DBT85s Workshop - Moved in and now time to fit it out

[DBT85]

The weather is crap here today, on and off spitting and just now its started raining proper. Given that I'd never rolled mortar let along laid bricks, I set up a little demo to give myself a first go. Just 4 trowels of sand, 1 cement and appropriate water and febmix.

It took me the better part of 45 minutes in the end and it's not perfect, but I'm very happy with my first attempt. The rain has come just as I've finished so for now I'll head back to workshop 1 and get a jig made up to cut the blocks needed later. Hopefully the weather perks up and I can actually lay for real.

Early takeaways are: I need more mortar as its too easy to end up short in gauge and with no room to adjust if you don't put enough down in the first place.

 

[AJB Temple]

Yep, unless you are very well practised a good bricklayer will work ten times quicker. This was exactly my experience - there is a real knack to doing it at speed, and a labourer to keep the muck going helps a lot. Very good first effort. In fact very good however many efforts!

 

[MikeG.]

It's a great idea to be practising. Well done.

Firstly, 4:1 is too strong. That won't help you. You should be using around 6:1. Second, the plasticiser in the water is critical. Thirdly, building up a corner like you've done there is much, much harder than "running in" (laying bricks to a line), so as you've managed to build yourself a tidy corner you aren't going to have any trouble at all doing the bulk of the work.

Get all your ducks in a row before you mix up the mortar. Have the bond worked out (ie do you start with a header or a stretcher at any particular corner). Have your bricks stacked in place around the site (where they are handy, but not where they will get in your way). Don't mix up more than 12:2 for your first gauge, because it is going to take a time for you to get going, and you don't want it starting to go off in the mixer or barrow whilst you learn the new skill.

Bricklaying is 90% about getting the mortar right, I kid you not. If you can tap the bricks into place in a nice creamy mortar, then you are home and hosed. I suggest laying the top course frog down. This prevents rainwater sitting permanently on your plinth, and you'll also quickly discover that frog down makes accurate positioning of the brick easier. The only other piece of advice I would give is to lay out your mortar bed in such a way as there will be a little excess when you tap the brick home. This saves you trying to pack mortar in afterwards when pointing, because that is a real faff. Best to strike a little off after each brick (don't smear is across the face, though), rather than have holes that need filling.

 

[DBT85]

I only used 4:1 as it seems to be quite common for brickwork. I have enough of everything to do it that way.

I'm going to just make up enough to do the corners and do them and then go again for the next one. I've got my layout drawn out so I'll have the right bricks in the right places!

Also noted down the correct measurements for 2, 3, 4, 1.5, 2.5 and 3.5 bricks so I can check I'm getting my gaps right.

All the pointing for that little test was just using what was already in the gap. I didn't add any from the spot board to fill any gaps.

Seems to have perked up here now that I've just finished my rough and ready block jig. Typical.

 

[MikeG.]

Four to one is not common. It's plain wrong. The only time it would be right would be if laying engineering bricks (in some circumstances). It is a fundamental of bricklaying that your mortar should be weaker than your bricks. Six to one is the starting point, and indeed, is almost universal. I don't think I have ever seen anything else.

 

[MikeG.]

......Seems to have perked up here now that I've just finished my rough and ready block jig. Typical.

Time to set out all your bricks, then!

 

[Bm101]

Fun fact. I used to work with a labourer who could be never remember how many times he had put a shovel of sand in the mixer so we bought him 5 black buckets and 1 yellow for the dust.
Not suggesting for a minute you need 6 buckets :wink: but I laboured for a decent bricklayer and what I learned was precision within reason is a good thing not least for colour matching. Measure your water too on one mix. When you have it just right it's then dead simple to produce a perfect creamy mix and concentrate on your brickwork. I always found putting half the water in at the start , 2 sand then dust then the rest was fastest. You'd drop one load off, fill the mixer and leave it rolling and crack on with other work. Just my experience. Don't point till as late as possible as the joints will compress better and cause less mess. Just trowel off the internals. Careful of frost, and cover up at any sign. I know it's June but it's also 2020 and it's hailing here as I type.
If that's your first brickwork that's great stuff!
Sorry don't mean to 'sucking of eggs etc' just trying to help. Get the mix right and you're half way there. Think 99 icecream.
Build's looking great fella. Good read too.

