Building A Block Wall

[@AppalachianLife]

My dad is a retired 75 year old Marine (Vietnam) and later master mason. He was the best around laying brick, block and stone. I remember him spit shining his Red Wing work boots. His hands are now rough as brick and his back and knees are shot. As I sit hear at my cushy IT job watching this video, I'm reminded of all those years my dad worked his butt off to provide for my mother, brothers and me.

[@kevincecchini368]

Awesome. Nice thing about redwing boots is that they oil them for no additional cost. I now have an office job. When I get bored, I go on a walk and search for masons laying brick and block, watch them work and remember why I no longer miss it. The pain after each day, the dust, the sweat. I miss the work, the team work, the strength I use to have. masonry is great, however, it chews one up and spits em out.

[@JeffMTX]

GET BACK TO WORK HARRIS lol THEM PORTS OPEN YET?

[@bigE35094]

USMC 92-96 . I SPIT SHINE MY WORK BOOTS WHEN I FIRST GET THEM...BUT I DO POLISH MY BOOTS EVERY DAY....THEY LAST ALOT LONGER ....SEMPER FI.

[@fraudsarentfriends4717]

Masonry pays better than 90% of IT jobs and doesn't become Obsolete with the next generation of computers.

[@johnleca]

Thanks for writing this. Your father was what real American men once were.Godspeed.

[@rustyshackleford1282]

If I could pick a dad or grandpa in this world. It would be you. For some reason, the way you explain things and edit your videos, the information just sticks with me. Thank you so much.

[@bkl8804]

Right there with you!

[@lukehumes2402]

What about your dad and grandpa?

[@lukehumes2402]

@@bkl8804 both at the same time?; why didn’t you like them?

[@Dysfunctionist]

@@lukehumes2402 Some parents are just shitty people, man. Not saying you're one, but in my experience a lot of people who had good, stable parents growing up have a hard time understanding how some parents can be so horrible to their own children.

[@leftitbythecurb8350]

This man is narcissistic, people around him aren’t happy.

[@johnthomas5166]

When I was a VERY young man I worked as a mason laborer for three days in the Florida summer sun. Just three days. That was the hardest work I have EVER done. The crew would lay two complete houses in one day. I never went to sleep so fast when I got home in all my life. Those guys earn every penny.

[@funfun2042]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/oqrOZmOde7hlqLs

[@saber5585]

O.K!! I've been a mason for 45 years and have watched multiple videos and this one is for real. I Love the fact that he's explaining to the masses so they can understand. Do It Right. Old mason motto. Great Job!!!

[@marshallmoneymaker8322]

My uncles and cousins were block and brick masons by your definition. My father was a laborer. I slung block and brick along side my father couple of summers and said, " nope", this is not for me. So I took the easier route and became a fireman. LOL. Real tradesmen. Real craftsmen. Under paid. Under appreciated and earn every beer they drink.

[@Trident_Euclid]

Agree

[@magnetclip6861]

Depends where you work. Depends if you are union and non union and if you own your own subcontracting business. But of course having a good education is best.

[@thunderqueef]

True about the money part. Unfortunately for most they tend to undersell themselves, and this is a very tough trade. Ill stick to carpentry.

[@sevinstorey4365]

Thank you. It’s nice to hear it. I’m retired now, but I loved every minute of my “job”.

[@beathaknockturnal8555]

I'm a mason of over 20 years now. I love my trade, it's what I was put here to do. I hope I can continue doing it for a while. This video was great!

[@barhomibrahim4828]

Why is ther a whole at the bottom of the CMU wall. Like they flipped the CMU. What's the purpose of those. Thank you for answering.

[@superglue46]

Awesome stuff. I especially liked the extended bit at the end where we got to watch the masons at the craft. I was raised upper middle class with a physician for a father and a psychotherapist for a mother. My dad, especially, had a bit of a "nose-in-the-air" sort of attitude toward "less important" occupations, and, I'm sorry to say, this attitude bled into me a bit as a I was growing up. Thanks to folks like Mike Rowe and others on KZbin (Essential Craftsman!) I have been discovering a deep appreciation for the trades and all that the tradesmen/women of the world do to truly make the way of life we all enjoy possible. Thank you, sir, for your work in opening your world to silly folks like me.

[@Rhaspun]

I work in Silicon Valley and I find this stuff interesting. Although I do have to say that my oldest brother is an architect and I took an interest in how homes are constructed. He talks about the different craftspeople he deals with. My brother's accumulated knowledge was very helpful in planning and design of my house.

[@Bezzzzo]

Brick, block laying, it's good money these days.

