Is there a solution to sites giving us unusable materials?

#brickwork #bricklaying #construction

[@MDavis1990]

Mate as a manager it’s all down to these companies being tight on pre Lim costs. The compounds should look like a Travis Perkins. Instead it’s a bit of stone on some mud. It’s a shambles and does my head in. Everyone just gets rushed on sites. Most of the defects generated are from poor materials. Not workmanship, I’ve found in my career.

[@Sam-yn7dw]

Not in 12 years have I seen any bricklaying materials covered or stored in any decent conditions, constantly arguing with forklift drivers and site manager asking them to take packs of soaking wet brick off the loading bay for them to shout back, the packs are all the same, losing dry drizzly workable days because the brick and block are ringing wet so you spew it and go home. Every site we go I ask if they’re gonna sort something to keep materials dry and it’s always the same “I’ll sort something” and never happens. More interested in telling workers to put their hat on than the quality of the build.

[@Sam-yn7dw]

I’ve also spent days covering packs of brick with tarpaulin in the pissing down rain myself which I don’t get extra money for, on sites with 8 and 9 gangs, only for the forties to give them away to all gangs, ( not forkies fault but when you ask them not to it’s annoying) Just feels like a losing battle every winter

[@jamielong9963]

Well said

[@garethwatson7999]

Don’t take much to knock up a temporary canopy or lean-to, on a site to keep shit undercover.

[@purnp5897]

You can refuse delivery. When it turns up wet simply refuse the delivery. Technically it's a faulty product and if you state its "not fit for purpose" they cannot refuse. Ask for a full refund or exchange for dry goods. If the manager of the merchants acts up, use chatgpt to write a strongly worded letter to head office outlining how disappointed you are in having to set a project back and dont forget to highlight time and labour lost.

[@Sun-ei4gi]

If it happened on mass returns action would be taken swiftly 😂

[@TommoDobbo-dp1gu]

💯You know that!

[@bigmacleicester]

eqsy fix this....every big site should have a proper dedictaed storeman. My last site they had one who was in charge of all materials and delieveires. He was payed properly and not just like a labourer. Never once had an issue with materials as he worked directly for the site manager who trusted him to do his job.

[@TommoDobbo-dp1gu]

💯 That's what sites need

[@V8PropaneBurner]

Well done Charlie for wanting to do something about this. I hope you can get in front of enough of the right people to make a difference. Good luck 🤞

[@markadler8968]

In Canada bricklayers are in charge of all of their materials. I myself have several very large shelters with aluminum poles. One is for materials and I can put 100+ pallets under it easily. Another one is for a mixing area and for my saws. One is for a break area for the boys and the rest is are set up over top of my work areas. Me and my guys can work in an absolute downpour and I even have several salamander propane heaters if we want to work in the cold. I use this system all year round because it keeps the sun off of you in the summer as well. It takes maybe 10% more work to set all of it up but it is well worth it to be able to work in comfort no matter what the conditions.

[@CharlieCollison]

I would love to see this system 👍🏻

[@danhumphreys6521]

We hired a space heater off our own back cost £350 for the week dried 15 packs of bricks out and some blocks all lovely and dry got rained off on a Thursday come back Friday to find out they’ve been taking out of the garage they were in and put back down in the muddy compound uncoved and literally sitting in mud makes your wonder why you even bother

[@Martin-lk7uk]

On top of everything else why should we pay for that ____ that noise

[@666findom]

What a shit site taken them back out👎

[@SEANPOL203]

Feck that

[@TommoDobbo-dp1gu]

Wow Charlie can't believe you're over a milli! Well done brother I was watching you when you were in the 20k 30k subscriptions. I lost my arm so obviously had to stop bricklaying and stopped watching you because it hurt me knowing I'll never lay bricks ever again. But I'm well proud and happy for you mate💯👍❤️🙏

[@666findom]

Sad to hear your story bud Must of been an accident you had

[@dalewalker4934]

Theses house builders must spend tens of thousands of pounds on pointless walkways and hundreds of barriers. Yet they won’t pay a couple of thousand puting a shelter over the compound. Site work is a joke at the moment

[@martin2466]

Bean counters, Q.S`s & cost consultants who know the cost of everything - and the value of nothing. Minimum effort - Maximum invoice. Archaic & corrupt systems and proceedures rife throughout the industry. A general indifference to others and a total "fcuk-you" attitude and approach to everyone else. This mirrors a malaise and attitude across society.

[@ama9401]

Lowest cost, maximum profit.

