Pro Bricklaying Tips & Tricks With Steve & Alex

Bricklaying With Steve and Alex 🧱
‪@SteveAndAlexBuild‬
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ABOUT STEVE AND ALEX
Steve and Alex, a skilled father-and-son duo, bring you along on their numerous bricklaying projects and adventures.
With over 40 years of combined experience, they share the invaluable knowledge they have accumulated.
Steve and Alex cover many bricklaying jobs, from intricate pointing and garden walls to extensive projects like building extensions from the foundation up.
They also tackle other construction tasks, including steel beam installations and fencing, providing a comprehensive look at various aspects of the trade.
Join them on their exciting journey by subscribing to their channel and tapping the bell icon to receive notifications for new uploads.
Their videos premiere live every Monday at 20:30 PM UK time, allowing for real-time interaction with their subscribers.
Additionally, they occasionally release videos on Thursdays for even more content.
Don’t miss out on the expertise and adventures of Steve and Alex-subscribe now and become part of their growing community!
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[@grahamfoster9404]

No silly talk , no swearing , and no radio blearing out just graft of the craft . You get some great jobs Roger ....Cheers

[@paulbarker3588]

Steve an Alex did a small job on my house, absolutely the politest guys you could meet and the cleanest job ever, working inside👍

[@SteveAndAlexBuild]

Thanks Paul 🙏🏽🧱👍🏽

[@andrewwebb2866]

I'm a computer programmer. I sit in my pants, looking at screens, typing for a living. Gratitude and respect to the gents who make this their passion.

[@gdfggggg]

If I were you, I’d take my pants off. To hell with’m.

[@gbwildlifeuk8269]

Each to their own.

[@biomorphic]

Laying bricks is a nice job, clean and satisfying. But demolition is a nasty job, and it destroys you. I worked on my own property and I helped with a couple of demolitions. I am also a programmer, but I can do wiring, antenna, satellite, everywhere basically. I can do tiles as well. I learned many crafts, but there are some jobs I would not do, like demolition and roofing. Most recently I had to load and unload 800 kg of rubble, and it was exhausting. Programmers not only sit all day in front of a screen, which is not healthy, but study all the time to keep themselves updated. It is not an easy job, and in Europe is not well paid as it should be.

[@tomybino1426]

If you did it everyday you would think the other way round. Not to mention per hour pay difference. Grass looks greener on the other side of fence :)

[@tomrimmer4852]

Without the tech guys the world of our generation would go to shit so nobody has a useless or weak job we all support one another

[@100Chicky]

you know what lads, i watch both channels religiously and I was thinking the other day, it would be great to see you three on site together...... and here we have it! I have nothing but admiration for all three of you, for different reasons, and it makes me miss this kind of work. keep the content coming, I dont know what Id do without you in the evenings to keep me sane!

[@tonydalton6756]

I watch every video that Steve & Alex do. Such genuine guys & above all conscientious.

[@eddieMurphy11111]

Nice to see you teaching a "Expert" on how to do a job properly and as always keeping things nice and clean well done Steve and Alex

[@nigel1964]

Brilliant video about two of the best brickies up North. Nice casual build with Steve sharing his tips. Thanks for featuring them 🧱🧱🧱

[@SteveAndAlexBuild]

Cheers Nigel 😍🧱👍🏽

[@pat_link_]

100% the best Dad and Lad team @steveandalex

[@bobjit252]

Are they fook the best brickies up north , there’s hundreds of decent brick layers out there but don’t go on you tube , there not the only references to bricklayers

[@boyasaka]

@@bobjit252 well non of these decent brickies are building new builds as they are shocking Very rarely do I look at a new extension or garden wall etc and think that’s neat and smart , I can always pick faults with it with in seconds and think I could have done better and I’m not a bricky But now and again I see awesome perfect brick work

[@boyasaka]

Where are these lads based ? I’m north east

[@yolomc2]

crazy yall !! 😱😱, so much knowledge in a 20 min vid ... old days would take you weeks if not months to learn that, respect ! 👍💪 • Bricklaying 3 golden rules : 1 - Line up the perps 2 - Look at the line 3 - Look at the face • Measure off DPC every so often to bring the brickwork back into line, to avoid pulling or pushing too much • When placing a brick, don’t push your bed down until you have everything else lined up, because tapping/pushing down the brick sucks the life out of the mortar • Never tap the face of a brick • Use muck from the inside of the core holes for pointing • When you spread the bedding, angle the trowel 45 ° while pushing down, so it pushes the much to the front of the brick

[@stephannieschapiro1816]

Honestly, I picked up more from this video than all the other videos I have watched!!! Thank you!!!

[@SteveAndAlexBuild]

Great to hear 🧱👍🏽

[@KurtMGibbs]

"Where's James?" That was perfect.

[@davebarrow2194]

Nice one Steve,Alex and Roger👍3 genuine lads right there!

