How I brick up an old doorway

[@SteveAndAlexBuild]

First of all Andy a massive thanks for the shout out it is so appreciated. We’ve had over 100 subscribers since you mentioned us 🙏🏾🥹. Second that mixer is lovely and clean 🫡. I sat and watched in my hospital bed after having my long awaited hip replacement on Wednesday obviously a bit sore and not feeling my best so your video was perfectly timed to give me a boost . I’m not into slagging anyone off I’d rather give constructive suggestions. I know it would have looked better with every half out but those brick looked weak and the mortar looked very hard. We always use our sawzall with a Bosch carbides masonry blade but only if the mortar is on the weak side like 5to 1 or lime mortar. The brick match was spot on and it’s the best patch job on that wall ! I also liked how you cut out the cavity on either side so it’s continuous , not every qualified bricky bothers with that . Last don’t bother with the cloth just give it a good scrub the next day with water with a small drop of brick acid in 👌🏼. Thanks again Andy you made my day 🤝🏾🥹🙏🏾🧱👍🏼

[@bigdavegooner]

I'm glad to hear you finally managed to get your hip sorted, get well soon Steve

[@SteveAndAlexBuild]

@@bigdavegoonercheers 🥹🧱👍🏽

[@GosforthHandyman]

Thanks for the kind words Steve - massively appreciated! That's a great tip with the sawzall. Yeah, towards the bottom the toothed bricks were just breaking and that was a bit soul destroying 😂. I think I watched our brickie, Alan, cutting out the toothing with his Stihl saw - he made it look easy 💪 but jeez, running the big saw sideways up on a step with the water running... I certainly felt it the next day! 😅 Good luck with the recovery and if you're every up this way you're always welcome for a cuppa / pint. 👍🙏

[@SteveAndAlexBuild]

@@GosforthHandyman. Cheers Andy sounds like a plan 🤜🏽🤛🏽☕️☕️🩼🦿🩼🧱👍🏽

[@colinpollitt5135]

@SteveAndAlexBuild Hope the hip operation was successful. Watch all your videos and I know the struggles you've had and the pain you were clearly in. Hope to see you fit and well in good time. All the best

[@paddyhall523]

4000 percent better. Least it blends in compared to the rest. Brick laying isn't easy for us DIYers, I'd be well happy with that. Top work.

[@GosforthHandyman]

Cheers! 💪

[@stevegrundy9817]

Hi I am a retired brickie from leaving school at the tender age of 15 .I am now 73 .been in the trade 58 years and still going .looking at the rest of the brick work to have a three quarter at alternate ends don't look out of place and I would have done the same .top job .

[@Sean006]

Steve & Alex are fantastic guys. Proper gentlemen. 👍

[@davey8914]

Yup. I watch them and find myself jealous of their skills!

[@GosforthHandyman]

Absolutely - inspirational!

[@davetay44]

Awesome to hear you are a fellow S&A follower! When my mate was let down by a brickie, I told him to get S&A in to fix it and they did a stellar job! Also makes me very happy (that might be a bit much) to see you knock the barrow over when tipping the mixer, I did that multiple times when I was laying my back patio - so made me feel a little better seeing someone as skilled as yourself do it too! Great job on the wall patch, see you on the next one

[@LTFC1964]

I’m a very keen DIYer but you very quickly realise just how good brickies are when you give it a go but I must admit you have done a proper job there….bravo.

[@GosforthHandyman]

Thank you - yeah brickies are absolute heroes of the construction site. Hard work doing that day in and day out. 💪

[@KendalSmithy]

An enjoyable watch for somebody like me - a sofa-based builder. I loved the bit with the cement mixer and wheelbarrow. I guess we all saw that coming! Thanks Andy!

[@GosforthHandyman]

Cheers - disaster narrowly averted! 😅

[@frankhornby6873]

Excellent job mate....I’d be proud of doing that..👍🏻

[@TerryM-z9y]

I’ve never attempted any kind of brickwork at all , but I’d say you’ve done a nice solid job there ! Nice job!