[@bbayfield]

Site I’m on at the minute is pretty good all materials covered up and raised of the ground on pallets on a hardcore base. First time I have ever seen it but they are going for awards on this job 😂

[@ianbromley8749]

Charlie I'm not a brickie but the problem is we have a society attitude of fuck it i don't care we need to work as a team

[@martin2466]

@ianbromley8749 Good point Ian, It precisely mirrors what is happening in society generally. You see it everywhere you go, in shops, in Pubs & Restaurants, Utility companies, Local government departments etc. etc. Their attitude is, we are all mugs with money - pay us and shut up. Good quality & customer service is a thing of the past now.

[@alangreenley3257]

as iu have said before, if NHBC gave building company,s an ri for not covering up materials, they would soon get the message, and something would be done about it,

[@martin2466]

The NHBC are paid lackeys of the Industry, financed by the Construction Industry to police themselves. Deaf, Dumb & blind that lot.

[@stevejones7622]

Great idea. That's the only thing the management care about.

[@lmilne4859]

Nobody gives a fuck from merchants to the sites all comes down laziness and most importantly cost will never change sadly

[@ianhoward4246]

Correct..... no one gives a flying fxxxx . Keeping materials dry,will just eat into the shareholders profits ..... The only way to win , become a shareholder!

[@tonym992]

Too bloody right Charlie. Well said

[@rudo747]

It should come as part of a contractractual agreement between the subby and the main contractor (or who supplies materials on the job )are responsible to supply dry materials to assure the quality requirements can be met .if this can't be met then the main contractor is liable for work that is considered not up to standard, bricklayers are getting to much put on their shoulders these days ,it's a easy cop out for these main contacts at your expense,

[@shifty277]

Me personally I think the only way it will work is the covering from the manufacturer.... IBS Stock, Forterra, Brick ability etc etc. Some of the plastic coverings are better than others because when wrapped they have structural support because the bricks don't have any plastic band wrappings. Then the pallets of 400s and 450s have plastic bands on them and the plastic is crap and tears easily and water gets in the pallets. I still can't believe concrete blocks in 100s and 140s still come unwrapped up and down the country. The brick and block companies should just add the cost on to the developer they won't bat an eyelid. I think its just down to a thicker and more durable plastic covering on all manufacturers brick pallets. Re brick jackets - these are good when loading out dry bricks and it's steaming down the next day. Spot boards are usually cut 600 x 600 I cut mine at 570 by 530. These are better to plonk on the stack of bricks and put a couple of bricks on top. The jacket doesn't allow air to dry loaded out damp bricks the Spot boards do. Most brickies won't leave their plastic gator boards out on top of bricks so ply or caberdek tongue and groove leftover from chippies still have their place. I think to expect developers to be constructing a big covered dry area is too big a hurdle...it would cost thousands. Too hard a conversation. My job in barking I'm on had a million bricks laid. Probably 1/2 of the bricks were in stock in the materials yard by the time the 1st bricks were laid. You can only stack pallets 2 high. Imagine the area needed to build to cover that amount of pallets it would be madness. Put it to the manufacturers Charlie. They put plastic bands on for structural support and put a cheap easily tearable plastic covering on them. If you ever see bricks in 1\2 pallets (usually 270 brick) they have a much thicker durable plastic and are thick enough that you rarely get holes in it. All the best. Thumbs up.

[@karl4902]

Good point regarding the plastic wrapping, they often arrive with a few tears in already so you're up against it from the start if it's been raining. The pallets themselves are also often not up to the job, the amount of times I've seen the pallet collapse when the forky is driving over ground that isn't perfectly level. The manufacturers seem to just chuck them on the cheapest pallets they can find.

[@jamesgill4765]

I agree with everything you are saying but mate on the superstructure the site management take the piss NHBC standard is fine but he said he has £1400 bonus riding on inspection at joist . That’s more than our lift price 1st lift , they want mortar smudges of the back of the blocks inside the cavity . I could go on but what needs to be said as I said to the lads today is NHBC standard is fine but if they want pride in the job getting a plot ready for inspection should be an extra over chargeable to the house builder . The daywork gang foreman spent 2 days getting it ready , it was mint , you can’t do that on price at £540 pt and £15 It’s a joke

[@wjtgbio5218]

Sites should buy tarps which ain’t that expensive if you look after them they will last a year or two. Have a corner of the site with bricks and blocks sectioned off. Put the tarp over and peg down like a tent enough to the point where it can still air. Put a perimeter of bags full of sand to soak up the water keeps the ground dry around the materials. When u need a pack of bricks or blocks undo a peg pull back the tarp and weigh down the tarp job done cheap considering it would last ages and it’s inexpensive considering