[@celticslimjim]

Up until a few years ago I was in the same boat as you. Since then I have developed a similar appreciation for the trades based on my own experiences. One thing that a person like Mike Rowe or a video on YT can't give you is a tangible representation of the feeling of utter exhaustion coupled with both not being allowed to rest and the need to be at full attention. I live in Tucson, AZ, and can tell you that these men wearing long-sleeve shirts and pants, working in July or August, and to top it off working in open sun are really feeling it. If they're being run in a crew they only get one or two breaks a day no matter how dizzy they get..which is often. However if they succumb to the dizziness then they drop a block on their foot, fall off a scaffold, (if framing) cut off a finger-tip, etc. Certain trades truly should be more respected. I hope this adds to your understanding of manual labor. Also please note that many of these men are older fellows, probably few of whom have retirement accounts. So not only do they get looked down on their whole career by people like your dad but then in the end they have little to nothing to show for it.

[@scottleft3672]

It's never too late to turn your hand to garden wall building, Winston Churchil (patron saint of labourers) was a hoddy as a youth and enjoyed laying bricks into his 70's.

[@imyourhuckleberry4547]

Working in industrial construction for many years, I worked with a lot of really intelligent men. There's a lot of engineering and science to building stadiums and skyscrapers. You have to be pretty competent and savvy to translate what the engineers and architects want and turn it into a physical structure. A lot of these competent men that I worked with I have no doubt could've been engineers themselves or physicians if they really wanted to.

[@felipeserrano8528]

I'm an owner operator ( truck driver), 20 years. When I'm trucking, I can't wait to come home and work on my projects. Old fashion brick ovens, walls, cement planters, ect..my next project will be a shed made of brick, with a Boveda ceiling. There's nothing better to do your own cement work, drink a cold one, and give it your personal touch, and say I did it. And when I'm dead, someone will say, This cement work was done by a crazy truck driver.Thank you to all the masons, Albañiles, Maistros..for sharing in KZbin.

[@81MrKMan]

My grandfather was a commercial mason with his own company, my dad was a commercial mason with his own company, and I spent my time from young to before becoming an engineer as a brick/block laborer and mason for my dad. I named my son Mason because of it. Like my late grandfather and father I miss it. Anytime I do a little mason work for myself or see it done it reminds me of my life back then and my father and grandfather. Peace to you.

[@Surf62]

Great message

[@29kaushik]

Can you please tell me how the embed plates for steel beam connetion are installed in to the CMU wall on site

[@MasterCivilEngineering]

Nice dear learn more here

[@funfun2042]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/oqrOZmOde7hlqLs

[@jonrobbin170]

I just want to salute the skilled laborers who worked on this wall and many others. Very impressed 👍

[@chrisfreemesser5707]

3:00 That is ALL SORTS of impressive. You can always tell when somebody is a master of their craft...no matter what the craft is, it's mesmerizing to watch them work.

[@jmao20]

llChris Freemesser

[@jmao20]

Chris Freemesser bh

[@jmao20]

av hx

[@varjen018]

Yeah, i just had to call the wife over to share the glory...

[@donmilo4733]

Shorne Pubique looks like soup

[@generalesdeath8180]

Those boys did great work! I live in Florida where EVERYTHING is built using CMU or tilt up concrete walls and I can't even count the number of jobsites I've been on with block masons. You can always tell a good crew by the way they work together. It's like a swarm of bees, if you don't know what you're looking at (or for) it just looks like a chaotic jumble, but if you sit there a little while and really watch you start to see the intricate ways in which everything works. Each man has his one specific job that he repeats hundreds of times a day which adds to what the next man is doing and so on and so forth until you've got 2-3 dozen guys going all at once and it seems like the work appears fully built 4' at a time. You can also tell a good block mason by his rhythm, they get into a groove and there's almost a grace to their movements. Love your stuff E.C., I've watched this stuff being done countless times but it was still entertaining and enlightening watching this video.

[@ryangwin1318]

Having worked in Masonry in Iowa for several years in my 20’s, I can tell you that this is a well under appreciated trade. It looks simple enough and its always done so quickly. However, the masonry trade is not for the faint of heart. I began as tender/laborer for the company I worked with and learned from the boots up how to complete a professional job. I no longer work in that trade but am super glad to have the skill set it allowed me. I can run equipment, mix all types of mortars, build and repair scaffold as needed safely and still strike off some pretty heads and beds. Anybody who wants a real trades experience should get a few years working with concrete and blocks. You wont regret it. Love the materials. Will you be my grandpa? I don’t have much family and I could use a guy like you as an extension family. Haha!

[@kevincecchini368]

I hear ya. being a mason was a fun time in my life. I miss the creativity, the fun, the challenge. Being older, now I look at how I can accomplish something with the least amount of pain.

[@Stevenowski]

Thanks for the wonderful video. It brought back some great memories of my father-in-law building a wall in the front of our house at the age of 80! He laid up 900 blocks! He said it was easy. He said, "It's just like buttering toast", when he put the mortar on the blocks.