[@DIY_Dad_Pat]

@SteveandAlex are a great Dad and Lad bricklaying Duo, fantastic videos to learn everything you need to know about bricklaying. Plus very entertaining KZbin videos here and over there

[@GosforthHandyman]

Yup - top guys and lovely to see a father and son team. 👍😊

[@shaun30-3-mg9zs]

Hi Andy to be honest you have done a great job, I'm just a DIYer and I love brick laying I do find it therapeutic once i'm stuck in to it on a nice warm spring day I enjoy it. I've got to do more brick laying in the garden on my next two rockeries as the first one it's raised by three course of bricks and the rockery on top. The brick I use is very random in shapes and colours I've got bricks from new to 200 years old a mix of imperial to metric and it looks good giving more colour to the garden, as a neighbour said to me it looks like a Lego wall that's one way to look at it. Being told by so many people say you need a 4 to 1 mix and some one else says you need a 5 to 1 mix, so I do a 4.5 to 1 mix and it works well for me. Keep up the good work your brick work blends in well with the rest of the brick work on the house. As always a great video, catch you soon, take care

[@GosforthHandyman]

Thank you! Yes, it's very therapeutic - apart from the bitter wind on this occasion. 😅

[@AndyP-b9z]

Way better then the other patches.

[@RachelFayLovelyDay]

My brickie showed me how he uses brick dust (from cutting) pressed into half dry muck to fake the edges of any broken bricks. It looks great - better than colour match mortar.

[@GosforthHandyman]

Great tip!

[@jruk1981]

A vast improvement, in honesty though I would have removed the soldier course and I would turn my hand to replacing the other patched up bricks. Makes such a huge difference to the house and will make it feel more loved. Well done

[@GosforthHandyman]

Cheers! I like the soldier course as a nod to what used to be there. 👍

[@waynemoate9401]

That is some nice brick work for a none brickie. I think you should remove the small set of soldiers above your brick work and replace them in the correct orientation.

[@GosforthHandyman]

Cheers! I want those kept as a bit of a nod to what was originally there. 👍

[@withoutthinking3703]

Looks very good to me to be honest nice job

[@keneves5282]

Great job on the brickwork,well done.

[@GosforthHandyman]

Cheers!

[@leona_devon]

Think you've done well to match the bricks, oh getting imperial bricks is a pain, bricked up a window during my reno and had to use bricks from the front garden wall I had taken out, while the sizes where good, the colour was off. Noticed you didn't tooth out every layer, assumed this was due to them being difficult to remove (down button left and top).

[@markdyballuk]

canny job you made of it... certainly many steps up from what was done before and finished job looks very good...I'm surprised you didn't finish it off with a brick pointer as they aren't a lot of money... but overall a grand job Andy and thanks for sharing. Happy New Year to you and yours

[@GosforthHandyman]

Cheers and happy new year! Wanted a weather struck joint as opposed to concave. 👍

[@markdyballuk]

@@GosforthHandyman thanks for letting me know Andy

[@davebarrow2194]

A little tip for you mate....hammer a nail in every course both sides and wrap ya string line to the nails.This helps keep ya courses true with original courses👍 nice job though.

[@GosforthHandyman]

Cheers! I couldn't work out how to keep the string flush with the wall 😅 so in the end I just used my level as a guide. 👍🙏

[@liamfinch4129]

proper job!

[@davidspencer110]

Well done andy im just a enthusiastic diy er butit looks to me like you've done a great job keep it up. Dave

[@martinwarner1178]

That's a good job done Mr. I enjoyed the video. Peace and goodwill

[@GosforthHandyman]

Thank you - peace and goodwill to you too!

[@mathewgallimore1484]

I always use a separate bucket for the cement, same size of course, it just keeps the bucket clean as there is always moisture in the sand so the cement sticks to it.

[@GosforthHandyman]

Good tip!