[@MrRebeldog7]

Just a note here , builders merchants make a fortune selling wet sand stone etc as they are giving you less for the same price , theres no way they gonna stop that they would lose too much money

[@MR-kb7qi]

These companies should have an environmental material management policy in place, so materials are protected from weathers and from being broken. I’ve being working trade since I was 8 with my family, I stoped at 20 and I’m currently doing a diploma in occupational health and safety, experience on working in the trade gives a better understanding on how shit actually works an not all ways to the books, the collage ones come out don’t seem to acknowledge the tradesmen exspereince an have their head up their own ass, when I was on site I came across loads of problems due to materials, one was plaster board, and half of them had damaged corners which forced us to shorten sheets ( basically made are day a shit show) it needs to be addressed as it’s unacceptable stress that stakeholders shouldn’t have to deal with.

[@Yiddo67]

Just had 18 packs of blocks dropped off straight from the manufacturer all piss wet...asked the driver are they not stacked inside or covered up ..No was his reply ...wouldn't it be better if they came with brick/block jackets on probably with a charge like they do with pallets...most time's feels like going to war not work...good luck Charlie 🤞👍

[@Beamish_lover]

You're not the first fella I've heard compare it to going to war

[@Yiddo67]

@@Beamish_lover bad way to compare it...but that's how it feels at times

[@brandoncattermole9403]

Getting good quality is a must

[@tgward313]

full wrapped pallets but lack of plastic between bricks and pallet can be a real problem during open transport and site management

[@robmortaden2267]

Nothing will change until we all raise awareness, get hold of that welsh snagging guy and colab, explain why the works shit and its not alwways us on the tools.. good luck, we all need change in this industry.

[@Tyson8887]

Regulations.....all materials on buildings sites need to covered up ... Simple push for regulations

[@sljhomes6723]

Your 100 percent right, they could come delivered with like the brick jacket already on them, only problem as always the cost of a pack of bricks will increase

[@peterstarmes7110]

Thermalites and Durox should come shrink wrapped but not sure about Celcons.Most brick manufactures can supply shrink wrapped at extra cost if not standard.

[@ianparker3486]

Great video Charlie

[@reward844]

Idk if it would work for brick but when we have stone veneer wet we use a large wand torch to dry them a little bit

[@richardstetson8221]

It had always been on us to take care of our materials in the winter we go there when the materials are being delivered and cover them and there are times in the winter when we are drying the bricks and drying the wall with a propane torch the brick and block yard where I live doesn't cover the materials some specific brands will have like a plastic brick jacket over the pallets

[@richarddavey7884]

Its not merchants Charlie, in the case of large sites, bricks/ blocks come direct from the factory. The only way to do this, is to sort it yourself for yourself because the sites dont give a shit, never have

[@markkilshaw1038]

So right mate this year has been terrible for the rain and they dont care and would have the cheek to charge you for cleaning down or making good

[@pccorner101]

Fail to prepare…….prepare to fail.

[@Martin-lk7uk]

Good work Charlie as you know lorries pull up drop bricks side of road drive off next move bricks to plot its paying forks to take bricks to dry store before they come to us I think may b a problem👏👏

[@stephengibbon2002]

Charlie question mate do you prefer the magnet or the bricks buddy

[@michaelhall6806]

I can’t remember last site I went on that had a bricklayer foreman Just a site manager and assistant

[@martin2466]

@michaelhall6806 I can - and it was 1982. Forty -two years ago.

[@bigdusty1705]

I still find it mad how forkies moan like fuck for getting out there shit cab to pull the sheet off protected bricks and put back like there job is so hard its one arm they move

[@anthonyworthington6495]

When deliverd, the materials should be covered up ,with visquine or tarpaulins or such if you work in the rain you put a temporary roof over you like tricky did yesterday😊

[@benfeeney3628]

Well said mate hopefully something gets sorted

[@benjaminleo7011]

Some plywood and 4x2s makes great temporary cheap shetlers

[@ryanSLF]

Groundworker here. You should check out the sites in Belfast, Northern Ireland 😂

[@dewcourse8301]

F31 It’s been several years since I was a bricklayer apprentice, however I am keen to get back on site and qualify. Sadly I didn’t have the chance to complete my NVQ level 2 due to unforeseen circumstances. I don’t expect to walk back in and straight on the line and I am aware my first step Is to renew my CSCS card and contact companies. I just wondered if anyone had any pointers or ideas of how to get back on site and for someone to give me a chance.