[@garulusglandarius6126]

I love this channel , Roger you have a great way of conveying not only how but why ( much like one of my other favourite channels ) I’m a handy man ( the trade you professionals hate 🤣😂 ) and I’m always striving to do the best jobs I can. Good bricklayers impress me no end , I could probably lay about 3 bricks an hour ☹️ Your channel is priceless to me, cheers guys 👍👍

[@SJWardBuilders]

Steve and Alex with Skill Builder production quality. Absolute mustard! Roger was good too!

[@Sean006]

Not so keen on the elevator music myself.....prefer Steve's choice of tunes on 'Bricklaying with Steve & Alex'.

[@ena6631]

Nice to see all three experts having fun, great team.

[@johnbuist5289]

Always top workmanship from Steve and Alex good tradesmen to get tips from 👌🏻

[@SteveAndAlexBuild]

😁🧱👍🏽🙏🏽

[@jimosullivan1389]

The sign of a skilled man...is a man who makes a hard job look easy !

[@strummer6642]

Great video, really relaxing to watch, and Steve and Alex not selling anything other than their experience.

[@brandoncattermole9403]

Bricklaying is amazing it's my passion in life

[@stufq]

What a skill to lay them bricks, great bricklayers Steave and Alex 👍

[@eddjordan2399]

Great to se Steve and Alex on this channel they are fantastic and have followed them for years. cracking.

[@SteveAndAlexBuild]

Cheers Ed🙏🏽🧱👍🏽

[@shaunglendinning]

Great video Roger, have watched Steve and Alex before, great pair of brickie's. Appreciated lads.

[@charleslewis1357]

Nice to see Steve and Alex on this channel. I follow them on KZbin too. Always watch your videos and theirs! Great.

[@SteveAndAlexBuild]

😁🙏🏽🧱👍🏽

[@andrewplumb6544]

Just a privilege to watch listen and learn, thank you

[@kevinmartin9432]

Two of my favorite channels!

[@Tom-zl2wk]

Top bunch of lads you gents 👌👍

[@SkillBuilder]

Nice of you to say so. There seems to be a lot of negativity coming in on the comments lately. Maybe blame the long spell of bad weather. Sunny days are here again

[@Derrmo]

Nice video Roger, always a pleasure to watch. I've been doing some projects around home recently, the blocks I'm using are 9" cavity blocks weighing 25kg each. This looks so easy compared with what I'm using. Maybe you could do a video on them some day and how difficult they are to work with. I suspect some seconds were mixed with my delivery as some are 220mm instead of 210mm, impossible to work with.

[@michaelshaw1662]

Great lads Steve and Alex 👍🤜🤛

[@gaugeonesteam]

Great channel this is. Anything you need for your house it's here!

[@kdbrickwork]

Lovely seeing Roger meeting up with these guys nice video

[@johnhaydon4055]

You're a brave man Alex, looking after these two old boys, if you need another old duffer give us a ring. ATB from J & H Builders

[@SteveAndAlexBuild]

😂🧱👍🏽

[@Binzdogger]

It's a quality situation really, I personally always cut the cavity through and bridge the insulation to the existing and if on the corner, tooth out if brick sizes match (metric Vs old imperial etc) realistically only takes an hour or so all in and the finish just looks much better.

[@stuartfarrell6729]

love your how too videos

[@amezcuaist]

I built my extension out of old mixed up bricks.All different sizes . I made a primitive wooden gauge out of oak . Later I saw the Brickie Mate advertised in plastic . Same principle .The tops could be up and down but the gauge gave me a straight line again . The gauge held the motrar in from the edge until the next layer squeezed it down .There was no wasted cement on my jobs .

[@TooMuchInfoSir]

My surprise to see this in my feed, first Kirk and now Steve and Alex ❤️ Strange watching them in 4k though 😂 Great team and always great work!

[@markmiwurdz2248]

@SkillBuilder. At 10:44 you mention the little girl in the Fairy Liquid ad from all those years ago. Actually it was Leslie Ash - the blonde girl in “Men Behaving Badly” amongst other TV and film appearances. Always good to see you linking with other competent building tradesmen on KZbin. You and yours stay safe and well.

[@SkillBuilder]

Well done Mark it was her. The 'mother' in the advert was Nanette Newman who is Emma Forbes real life mother so I wrongly assumed she got her kid in on the act.

[@johncoppock3823]

Plumbing good brickwork, and great video. Wish you guys had built my house 😊. I know they are easy to lift with the tongs, but on the average new estate these days I'd be scared of speccing bricks with holes rather than frogs. Just too easy to cheat and not use enough mortar, and make it look good with the pointing. Your beds and perps were superb, as always 😊

[@jimosullivan1389]

Steve Alex...and Roger....what a great combo !!

[@malcolmlewis4271]

I love these videos, I’m not a builder my game is blasting rock for cement manufacturing,

[@bigal6789]

Great tips Lads from 2 channels I follow.

[@didgejan]

Great video lads.. 👍

[@axgtsimi]

great content you should do more together steve and alex are great builders i watch there channel

[@petergraham-bj8iz]

great video guys love steve and alex and you always get quality from skill builder, you need to do a video with izzy the bricky soon thanks as always for the quality of the show

[@liamking524]

I would love to see you working with Charlie Collinson. You’d have to stand back and watch him. He’s like a car. He goes at such a speed.