[@charlescompton4495]

As a bricklayer who has poured footings and then stood in some chest deep laying 12" block to ground level, I thank you for complimenting the labor involved with that first "lift". As troublesome as those block are they are 8" tall per course as compared to 3 courses of brick to reach the same height. I served a 4 year apprenticeship and after a few years taught Masonry in a vocational school. I have worked on all sizes of projects and I do appreciate your evaluation of the skill and effort the Mason does have. Many do not understand that just because we are not rocket scientists doesn't mean we don't have smarts. Thanks, Greg.

[@funfun2042]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/oqrOZmOde7hlqLs

[@elliottdiedrich2123]

Bricklaying runs in my family. My dad was a bricklayer and he said, "Son, do not become a bricklayer. All bricklayers are alcoholics." But then I became an alcoholic so I thought that I may as well be a bricklayer.

[@niphotwala188]

Haha😂

[@funfun2042]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/oqrOZmOde7hlqLs

[@donedeal725]

Hahahahaha Thanks for the laugh, lol

[@bignig9548]

LMAOO

[@anntoosweet67]

🤣🤣

[@charlesmiller5078]

As a small child I watch a older guy, around 70 put us in a block wall to make a bedroom out of our Garage, it was around 10 foot by 20 foot, that wall was so nice, basically perfect, I visited that house a couple of years ago, at that time the wall had been there for 60 years, still perfect as the day he built it. My Dad thought it costs a little to much. He paid the high cost of 100 dollars to have it done, this included all materials. The guy was a Craftsman like yourself.

[@michaellohre1470]

Wow!

[@funfun2042]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/oqrOZmOde7hlqLs

[@kevincecchini368]

so, that is 23 block per course and at 70-ish block, 3 courses. thus, 70 block x $5.00 per block for labor and materials, $350.00 is a low to middle range cost.

[@charlesmiller5078]

@@kevincecchini368That wall was built in 1957.

[@kevincecchini368]

@@charlesmiller5078 OH wow, so probably a good and fair price for the day.

[@imskeptic1]

Most people walk past a concrete block wall and don't think much about it. I personally see it as art. There is a right way and a not right way. These craftsmen are artists, no other way to call it. I sometimes go to sleep at night wonderin' how this kind of thing comes into being. Thank you for this educatin' glimpse into this fascinatin' art.

[@TofuInc]

I never thought a video about a block wall could be so interesting.

[@ToroMoto]

As a structural engineer, I love watching your videos! Thanks for taking the time to make these.

[@daCubanaqt]

I am a structural engineer as well and I appreciate that someone actually mentioned a geotechnical and structural engineer in their masonry block video. I’ve watched so many videos where neither is mentioned. Very scary because they give DIYers the wrong impression. One thing that he said I would correct, the overturning capacity of the foundation wall does not just come from the footing. The weight of the wall, footing, and any structure on top of it will contribute gravity weight to the overturning capacity of the wall. The reinforcement also contributes to the bending capacity of the wall. Concrete is weak in tension and strong in compression. ACI code requires 3” clear from soil to the rebar so that is a must. Anyway, I will get off my structural horse 😊

[@KrucksGarage]

"Do it right and you're never sorry." - Scott. Truer words were never spoken! Another great video guys.

[@markgazelka8493]

True craftsmen are a joy to watch. Mesmerizing! I was a block tender, but mostly worked with concrete slabs as a college laborer. It put me thru college and had the privilege to work and train under craftsmen. It was the most valuable lesson I learned compared to a college degree. Later I transitioned into carpentry. And at age 72.5, I helped run a concrete slab for our church. Not as flexible as age 22 though!

[@Rockhound1943]

So impressive to watch a true professional, skill, precision, planning, a lives worth of experience on display. The thing easily missed in your video is the constant problem solving going on. These guys are really smooth.

[@funfun2042]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/oqrOZmOde7hlqLs

[@aburrage7697]

My son sent me a link and I am watching a performance. This is beautiful. The men move in harmony and there is such rhythm and balance to their movements. It is soothing to watch. Such ability and done with seemingly ease. Respect. I feel a deep respect for these men and their craft.

[@alexanderbell3102]

As an Englishman it's always nice to see bricks/blocks being laid. One the most satisfying things to do and watch. Of course the great Winston Churchill spent much of his retirement building a wall. I recommend anyone to try it. Laying some red bricks is worth trying and a relaxing process if it's not your job.

[@alanr745]

Alexander, your comment not only shows a bit of history and applicable truth, but is also precisely why I plan to try my hands at some stone masonry in my backyard. I suspect that while it may not be perfect to my mental image, it will be quite enjoyable and fulfilling once complete.

[@bonanzatime]

It can be Heaven on earth, or it can be Hell on earth.

