overboard here. an eigth of an inch adds up quickly.
So frenchy, did you use lime or portland mortar? It probably doesn't really matter since you flashed everything with copper anyways, right?I just think it's interesting since I just returned from Germany where we saw numerous timberframes from the 1400-1600s that have masonry infill with the mortar directly abutting the wood...and the wood is not rotting at all.
jesse,
Look carefully at the photos. Yes they are lined with copper.
In all probability the infills were mud and daub for centuries, Only recently was cement used as infills. I'm really guessing here but I suspect since WW2
Being a builder type I have watched bricklayers literally for 100s of hours lay brick and block (if not 1000s). I also have all the required hand tools and even a half baked mixer. I've tried my hand at bricklaying probably 30 times.
Here is the thing.... I suck at it. My masonry projects always look amateuristic. Bricks all "painted up" with mortar. Joints not uniform, etc. I can get by enough for masonry work that is to be buried below grade, ends up under a porch, etc. I think my outcome is strong enough though. Once I figured out my time based on what my bricklayers charge which is $375 /1k bricks for foundations and $1.50 per block. I came out to something line $4 an hour. Did I mention I'm very slow at it? :-)
My conclusion (as Mike said): hire a brick layer. Although it is not a complex process it takes at least a 1000 hours or more of practice just to get to where you can be passable.
In a class you could probably learn some basics and how to mix the mortar to the right consistency which might put you up to $5 an hour. If you feel you must do this, check with your local community college. On your project go for the "antique look". :-)
edited for spelling
Edited 8/20/2008 7:34 am ET by Matt
Matt,
My problem with bricks is a bit differant.. I don't have trouble doing a passable amount and keeping the brick clean but I do have trouble with alignment and spacing.
I set strings and etc.. but stand back and look at my brick work and you'll notice a real inconsitancy, unlike some pros I know who make walls look perfect like a machine made them..
On the other hand my stone work is really neat and tidy. I'm even capable of putting some humor into it they way I note the real pros do.
But you are correct hire a mason! Unless you plan on doing a lot of it you'll unlikely ever get as good or as fast as a mason does.. buy The time you buy proper tools and a mixer you'll have more than you'd paid a pro anyway..
Edited 8/20/2008 9:13 am ET by frenchy
Hey Matt, and Frenchy,
Both of your descriptions sound like maybe your not
mixing your mud correctly and or consistently.
Too wet and you'll have smearing, dripping and to thin joints. Too
fat and you'll be banging on bricks trying to get them to line
up.
Brick Masons are VERY picky about there mud! Pay close attention
to your mixture and then make every effort to repeat it every time.
In my younger day's I could keep four brick layers supplied
with perfect mud, bricks, and keep the staging at the proper height.
I worked my #### off but never a complaint and I never bought a
beer at the end of the day.
Other then the mud, it's like a pool shot. Smooth and consistent
in every way. Load your trowel, set your your trowel and lay the
bed joint consistently all day long. Butter in the same smooth
motion every time.
Oh,
And this business about it's not worth learning because
you'll never be as good as a pro is BS.
By that standard no one would try anything outside of their
specialty.
There are plenty of smaller projects that benefit more
from care and creativity then skill with a trowel.
I'm learning more about plumbing and electrical. Not
because I want to be a pro, but rather they are useful skills that allow me to do more.
Henley
Bricks? I didn't use no stinkin' bricks! <grin> I don't like brick work so I don't do brick work.. I prefer the puzzle of stone.. Brick masons are too much like machines for my temperment. you can see my work at 94941.1. I'm very proud of my work.. I think if you appreciate stone mason humor you'll get a laugh out of few spots of it.
But I did everything myself.. didn't have a helper. If I wasn't happy with the way I mixed my mud I would fix it before I used it. I never had to buy myself a beer either!
Truth be told I'm a stonemason myself.
It's true what you said, about there being two totally different
types of masons. I can lay bricks very well,but not a thousand a day.
I've looked at your house. You've made yourself a very nice home,
and I commend you.
But as a stone guy- don't knock bricks.A different feel, and
some houses just won't fit with stone (not many but some).