[@user-DANWALKER1066]

Looks very good there this is the kind of stuff I do from time to time - being a multi trader. Spot on brick match, mortar strong but matches existing, the disc cutter is fine for doing what you did rather than a sawzall! That’s what they are there for what you’ve done for toothing out! I know Steve or Alex has said use a sawzall but every bricky I know of uses a disc cutter too! Sawzall will just burn out quickly id say! Izzy the bricky is a good chap I find on KZbin as far as bricklayers go in my humble opinion! Well done

[@johnbottomley9956]

My dad used to used a piece of hose to use to pat down mortar between the bricks but you've done a good job 👍

[@Phys1gn]

There’s a purpose made tool for the joints but a off cut of hose is also a brilliant option if you don’t have the tool, or can’t find it or whatever. Ur dad sounds like a smart man

[@johnbottomley9956]

@Phys1gn thanks that's made my day my dad thought me a lot on a building site during my school holidays just wish he was here now to see a lovely complement from a complete stranger once again thank you

[@GosforthHandyman]

Cheers and good tip on behalf of your dad! Wanted weather struck joints on this one. 👍

[@robertgeiger7026]

It looks a lot better than the others did.

[@GosforthHandyman]

Cheers!

[@trevorburford-reade8685]

Better than I could do. My brick laying experience is limited to laying a small fireplace years ago. Looks great.

[@GosforthHandyman]

Cheers!

[@genty1960]

I think you have done a right bobby dazzler of a job 👍🏻

[@stephensmith6290]

That looks so much better... Good Job.

[@ianpearse4480]

Happy New Year Andy. Great share. Cheers.

[@glyn1206]

Looks good from here !

[@martinholt2844]

I think you’ve done a very good job there! 👍

[@GosforthHandyman]

Cheers!

[@Russtynailer]

Top job👍👍👍👍.....look even beter when you've silicone rendered it👍👍👍👍

[@GosforthHandyman]

😂

[@jbock2753]

A few brickies working on new builds these days could do with watching your video as a tutorial about fitting weep vents.😂

[@GosforthHandyman]

Thank you!! 😅

[@stuartday1876]

You'll never get a "KZbin expert" comment from me. Really good match on the bricks, and it looked 1000x better than it did before. I'm sure a brickie would do it differently, but still better than I could do.

[@eahmed1000]

GREAT JOB!!!!! Looks alot better

[@DysonFraudy]

Lovely job 👍🏼👍🏼💚

[@eddieg1954]

Great job looks like it grew there. Don't see a problem with it. I've got to do the same on my daughters house, lucky enough fitting a window there as well, so not as much brickie work. Your video has given me a bit more courage to tackle it. Cheers Andy

[@GosforthHandyman]

Thank you and good luck with your project!

[@mygardenofthings]

Great job man👍

[@datsunruss]

I really think that is an excellent job Mr Mac.

[@GosforthHandyman]

Thank you! 🙏

[@markduggan3451]

I think you did a smashing job.

[@GosforthHandyman]

Cheers!

[@catherinepaul4417]

Very good job ! beautiful !!!

[@GosforthHandyman]

Thank you - cheque in the post. 😉

[@rewind12354]

I always use 4.1 mix but I suppose it doesn’t matter. Great job on the brickwork btw.

[@Luke_Nuke-em]

As a brickie you did a good job, give yourself a pat on the back buddy! Only advice i would give, which you may have done, is when cleaning up your joints wait for the mix to go off slightly, it makes a less messy job and helps to stop the bleed onto the brickwork. Also do your perps before your bed joint. Other than that spot on chap!

[@marksweetman8765]

Top job. Well done!

[@GosforthHandyman]

Cheers!

[@krakatoa16]

Great job. Just wondering how you found bricks that match the existing ones? I'm having trouble finding ones that match.

[@GosforthHandyman]

Cheers! Reclamation / salvage yard in Blaydon - I hand picked them. 👍

[@MushyBees-no1ur]

Your thumbnail game is impressive!