[@forgivenessisasixgun]

I love English architecture. It truly is beautiful. I also love Winston Churchill and listening his speeches like when he came to America to address Congress or his famous we will fight on the beaches etc speech

[@mikefixac]

This gentleman's approach to his videos is the same as his approach to the trades. Truly makes me respect a good tradesman. And him, most of all.

[@CeleryMuffin]

I just recently helped my dad build a block wall just like that! It was much much smaller...only 3-4 ft high and maybe 20 ft long but I learned how difficult it is. These guys are so impressive with how easily they can spread the mortar onto those blocks without dropping any on the ground haha.

[@ganeshbahadur9239]

viriy Nece

[@FarmerDrew]

They drop some, it's okay, their Dad isn't concerned

[@bkl8804]

I'm a high school teacher. Teaching is hard. Easy to be mediocre at and really hard to be great at. This man is a GREAT teacher.

[@AlbertTao]

Watching that last brick in the video fit perfectly was super satisfying.

[@cooldog60]

That is a block. Not a brick! Big difference!

[@raycharles320]

Exactly my thought!

[@jacobmarmolejo3946]

Difference between a block an brick is about 30lbs.

[@jacksprat3009]

And to have it fit exactly - over the rebar - in the middle of a course - that's master work.

[@Synnz]

block*

[@cptrestlesssteven6469]

I could have watched another thirty minutes our so of these craftsman. Just like watching a pro. I often look up and people just watch me continue tho press through the work with fascination. The internet has brought knowledge and I think out has brought a greater respect for tradesman. God bless you and thanks for sharing.

[@bluecobra6294]

THE Best channel to see how things should be done . Thankyou so so much for your expertise.

[@corycasey]

Shout out to these masons and their quality work.

[@theonlybuzz1969]

I sir like countless hundreds of thousands really enjoyed you working on projects describing what (and More importantly why) you do it in this correct procedure video. We love the way you have thoughtfully been showing us the correct way and what pitfalls you should watch out for. I am really surprised that you haven’t been snapped up by a production company to be shown over terrestrial or cable television. You have your calm methodical way of delivering the best information to us that I like. Thank you for your outstanding videos and I would like to wish you all the very best wishes for the future for you and your family and that one day soon you smash the one million milestone that is on this platform. God bless, with Warmest regards from Phil from 🇬🇧

[@rjtumble]

I've always been amazed at the skill of a good mason, especially the guys buttering the joints of the blocks. They way the just seem to slap it on there and have it always be just the right amount.

[@mute8s]

I know right? The sheer speed and precision that mortar was being slapped into place was just blowing my mind. I've never done that sort of work before but I am certain it would take me 5 - 10 minutes to put the same amount of mortar that guy was slapping on in 30 seconds and there would be A LOT more on the ground afterwards.

[@placidrenegade]

It's just practice...I don't think about it, I just do it. The odd occasion it can fall off haha

[@elcoqui121]

mute8s and by the end of the ten mins your wrist would likely be tired and burning

[@elcoqui121]

placid renegade looks like magic to me

[@AustinHansen]

They have to do it fast because it’s the mortar gas to stick. It’s a lot harder to get the mortar to stick if you’re being slow and deliberate.

[@alexbowie6316]

The pride in the work with these guys, is to be fast and accurate. Go like the wind and leave a proper job. That is the true Craftsman of the building trade and those are the guys who make the money.

[@michaelrobinson1341]

A wide brimmed straw hat is a fantastic way to get a bit of shade on your head, while allowing a bit of airflow through your sweaty locks.

[@animalmother556x45]

Michael Robinson Latinos know what's up. I married a nice Mexican gal...her family is comprised of some really hardworking, efficient guys. Oh.....and the food....gosh damn.....

[@Rhaspun]

Look at the many Mexican gardeners. They work covered up with loose clothing. They're trying to avoid direct sunlight on the skin.

[@animalmother556x45]

Rhaspun Yep, sunblock only works so far...there is no substitute for clothing coverage (folks in the middle east stay covered)

[@CertifiedShovelOperator]

@@animalmother556x45 You God damn right!

[@CertifiedShovelOperator]

@@Rhaspun Now thats What I call efficiency!

[@michaeldougfir9807]

I come from a construction family, so knew what you were talking about. And I still learned a lot. For one long summer after high school I was a brick tender for a crusty old guy named Dave. I learned a lot but I was pretty much stuck by the mixer, etc. Now I see why he was SO cranky. He had terrible, uncoordinated help. I'm glad that one of the things I did most was as an arborist. I love trees! But now I respect old Dave and have a better understanding of what it was all about. BTW thanks for mentioning PLUMB, LEVEL, SQUARE, etc. Good concepts for people to learn and keep in mind.