 

[Marineboy]

I live in a Victorian house with a postage stamp of a front garden and a tiny backyard. I have no intention of ever moving, so a workshop build is something I will never undertake. However, I find these builds fascinating and follow everyone's on the forum with great enjoyment. Yours DBT85 is particularly interesting because of your time lapse videos. It's absolutely brilliant and you are to be commended for taking the time to record your progress both to help others who are contemplating similar and provide entertainment for those like me who will never pour a slab in anger. Well done mate!

 

[DBT85]

Fun fact. I used to work with a labourer who could be never remember how many times he had put a shovel of sand in the mixer so we bought him 5 black buckets and 1 yellow for the dust.
Not suggesting for a minute you need 6 buckets :wink: but I laboured for a decent bricklayer and what I learned was precision within reason is a good thing not least for colour matching. Measure your water too on one mix. When you have it just right it's then dead simple to produce a perfect creamy mix and concentrate on your brickwork. I always found putting half the water in at the start , 2 sand then dust then the rest was fastest. You'd drop one load off, fill the mixer and leave it rolling and crack on with other work. Just my experience. Don't point till as late as possible as the joints will compress better and cause less mess. Just trowel off the internals. Careful of frost, and cover up at any sign. I know it's June but it's also 2020 and it's hailing here as I type.
If that's your first brickwork that's great stuff!
Sorry don't mean to 'sucking of eggs etc' just trying to help. Get the mix right and you're half way there. Think 99 icecream.
Build's looking great fella. Good read too.

No sucking of eggs at all, its all interesting information! I can barely polish off one bucket let alone 6!

I live in a Victorian house with a postage stamp of a front garden and a tiny backyard. I have no intention of ever moving, so a workshop build is something I will never undertake. However, I find these builds fascinating and follow everyone's on the forum with great enjoyment. Yours DBT85 is particularly interesting because of your time lapse videos. It's absolutely brilliant and you are to be commended for taking the time to record your progress both to help others who are contemplating similar and provide entertainment for those like me who will never pour a slab in anger. Well done mate!

Thanks! I lived vicariously for nearly 5 years with the hope of one day getting to this point, so it's nice to be able to help others in the same way. The videos are a nice little extra and are interesting to watch as I sit there scratching my arse working out what to do next!

 

[DBT85]

The weather abated and so I set out my corners and marked out what needed to be where, got my spot board in place and got mixing. I went with 6:1 in the end for fear of death from above. I'm literally only mixing up a bucket at a time as I can barely get to the end of it before its started to stiffen despite being a lovely texture to start.

Just as I was about to mix up the first batch it started to spit with rain, I cursed in the direction of the sky and it stopped. I managed to get 2 full corners and the first 3 bricks of the third complete before packing up time. Time to assume parental responsibilities for the first time since 10am.

I did at least also get a little jig made up for the blocks to make cutting them easy enough.

If the weather behaves tomorrow then I'll get my corners finished and my two stopped ends for the doorway.

Not perfect at all, but it will suffice. I did find putting the top course on frog down harder than expected!

 

[MikeG.]

Excellent! =D> =D> Looks great. That's the hard part just about done. Running in to a line is a doddle in comparison.

 

[Sheptonphil]

Excellent progress, my bricklaying is also painful, but those corners look tidy. =D>

This will now become an all consuming project, thoughts Watching TV, dropping off to sleep thinking the next step, you tube videos for building practices like watching ****. The garden going to the dogs because there’s the next bit that needs doing before the rain/wind/sun comes in case it ruins the build. You’ll be the master of excuses before long.