[@CarlRuthie]

looks spot on that Andy ive got a front garden wall needs rebuilding, not too far for you only in Longbenton😜

[@GosforthHandyman]

Ha thank you! 😂

[@bluefell4134]

looks far better. Why didnt you use the pointing tool for the poinitng i saw you put it in the bucket

[@christianbaastrup2939]

You can get the new brick to look more in keeping by aging (darkning) them with soot :)

[@galady8632]

I am definitely not a professional BrickLayer, I am more of a DIYer. I have a few small brick projects in my background and I quickly realized the Pros are under-appreciated. Based on this video I would happily hire you to do brickwork for me. Of course we are an ocean apart but your attention to detail is significant. I never expect perfection. The fact that you have 294K Subscribers and you cleaning up the area so thoroughly after the task was completed speaks volumes.

[@GosforthHandyman]

Thank you!! 🙏👍

[@buzzkillington3354]

The brick match is pretty much spot on👍

[@GosforthHandyman]

Really pleased with the match - cheers!

[@BrodaPaul]

Could watch you making a brick wall all day. Fantastic!

[@GosforthHandyman]

Took all day - thank you though! 🙏😁

[@MattJ2906]

Looks so much better Andy! That wall was more patch than wall before you started, what’s gone on there in the past?!

[@craigw71]

Steve and Alex are great. I’d also recommend Izzy the bricky. I’d say you’ve done a good job of it. A massive improvement on the previous attempt.

[@GosforthHandyman]

Cheers and great tip with Izzy the bricky!

[@peterthebricky]

Back in 1974 I was taught by better than a lot of brickies here to put 3/4 of the water half the sand all the cement ( usually a bag cut in half ) the rest of the sand and top up water to suit, also Back then a small squirt of fairy, loading a belle mixer completely could be done in a minute easily

[@moiragoldsmith7052]

As a Master Baker and Confectioner...I concur👍 . You can add more liquid if needed...you can't take it out and a heavier ingredient on top of a super fine ingredient (eg cement or in my case icing sugar) will deter that fine cloud of 'dust' and hence save your lungs. 🌞

[@GosforthHandyman]

Defo!

[@SteveAndAlexBuild]

@@moiragoldsmith7052👌🏼

[@petercsontos5236]

Very nice job Andy - as usual…!

[@GosforthHandyman]

Thank you!

[@therealdojj]

i know you said you had issues with the toothing, but how come you didn't tooth the bottom few rows? thanks

[@markdyballuk]

i was wondering this too...

[@TeeTee-zm2re]

🤔

[@thomaslundberg5588]

I was wondering that too. Also why not cut out the damaged brick rather than trying to fix it later with colour matched mortar.

[@multirevelator]

i reckon he just couldn't get that big disc cutter machine that close to the ground to do a nice parallel cut

[@markdyballuk]

@@multirevelator that makes sense 👍

[@AQABNAWAZ]

Vast improvement from before. Well done!

[@GosforthHandyman]

Cheers!

[@royhandley3133]

A very nice job Andy.

[@GosforthHandyman]

Cheers!

[@paulprescott7913]

Andy, that's a smashing job.

[@GosforthHandyman]

Cheers!! 👍👍

[@pkeiths1594]

I admire your can do attitude. Wish i had some not just once in a while

[@GosforthHandyman]

Thank you! Mrs Mac keeps me in check. 😅

[@handyjim]

good job

[@Awesom3Adam]

An amazing save with the Muck!! 10/10 didnt spill or get it all over your self!

[@GosforthHandyman]

Ha yeah, very lucky save! 😂

[@alanstalker5499]

A great job!

[@GosforthHandyman]

Cheers!

[@kendrab7719]

Looks great Andy.

[@GosforthHandyman]

Thank you! 🙏

[@c.a.g.1977]

Well done Andy! My woodshed was made by the previous owner (he had it built, he didn't do it himself), and the bricklaying is just done awfully. You did a much better job!