[@kengamble8595]

Oh man, that took me back about thirty five years ! I went to work for one of my cousins that was a super good brick and block layer. I was a young strong, and in good shape man and was no stranger to hard work......... so I thought ! When you are the grunt that's doing the mixing of the mud and hauling brick or block AND doing everything else that has to be done for two and sometimes three guys, you find out just how good of shape you are ! It's some hard work for sure and will put you in shape or kill you ! 😊 Thanks for sharing and take care. 👍 👍

[@Bezzzzo]

Oddly enough usually the skinnier labourers handle it the best, but you just have to hook in and push through the first week or two until your body gets used to it. I remember many moons ago when i was an apprentice those first few weeks were hell.

[@malelpn37]

I watch this just because I got done watching your knife sharpening video. I now know more about block than I ever have in my entire life and it has been a long one, but it was very informative and kept me watching the whole thing. Thank you for making awesome videos

[@lydialas8756]

@Hello How are you doing dear

[@dphil2703]

It's always cool to watch masons at work

[@hamishmcfenda4197]

They are really great craftsmen, all from Mexico, we should bring more of them into our country.

[@Isambane]

Great videos. Concrete/cement drying is a crystallisation process. As it dries crydtals grow giving it strength. Thats why you keep slabs moist for a period to promote the grow of crystals. Might been said by other comments. Keep up the great work. Love it and what a legacy.

[@jkwo2007]

Instead of emphasizing the workers' building skills, which certainly is remarkable, you mainly concentrate on explaining the principal of the engineering and the materials in a simplest way. I like this. It's very educating. I majored in Civil Engineering in college but changed lane to computer coding after graduation. Your lectures recalled me of something deep down the bottom of my memory.

[@RambozoClown]

You missed one component that seems to be in most block walls, the empty beer cans.

[@scruffy6151]

Rambozo Clown. My uncle would have a cigarette hanger out of lips and beer can near by that ended up in the wall.

[@pjmtts]

12:00 they are drinking bottles They just need to be broken before going on top to replace the razor wire like shown in the wall failure at the end

[@bearsharkp3901]

That's real talk

[@BannedPhotoshop]

hahaha. I have a demo company and this is so true. Beer cans, newspapers, toilets, etc. you'll never know what you find in block/concrete. They're like fucking time capsules.

[@damarh]

and the Mexican work force. we are also building trumps wall \oi/ olé \o/

[@ms.lstrachan8582]

Listen...I just stumbled on this video and by one minute in I felt like I needed to start taking notes for an upcoming quiz. lol. This was a very well informed speaker, no uhhhh and ummm and ahhh. Just flow of information after flow of information. As a woman I feel more prepared to "oversee' masonry work being done at my home. I applaud you sir.

[@mattbrown4895]

Hypnotizing to watch a boss build leads. The rhythm and skill are impressive. Thanks for another enjoyable video.

[@robotic2000k]

One of the most well spoken Americans I've ever listened to. Excellent video!

[@nealneals6515]

sir your admonitions to correct practice reinforced by the examples of slipshod work are the best!

[@funfun2042]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/oqrOZmOde7hlqLs

[@johnparinellojr.2035]

Masonry’s brought a lot of joy to my life. Never regretted joining this trade.

[@beatjackoutofdoors153]

Nice vid Scott. In the UK a mason is one who works, and works with, stone. Cutting, carving and laying. Bricks/blocks are laid by brick/blocklayers. The skill of the stonemason is valued higher as the masonry units are irregular in nature. I disagree with your statement that poor stonework is less conspicuous than poor work in cementitious products. Stonemasons pride themselves in square, plumb and true work which is far harder when using irregular units. Also the stonemason has to devise a suitable finish to the pointing. There is never a one size fits all mortar recipe/finish for a myriad of reasons both aesthetic and practical. In the UK we say 'muck!' Although we are still afflicted by the term 'cement' generically used for any mortar. Really bugs me!! Still enjoying the content sir and pass on my condolences for your late mother.

[@naffetstterrag]

kris short completely agree on the the stone being much more difficult to achieve a quality product. Worked with a block laying crew for a few summers in school, it doesn't take much brain power to keep blocks level. Lots of practice but not much brains. The guys who could do stone on the other hand...

[@bonanzatime]

It's easier to train a brick-block mason how to do good stonework than it is to train a stone mason how to do proper brick-block work.

[@RealLuckless]

It takes more skill and experience to spot smaller sins in a natural stone wall than it does to spot sins in a brick or block wall. If someone screws up a seam line in a block wall, you have to be pretty uninformed about the process to not see it, but a bad vertical seam is a lot easier to miss noticing with irregular stone. That is part of why traditional stone masons are considered a higher skilled trade than modern block masonry - modern block was designed to reduce variables, increase consistency, and decrease labour and training requirements.