[@user-si8kn7my7z]

Don't bother mate it's a runt of a job 😮

[@locien182]

dont see why on the last plot to be built they don't use it as a storage facility with a make shift canopy or a couple of shipping containers. for the cost of the outlay for the storage would be paid for from the materials not lost or wasted or damaged and also getting jobs done faster means they can get it finished faster = more money, the short-sightedness of some companies is stupid.

[@johnsutherland6322]

Definitely no need for materials been out in all weather in this day and age Charlie

[@stevejones7622]

If only the managers took as much interest in materials as they do barriers.. Also you're asking managers taking responsibility for a problem so I wouldn't hold your breath, if it can't be solved by blaming someone else,shurking it or sending an email they're out of their depth.

[@martin2466]

......or CSCS cards, or winning awards for the site...... Most of them are 🤡`s and buffoons.

[@liambrennan783]

When I first served my time as an apprentice the packs of bricks would come off the wagon with like a plastic sheet about 5mm ontop of the first course of bricks in the pack to stop damp and wetness absorbing up the rest of the pack I generally think if they still done that instead of the shitty brown paper they use these days I wouldn't be as bad, and if they done that and came up with some sort of brick jacket to cover the full pack of bricks while they are still warm out of the factory aswell as the polythene they use now maybe that would solve the issue, maybe try and speak to the NHBC and brick jackets to come up with a good solution I think that would work!! When it's really wet in the winter conditions I when I load out I will lay the first course of bricks then use a 600mm wide damp ontop befor I then put the second layer on top with the brick tongs, if you do this and use a brick jacket it's surprising how good it works if you have bricks absorbing wet from the ground up, other than that a dome or marquee tent would also do good for a brick compound!! Really hope you get somewhere with this one mate as the last year and half has just been so wet it's crazy

[@djhago3123]

Get the packs put on a bit of high ground cut the plastic off around the sides leave the top and bands on.. cover at night with a tarp... and take off the days your working as its obviously not raining... take 10 minutes a day to throw the covers over it a take off in the morning.... I do it with timber.. its not rocket science

[@windymiller3910]

Problem is no one wants to take responsibility, site manager & subcontractors you work for just pass the book. I have recently started back up on a large site, over 250 houses so it’s a fairly big project but I have quickly realised how terrible it is on sites and I want out of it already. No one at the top really cares apart from obeying the HSE rules and satisfying NHBC, it seems everything is against you to even stand a chance of getting a decent week in. I have been doing this for over 15 years now and i’v never felt so strongly as I do now in just walking away from it all.

[@XXXLAVERICKXXX]

Why isn’t it a set standard to keep building products clean and dry? Only been building houses for hundreds of years.

[@martin2466]

Pure greed and profit driven.

[@chazzlebazzle69]

Site managers don't give a hoot....viz, hard hat, boots and donuts are all there bothered about

[@jaedanbonaventura1512]

If they’re coming off the truck wet wouldn’t some of the issue be where the manufacturer is keeping them? Surely they have to protect their product until they offload it onto a site and under someone else’s insurance?

[@amwartwork]

The site doesnt wanna spend money on shelter structures.

[@craigstyrin3453]

It would help if brickjackets was 100% waterproof, and brickjackets can make brickjacket to fit a pack of bricks custom made, why can’t when they come from the factory’s there coverd with a brickjacket… that’s waterproof? Maybe a square of polythene the a pack jacket! Problem solved! There’s a bit extra cost but anyone would pay it if it meant continuous work, dry materials save millions of £s on gear a year! I enquired about pack jackets at brick jackets beginning of winter for private work I’m on, they can make any size to order

[@robpilmoor1452]

Temporary tin hat Scaffolding, thank me later

[@martin2466]

That used to happen in the form of sheds for materials............too expensive now.

[@freakydayz7211]

I work as a bricklayer.. Y don't they make palette jackets🤔 If they make brick jackets...

[@maxpower1797]

In such a wet country, everything should be covered and protected the builds included.

[@AC-op4pe]

First off NHBC are crap! Thats why we have the welsh fellow on here “mr shocking” snagging tons of houses that are falling to bits the NHBC have passed off and guaranteed! They moan on about the smallest spec of mortar on a tray or black clips on window/door profiles yet walk past a mountain of bad work every day! Second, the materials up here in newcastle have been a joke for years, wet, all different sizes and colours etc yet the company’s still expect us to turn out NHBC and pride in the job quality work with absolute crap gear! Also the mortar up here is crap now, full of stones and falls out when u joint n brush it. Third, brick barrons need done away with because they are controlling all the work now and making a ton of money off the lads breaking there backs and there doing nothing to earn it, and the company’s are paying them a fortune i cant get my head around it! Fourth, bricklayers should have work consistency because its starting to happen every year that one minute your doing ok and making money and the next day you get told its going quiet and now you have nothing ( good and bad brickys) Thats why so many good men have left the industry for good because at lidl etc you know that you have a wage every month!