[@GosforthHandyman]

Ha thank you!

[@projectrebuild908]

And you should be pleased that was 100% and them some better than what was there

[@GosforthHandyman]

Thank you!

[@jonathancook4022]

My top-tip for using a cement mixer is to keep a pressure washer nearby - pressure washing a cement mixer gets it clean really fast

[@GosforthHandyman]

Great tip! 👍👍

[@andyc972]

Thanks Andy, looks great to me, at the end of the day - will it fall down ? No ! does it match the existing wall well enough ? Yes ! Tbh that's all that matters really ! I would be similarly cautious of bricklaying ( or at least presenting it to others ) my first experience was building a compost heap in our first garden and admittedly it wasn't going to be assessed aesthetically but I wanted it to look OK as my Father-in-law was a Civil Engineer. My main issue was pointing it with my fingers, not realising this would eradicate my finger-prints and be really uncomfortable for weeks ! 🤣 Btw, who you kidding about the decorating gear, we all know Mrs Mac does all the painting ! 😉

[@GosforthHandyman]

Thank you and ha ha yes, you're right about Mrs Mac and the decorating! She defo deserves ALL the credit on that front. 😂

[@andybrace4983]

Lovely old job

[@GosforthHandyman]

Cheers!

[@DerekTJ]

What was the metal thing screwed to the wall?

[@edwardwilliams9185]

Think its a temporary lintel

[@tombrown3533]

@@DerekTJ i was thinking that. Looks like a bit of cable tray

[@GosforthHandyman]

Yeah, it's an old industrial cable tray... used as a temporary lintel. 👍

[@edwardwilliams9185]

@@GosforthHandyman resourceful as ever, love it

[@Sparrowhawk1962]

Looks great andy... its just a pity the previous bricky didn't even attempt to match the existing bricks with the other patches. I enjoy a bit of bricklaying now and again, it's just that I'm 10× slower than a tradesman. Well done!

[@GosforthHandyman]

Yeah no idea why they did that! Ex-council and every single house has the same patchwork... so I guess it was just done on the cheap. 👍

[@simorris485]

Good work Andy I’d be happy with that, looks like the gable has had several brick types/patching/repairs so you done good. Personally id remove the paint on the soldiers and you could try some brick tinting when the warmer weather comes if you want to blend the other areas - but tbh it’s how far do you want to go…

[@GosforthHandyman]

Cheers! Yeah, I'm going to try some paint stripper on them. It comes off the bricks fine but tends to get stuck in the mortar lines. 🙄

[@Pete.Ty1]

👍👍👍 Nice job. Thanks Andy

[@GosforthHandyman]

Cheers! 👍👍👍

[@CushtyCrow]

Bloody marvellous

[@GosforthHandyman]

Cheers!

[@MarcusT86]

Lovely job mate!

[@GosforthHandyman]

Thank you!

[@Quaker521]

Not a brickie but I think that you've done a great job there Andy. Well done. And if its not too late - Happy New Year! Cheers.

[@GosforthHandyman]

Thank you and happy new year!

[@zxxvcc]

It's the best-looking repair on that wall, certainly - anyone who notices will be noticing the old repairs with the wrong bricks.

[@GosforthHandyman]

Thank you! I'm really pleased with it. Now it's all dry you can't really see it at all. 👍🙏

[@foragingadventures]

Do you enjoy this early stage of a project? Or do you like it more when you're much further along and closer to the finish line?

[@GosforthHandyman]

I quite enjoy a spot of brick laying... but not when it's freezing and blowing a gale. But this was quite a satisfying job. 👍

[@kevingeorge6612]

Looks great buddy

[@GosforthHandyman]

Thank you!

[@stephenweston1807]

I'd be happy with that job - at least you've pretty much matched the bricks which the previous patchers hadn't. What's your secret to long-lasting mortar? Mine's normally gone off within an hour so no way would I make up such a big batch in one go.