[@efox2001]

I believe his comment was with regard to the untrained eye. Due to the uniform nature of block and block walls, the layman can more easily see errors in the work. The irregular nature of stone makes this harder. Again for the untrained eye.

[@bonanzatime]

RealLuckless There's a lot of different stone styles, so it's very easy to compare apples to oranges when discussing stone. What I'm saying is brick-block masons are trained to think square, level, plumb, true and fast. Also, the most important physical skill which is handling the trowel, even an average brick-block mason will blow away any stone-only mason every time when it comes to handling a trowel. I'm not dissing official stonemasons, just saying because of skill sets and 'muscle-memory', it's easier for a brick-block mason to learn how to do good stonework (because stonework is just basically easier...depending on the style) than it is for a stone-only mason to take up brick and block skills (professionally).

[@nicsandee123]

I saw this and decided to knock down the back foundation wall of my house as it was sliding down the hill. I propped up the house, poured a new footing and got going. I laid 30 ft of 17 courses. At first it was struggle but after getting waist high it went easier. Most important thing, make your footing level, I didn’t. Mixing 100 bags of concrete by hand is not recommended. Thanks EC for providing the inspiration and the knowledge I watch your vids now👍👍

[@richbuilds_com]

They made that look effortless. The true sign of a pro.

[@MasterCivilEngineering]

Absolutely

[@funfun2042]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/oqrOZmOde7hlqLs

[@billcoley8520]

Mr Man, your voice is probably the best narrator voice ever. Plus you know your business. Thanks for sharing

[@affordabledesertliving3487]

What an intelligent precise explanation of this trade. I learned a good deal from this one. I am planning on doing a cinder block foundation for my cabin and also a cinder block workshop. Great stuff!

[@dozerboy67]

Work smarter, not harder, tho sometimes you have to do both. And safety first, job # 1 is going home every day! Excellent video!

[@lydialas8756]

@Hello Philip how are you doing

[@tyrael64]

Man, watching those guys set those blocks up was super satisfying. I especially liked the slick way they put the mortar on, and the last block fitting just right. Really glad I found this channel, really gives a greater appreciation for the effort and ingenuity that goes into the buildings and structures around us. I always love seeing what you guys produce!

[@funfun2042]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/oqrOZmOde7hlqLs

[@EarlWallaceNYC]

I'm such an armature! This channel shows the "art" of construction that never knew. But, now a appreciate it so much. Thanks for expanding my view.

[@ecrusch]

This is one of your best videos yet Scott! Knowledgeable experienced teaching; excellent video and editing; and that guitar soundtrack is all yours brother. Thanks Scott. Thanks Nate. You guys rock !

[@paintup46]

Grandfather was a mason. Uncle runs a masonry company. Spent two years in Vegas heat throwing block and mixing mud. Hardest job I ever had. Loved it.

[@thuggoe]

I learned everything I need to know about block walls. community colleges should show your videos

[@raskov75]

My dad would have loved this guy. He was an architect and was merciless with contractors when it came to foundations/footings bc many, many contractors try to take shortcuts. Sounds like this guy has no time for that nonsense. You love to see it.

[@alittletexasingeorgia]

Oh how easy they make it look. Makes you want to go try and fail miserable.

[@xmodriver]

INDEED !!!!! lol

[@mrbob55304]

It's that part where they "butter" the bricks that is so smooth! Fast and flawless!

[@scottleft3672]

One step at a time....get lego set.

[@hotrodpaully1]

Brick work not really all that hard as he said first row the hardest if you get the first row level and plum it just a task of maintaining level on rest of it But by no means I'm saying it it easy alot of repetitive heavy lifting and hard work With practice anyone can lay stone

[@jacobmarmolejo3946]

This is a job that if you don't like it you will never be good at. And make it look easy. It just a job most smart people don't want. But I love it. Hahaha.

[@anthonyfxbb9040]

New subscriber here! Currently working for a general contractor. I wish they’d hire you as a consultant to explain the theory and process of not just this wall but the many other informative videos you have! Nowadays people just “throw them in the pool” and not everyone learns that way. I appreciate you being informative yet brief and easily explained. God bless you sir!

[@dannyl2598]

Watching someone who can really lay block is like watching poetry in motion.

[@johnleca]

You are not a mason. You are a scientist. Amazing video and listening to you considering so many different variables at once is great!

[@JMnyJohns]

"Do it right and you are never sorry." Can you imagine the kind of world we'd live in if every kid left high school knowing that? :)

[@davidhughes7184]

Ql

[@ryananthony7115]

Yeah man i wish kids knew how to do this. I wish they taught me while i was in school. Im sure going to teach my kids.