[@tonyc1167]

We all rmemeber the 7 golden Ps charlie boy prior pre planning prevents piss poor performanc, put it on the site managers desk

[@deet1558]

Try laying 9inch cavity blocks in Ireland wet

[@paska22222]

AMEN!!!🙏

[@alternativeopinion310]

Here is some 💨 Charlie. Piss into that and good luck

[@RoadRunner129]

James King in below comment is bang on

[@gezmonder]

Gordon Ramsey's a brickie?

[@NoItAllLiveStreams]

We refuse to use sub standard materials

[@kevins8386]

That's all well and good if you can afford to mate

[@patrickobrien5367]

😊🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉😅❤Well done mate 👏 👍 it's someone kicking ass for years we have bull shit more people like you should do there jobs right ✅️ 👍 good luck 👍 👏

[@garywheeley5108]

You forgot to mention the accountant bean counters who watch every penny and unless there's £££in it for them its not happening what ever happens the main contractor will not be loosing 1 penny but everybody else will pay for it...

[@williamsharp7224]

Just make a complaint to your area manager and they will take it all on board ok

[@chebarden8278]

You can't bake a cake with shit ingredients....supply and install is the only way to ensure materials are looked after.

[@MrLh180275]

It’s funny how they will never leave pallets of plaster board and bags of multi finish out in the weather so why are blocks and bricks any different it’s just to laziness

[@deet1558]

Builders and foremen don’t give 2 fucks about bricklayers and safety is only matters when it suits the builder.

[@downtheline.1475]

🔔end.

[@joshua9267]

It’s a western culture problem not a nation wide. When my father was packing hod the masonry contractors used to go with a better quality products that’s true and cared for. These big masonry suppliers get away with murder. I work with old timers that are in there 70s telling me that everything shifted in the 90s about quality and true shapes.

[@coachingconfidant2785]

How do you cope during the recession?

[@martin2466]

I`m so old now that this current recession is my 6th recession I have worked through......!

[@coachingconfidant2785]

@@martin2466 Ok so if the building industry goes bust what do I do? I'm just starting my career and no savings

[@martin2466]

@@coachingconfidant2785 The building Industry will not go bust. There are big changes coming though.

[@lawrencecarlin4309]

It sounds like they don't care

[@aaroncoughlan2749]

If there is a Forman that gets paid anyway they should be sorting it

[@martin2466]

The big sites have done away with them now.

[@garybennett2691]

Too fucking wright

[@martin2466]

"Right" Wright is a name......

[@dalewassell224]

Nhbc will be only ones they listen 2.mark them in book if there not under cover

[@martin2466]

Who finances and runs NHBC.?

[@padraigharrison6919]

Unless you have a family to feed

[@dob7184]

Your talking bout this as if somebody died of a wet brick you look like your bout to burst into tears fella. Plus if we didn't have wet material wat other excuse can I give for some of my dodge work on site. Sometimes it's a saviour.....ahhh look the pack was soaking wat do you want 😮

[@Unit-89]

youve some hairline on ya charlie i tell ya that, jealous 😂

[@craigcheetham4900]

I said to boss if my bricks are wet I will not use them . Sum bricklayer don't give a fuck.

[@cityclips9325]

Changy said you’re doing it wrong he goes to site day before to set out and cover his material for the following day

[@paulfisher7911]

your talking sence but all i see is quantity not quality now .all there interested in is bs health and saftey where as all you need is experience and common sence . iv been in the building trade36yrs and its a shit show

[@user-sw7sb5nw8e]

Thi

[@martin2466]

"Thi".........?

[@beano6452]

NHBC inspectors can raise a Site RI if materials are not being stored correctly. This means no more plots can be finalled until it’s addressed. Unfortunately, the NHBC is in cahoots with the PLC’s, so they won’t upset the apple cart if you get what I’m saying. You could argue it shouldn’t be for NHBC, etc to pick this stuff up as it’s basic site management. Unfortunately, programme is king and the bean counters, managers, etc don’t care if the material is ‘a bit damp’. Get on with it….

[@matthewdale5838]

Stick to laying bricks 😅

[@bitty8462]

Your a fast pace wage till Ai wall machines come to uk

[@jayfallows5749]

51 year chippie. Try being a carpenter with the wood they supply.

[@robertplatt1379]

Nice one Charlie get onto them wollys in charge 💯👍🧱