[@GosforthHandyman]

Cheers! Always seems to last for me and you can always re-work it with a bit of water to loosen it up a bit. Could be since I always seem mix mortar in the winter mind! Might not last so long if it was hot. 👍

[@Kx110x]

Hi Andy. Definitely an improvement on what was done originally , and judging by the previous patching work it doesn’t warrant any more time spent . Certainly looks like it’s had a history of things being removed , so would be interesting to know what happened in the past . You could do a time teem number on the place , In your spare time of course 😂 . Kind regards as always . 👍

[@GosforthHandyman]

Cheers and defo to the time team thing - quite a patchwork!

[@dougwardle2175]

A brickie you may not be but it’s a hell of a better job than the one you replaced. Given the state of the rest of the wall I really wouldn’t be bothering with coloured mortar for those odd bits

[@GosforthHandyman]

I've got a few other repairs to do with coloured mortar so I'll probably do them all at the same time. 👍😁

[@neilsmith5762]

Looks good to me

[@markhannan4712]

You’ve done a good job mate

[@GosforthHandyman]

Cheers!!

[@Incendiary7]

Try brick tinting on the other bits of infill! Can get really good colour matching!

[@GosforthHandyman]

Cool - might look in to that! 👍

[@JohnMellor-nd8bs]

I think this looks good to me.

[@saudilass]

That was a good catch with the mortar, I nearly shouted out loud to tell you 😂 That is an incredible difference and the imperial bricks blend in much better than the awful red mess 👍👍

[@GosforthHandyman]

Yeah I had a bit of a giggle about that. For a moment I genuinely thought I was stuck with the cement mixer in one hand and the barrow in the other. 😂

[@saudilass]

@@GosforthHandyman 🤣🤣🤣

[@Sean006]

I'd be happy with that. Although some of the bricks looked a bit tatty. But the whole wall was a Frankenstein creation.

[@GosforthHandyman]

👍

[@westleywest7259]

Fine work mate! 😊

[@GosforthHandyman]

Thank you! 🙏

[@AaaaandAction]

Didn’t see you place any brick ties while you were coursing up, did you ‘push’ them in afterwards?

[@GosforthHandyman]

Yeah did the ties as I went! So quick they probably didn't show on the time lapse. 👍

[@gingerelvis]

Not a trade of any sort but done a pretty full on renovation giving it all a go, I'd say your brickwork has come out nice there! The reclaimed bricks are a bit rough which is a shame for how tidy a job yo've done with them

[@georgeroberts6457]

2 points andy m8 1 you need a pointer so cheap but finish is amazing and 2nd point your gonna see what a fab job you did those bricks next to where bricked up stand out a mile, but fantastic work

[@GosforthHandyman]

Cheers! Wanted a weather struck finish (as opposed to concave) to match the rest of the house... although tricky with those old chipped bricks! 😂🙏

[@fourleafproductions9788]

Hiya, me and my partner live in Newcastle, we're hopefully gunna be looking into renovations so long as plans go well. Are there any local companies you'd recommend (plumbing, electric, fitting, etc?!) Cheers!

[@stewartmcardle8149]

I don't watch Steve and Alex but, they're obviously good mentors. As Eric said, "you can't see the join!"....(almost)...nice job Andy. Take out the obstruction above please.

[@GosforthHandyman]

Thank you and defo check out Steve & Alex!

[@Doug....]

Think you made a fair job of that Andy 👍 Steve and Alex would approve.

[@GosforthHandyman]

Thank you!

[@graemedoyle1660]

Andy, what is the cable tray for?

[@135Ops]

To hold the soldier course together while bricks below were removed I would guess?

[@GosforthHandyman]

Yeah, temporary lintel. 👍

[@buzzkillington3354]

I thought that brickwork in the thumbnail was yours for a minute....should have known better great job😂

[@GosforthHandyman]

Ha ha that was my intended hook. 👍😂