[@nugzaratugriashvili8]

@@davidhughes7184 yýyyyyýýyyyyyyyyy

[@nugzaratugriashvili8]

@@davidhughes7184 ýyyýýy

[@davec.3198]

They don't teach that in gender studies at the state school.

[@najeha9822]

" Do it right, and you're never sorry." really hit hard. This video do help me understand more about construction. Never thought it will be interesting and enjoyable but thankfully it is.

[@funfun2042]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/oqrOZmOde7hlqLs

[@waynemiller6070]

Best closing line ever... "Do it right, and you're never sorry."

[@funfun2042]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/oqrOZmOde7hlqLs

[@notorioushsg1]

I can’t being to fathom the stupidity of anyone to dislike videos like this?! An intelligent man sharing knowledge to the world... for free!!

[@funfun2042]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/oqrOZmOde7hlqLs

[@edzachary8657]

You know with all those guys they're working together reminds me of days past when I did a lot of production framing it was tough work but it was also a lot of fun

[@sbg2681]

I love the bit about jobs site logistic. For years I have been trying to impress that on every apprentice . It's a part of the craft that gets over looked. in the training process. I enjoy the flow of material when and where you need them. Just as much as the craft. It's a beautiful thing to watch when the work just flows.

[@tommmarree3689]

ANY DAY that I get a 20 MINUTE lesson from the ESSENTIAL CRAFTSMAN is a banner day!!!!!! Goodness gracious I LOVE this channel !!!

[@bonanzatime]

Amen Brother Erasmus. Amen

[@gilmarantonio2445]

9

[@kmibuilding906]

You do explain it well, thank you! Brings back memories of when I was a pup started out my building career as a laborer or mason tender back in the late 70's, as it's said your building structure is only as good as your foundation.

[@evolati12]

I’ve never heard the word “cementitious” before! I guess ya learn something new everyday! Thank ya for that little bit of knowledge!!! I appreciate it!

[@chrisreynolds2410]

We’ve never heard of a Brubaker except the Brubaker wedding video….is that you Brubs?

[@tomnobody9294]

I believe this is the most educational and accurate how to video I've ever seen. Thank you for explaining in detail every step and doing a job the right way. 👍👍

[@wbel82]

The guy at 12:00 slamming his cold one then just getting back to work had me laughing...... Very good video thanks for sharing....

[@rick877147]

Hahaha didnt even notice but shiiiit how else can we do this

[@Engineer9736]

:D

[@scarroll625]

It’s OSHA approved beer, don’t worry

[@jet-up2474]

😂

[@thefirmament1616]

haha it could be a mexican soda or coke in the bottle.. Or a a cold one.. hahah

[@hubbadubchub]

Great video! You clearly have a lot of passion for your trade. Something that I've enjoyed about working with my hands is that when you are building something, your work will never lie to you. Either it will fall over or look terrible if that is how you build it. The closing section of this episode was saying just that. If you take your time, realizing that with enough work you can do a good job, you can come to hold yourself accountable to the quality of work you produce and will be rewarded with a sense of accomplishment and pride that is unique to the trades.

[@michaelvangundy226]

By looking at the neighbors lack of grounds keeping, I would opt for the barb wire and guard tower option. I saw this in a movie, it was Omega man. Charlton Hesston. Lots of high security, not much for asthetics. Flame thrower turrets are always a big hit.

[@kevincecchini368]

I am sssoooo happy to hear you clarify the difference between cynder block and concrete block. There is a big difference. Cynder block are no longer created. They use ot make them in the mid 1900's, however, due to the health issues of the material, they stopped production. The purpose was that the blocks were lighter.

[@bigdogbob845]

Scott, as always a great video. And your son has hired a top notch crew to do his CMU wall portion of the project. Those guys are some of the best I have ever seen, the trowel work laying down the mortar as quick and easy as buttering bread, Wow ! How could you Not Be There to watch and film that ?

[@kevincecchini368]

Aside from the lack of silica dust awareness, they did a great job. Silica dust steals an enormous amount of masons life once they retire, through silicosis. kzbin.info/www/bejne/pnnap36BhpqKqqs this is a video from the 1930's on the dangers of silica - 1903's!!!

[@IppiopaidFEEDBACK]

This guy be dropping jewels for productivity. I remember him saying one time,”the key to productivity, is to know your tolerance”. Which is so true! Because a rough framer, doesn’t have to be as precise as a finish carpenter. You could be 3/16 off as a framer, but a finish carpenter 3/16 is a big deal.

[@bonanzatime]

Wow EC, if all carpenters had your respect for masons, there wouldn't be any feuds. 👍 .. from the beginning I had a feeling about you, 'That There, That There Is a Good Man.

[@lesgill8490]

At the end of the day, Carpenters/joiners,are MASONS with their brains bashed out, lol.(from a retired UK bricklayer.)