 

[AJB Temple]

Very good. A lot better than I managed at my first attempt. Or my third attempt for that matter.

Enjoying seeing your work.

Adrian

 

[Bm101]

I'll shut up in a minute (sorry)but don't forget to run your strings exactly to the top of the course. I'd crack on with a course or two then build your corners up in stages and check your levels all the time. I'd run in from either end too and meet in the middle. Once you know, you can stagger any half cuts and keep your bond pattern.
I'll be quiet now. Soz.

 

[DBT85]

A good day so far, though my back would disagree.

All corners and stop ends completed, and I've done my first running in. I also managed to leave the camera on normal mode and not time lapse, so I have a LOT of video to go through for Episode 4. Fixednow for the running in which is much easier and faster too.

I've also actually been measuring my mortar out by volume so now I know exactly how much water and febmix, and each batch (still one bucket at a time) is consistent.

Not satisfied with laying 300 bricks, my mind has already started building a trolley capable of covering unpaved ground capable of carrying 400kg loads, for when machinery one day arrives.

Corners complete and first running in complete

Stacked up ready for one long back side.

Excellent progress, my bricklaying is also painful, but those corners look tidy. =D>

This will now become an all consuming project, thoughts Watching TV, dropping off to sleep thinking the next step, you tube videos for building practices like watching ****. The garden going to the dogs because there’s the next bit that needs doing before the rain/wind/sun comes in case it ruins the build. You’ll be the master of excuses before long.

I was dreaming about bricklaying, no joke.

I'll shut up in a minute (sorry)but don't forget to run your strings exactly to the top of the course. I'd crack on with a course or two then build your corners up in stages and check your levels all the time. I'd run in from either end too and meet in the middle. Once you know, you can stagger any half cuts and keep your bond pattern.
I'll be quiet now. Soz.

All good advice, a little too late, though maybe not all relevant as its only 3 courses high anyway.

Keep it coming!

 

[flying haggis]

if that is a first attempt at bricklaying, that is rather good

 

[DBT85]

Thanks Haggis. It is indeed my first attempt. I've used a bit of mortar before for the odd job but nothing more than a half bucket and never once to set a brick on. Now I need a brick BBQ 8). Though in all seriousness that and a little well to go around the pit in the front garden (a brick pit probably 100 years old, but not deep enough to be a well) would be nice. Not like I have any other jobs to finish before planning new ones.

Anyway, a good day in the end. I deigned to stop at 5:20 when my mortar ran out just 2 bricks shy of finishing the first course on the long side. Only just pointed it.

The door side has all of its bricks complete. tada. Didn't need to cut any apart from the single half bat at the stop end. Juuuuust about made it fit. My perp sizes need work.

2 bricks shy of the end, but the important part is that those 2 bricks are going to fit! I checked.

Tomorrow I'll unleash the mixer we have here and hopefully finish off the bricks. Now that I'm only laying to the line and am more comfortable, I don't mind making up a larger batch to use.

I still need some treatment for the cut ends of timber. It doesn't seem as easy to find as I expected. Either that or things aren't clear that they are what I need. Hopefully I can start the wood butchering on Wednesday.

 

[MikeG.]

You can just add water to a gauge that is starting to go off, then fluff it up a bit with a shovel or trowel. You don't want to do that too many times, but you'll always see brickies splashing water on their muck boards and flipping the muck around a few times to revive it a bit.

 

[DBT85]

Yeah I've done it a little. I've also been watering my spot board before loading up to try and prevent it sucking up too much moisture.

 

[Lons]

You can just add water to a gauge that is starting to go off, then fluff it up a bit with a shovel or trowel. You don't want to do that too many times, but you'll always see brickies splashing water on their muck boards and flipping the muck around a few times to revive it a bit.

Yep you can keep it going a long time it just gets harder to use, not a problem for the experienced but not recommended for a newbie. You should be working it slightly every few trowel fulls anyway as you go, it comes automatically when you've laid a few thousand. :lol:

Very neat work BTW =D>