[@chrisanderson9157]

Carpenters respect us when our foundations they work off of are square and level.

[@bonanzatime]

@@chrisanderson9157 And we respect them (carpenters) when the walls (and windows, doors and soffits) we veneer are straight and plumb.

[@bobs6129]

Ever try putting a roof on a house that is out of square? Not a common Gable.

[@scooterhopkins]

this video - framing, exposure, composition, even the audio is very high quality. if they put this much effort into the quality of their video, imagine how excellent their construction is. nice work, y'all.

[@yannkitson116]

Hats off in respect for those masons! Hard work done gracefully and with precision... Thanks for sharing.

[@V21IC]

Wow! I never realized that trade was so involved and technical. I give a lot of respect to this crew for I see an unequalled level of professionalism!👌👍😄

[@thoperSought]

16:37 "Do it right, and you're never sorry." man, that's going into my diary, today.

[@funfun2042]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/oqrOZmOde7hlqLs

[@kevincecchini368]

We do is nice cuz we do it twice

[@JossinJax]

I could listen to this man all day.

[@viscache1]

As always super informative....as occasionally, you’ve taken a sedentary approach in extensively covering a project few of us will encounter and stretched the video to the extremes of watching...well...’concretious product drying in cool damp conditions... Most of us will install patios, long drives, garden paths etc. and while it uses the same basic techniques it might go faster than a video about doing it.... thanks for your in depth videos. I feel it necessary to occasional jest!😂

[@rubo1964]

After bending my back fixing my basement wall I can appreciate what these masons do.Its tough work.

[@frankrodriguez5417]

When I was a kid on the construction site with my dad my favorite job was striking joints, especially if there were little voids for me to fill and detail.

[@BigDrewski1000]

8:14 "Masonry as a trade is a fascinating thing. It's been a round for a long, long time." That's because it's a precise, quality trade. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Kudos to you and your team for the work you guys do. Idk how thanked you get for your work, but from me, I say Thank You. Without you guys and your forbearers throughout history, we'd still be living in dirt huts or hide tents. Guys like yourself really change how mankind lives.

[@1voluntaryist]

When Ford took beautiful works of art built by specialist tradesmen his vision created a new paradigm in auto travel. The rich probably said: "He ruined the automobile because he tried to "fix" something that wasn't broke." Millions of lower-middle class, disagreed. What's "broke" is a matter of vision/perspective. Precision & quality are relative. The only certainty is change, hopefully for the better. That won't happen if we worship the past and let fear kill our imagination.

[@pronkjap]

Another 20 minuts well spent on my free saterday. Cheers good couple lessons and answers on why are they......

[@AksamRafiz]

Jorrit Pronk Friday for me

[@GFMgodfamilymusic]

Ahh very satisfying. I've been conditioned and trained very well for years in block masonry, labor and tend, laying to the line, learning bond and leads, hundreds of residential houses going slab to slab, multiple big commercial buildings like Publix with sprouts, that use box car blocks which are 12 by 8 by 16 instead reg block which is 8 by 8 by 16. We built a house fully with 2500 block in one day with a full crew everybody on point going hard. we averaged around 600 block a day on commercial, sometimes 800 but only had 4 or 5 masons

[@jwwilliams]

Very interesting. I had no idea building a block wall so complicated.

[@donworryboutit8455]

I wish all my customers that think i overcharged them thought like this 😆

[@dohiii]

Stone Cold masonry from Phx, Az. I was a northern az mason. Hats off to them for working in phx. My only rule was, never work in phx. F that. Over 5 yrs since leaving the trade.

[@buteobuteo]

"Mother Earth is sloped everywhere except on the Bonneville salt flats, okay?" There's a lot I like about that sentence. You have a way with words.

[@MasterCivilEngineering]

Good one dear

[@funfun2042]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/oqrOZmOde7hlqLs

[@ramchhana9471]

@@MasterCivilEngineeringhow to take Cement to up building while they are doing work..

[@christopherfitch7705]

Wow the trowel handling skills of this guy in the last couple minutes he is so fast and smooth

[@Alonzo01]

How did I ended up watching this whole video, and found it so interesting! 😂

[@ThePianoMan1953]

For the same reason as when I was a very little boy, sitting and watching the builder down the street. It's so fascinating to watch a tradesman work; you just have to. :-)

[@funfun2042]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/oqrOZmOde7hlqLs

[@niradz]

Oh man🤯😳 when the peaceful music changed to the broken walls I almost lost it, great job editing for that effect 😆 really enjoyed learning about this, as a new homeowner I just started learning about concrete with our diy countertops, and was fascinated by the whole process

[@bigbody_stunnaboss]

This kind of content can change the perspective of so many people who’s initial thought of construction is a job that is inferior to one that requires a degree and academic experience. Great video(s)