[@Ultimate-roofing-square.]

Nice work chaps. 🙌🏻 🧱🧱🧱🧱🤩

[@JamesBrown-yn7xr]

I.T day job, but contemplating a small wall in the garden so I shall check them out for endless research of jobs I would like to be able to do but can never get around to. 🙂

[@Bo88y22]

Charlie Collinson would have had the extension up in the time that took to make this video.😂😂😂

[@glynnepritchard2526]

Ive been waiting for this one

[@Sean006]

Bit of a surprise to see Steve & Alex.....I see they got their Milwaukee tools in shot. Great guys 👍

[@SteveAndAlexBuild]

😉🧱👍🏽

[@theplumber4934]

I enjoy watching Steve & Alex and am going to attempt a shed base in brick, Why are bricks made shorter to fit the length of run rather than make the length a full number of bricks, Thanks

[@SkillBuilder]

As he explained at the start they didn't want to apply for planning consent so the porch had to stay within the dimensions for permitted development. That cut brick is the difference.

[@paullongley1221]

Love seeing Steve and Alex’s work, they’re so good they make it look easy.

[@paulzirker706]

Great video

[@BrasherFox]

Great to see Steve a local Brickie giving tips and methods. Not forgetting Alex doing the donkey work.

[@dougieranger]

Some bricks are so two faced. I’ll get my coat. Subbed the lads channel. 👏🏼

[@SteveAndAlexBuild]

With those jokes you’re very welcome 🤣🤣cheers 🧱👍🏽

[@dougieranger]

@@SteveAndAlexBuild Enjoy the weekend lads. 🍻

[@smarty0604]

Quality are Steve and Alex love the channel ,clean crisp accurate , I know Steve struggles on his feet these days he’d make a great teacher /collage apprentice tutor , how to do it properly . Alex is a lucky lad having someone like Steve as his old man . I’m no bricklayer but I was given the chance I’d love to learn off someone like Steve .

[@SteveAndAlexBuild]

Cheers 🙏🏽🧱👍🏽

[@liamking524]

Just watching your video here In Leyland Lancashire funny watching your videos are so clear et cetera very good. I see that you have not blanked out any of the house numbers. I don’t see the point myself personally work with Steve and Alex are always blanking out the phone number and house numbers I don’t understand when they are running a business when you need work people will ring your number to get you to price up unless they don’t need the work.

[@nickhaley4663]

I remember an old brickie telling me the muck doesn’t stick the bricks together, it holds them apart. I reckon he was right.

[@brianhume4743]

Great video 📹

[@SteveAndAlexBuild]

Cheers Brian 👍🏽🧱

[@Doug....]

They make it look easy don't they Rodger 😜

[@jimichip]

😂 ‘where’s James?!’ Thanks for the mention, one day we’ll meet boys!

[@SteveAndAlexBuild]

No probs James we all miss you and a get together is a must one day 🧱👍🏽🤜🏽🤛🏽

[@_tmmy_]

“Ello mate”

[@normanboyes4983]

Yes - where is James - we all miss you.

[@planb1853]

Hi mate hope ur well 👍 😊

[@Google_Does_Evil_Now]

Roger, is it true that it's better to tap with the handle instead of the metal edge because it causes less micro cracks? A brickie told me each tap cause tiny cracks so it's better not to hit with the metal edge. True?

[@SkillBuilder]

It could be but most of the time that level of tapping is not needed . The mortar was as dead as a dodo. I would have used half a shovel of lime in that mix to retain the moisture. I don't know how brickies work with such crap sand.

[@dantheman1337]

Love the video. On a separate note, porches seem to have as many cons as pros. Annoying room in the way of getting furniture in. Not big enough for much because it is a corridor. Takes space away from drive. Needs another door. On the plus side it insulated the front room or hall a little and adds another barrier (but big deal).

[@RichardDowd]

Never heard one good comment about LBCs! Those bricks that now have to go into the skip which would previously been used in the inner skin - wonder if they account for that in their carbon/net-zero scam?

[@tlangdon12]

It's not the designer's fault in the manufacturing process is flawed.

[@handycrowd]

@@tlangdon12 Plus no one in the chain gives a monkeys these days. They slam pallets on and off trucks, knock them about in the yard etc. etc. See it everywhere, even in the supermarket, plenty of 'don't give a shit' employees throwing soft fruits or veg into the crates or on the shelves... and they wonder why a percentage of them end up bruised and rotten.

[@nigelsmith1198]

Roger’s brickwork is as good as his plastering.!!😂

[@mickeytherye]

Its easier to use your wall starter kit as a profile, just pin into that rather than nailing a timber to the wall

[@boyasaka]

I had never layed a brick in my life , and wanted a single garage built A brick layer I know was going to build himself a new garden wall , so I asked if I could labour for him to learn the very basics So I spent a weekend labouring for him, few weeks later after watching hours and hours of you tube videos I had a practice and built a meter wide wall 5 bricks high and then knocked it down I then dug out for foundations and mixed them by hand and poured them in It then took me 6 months , doing a few hours each night and weekends , Put the roof on and for a roller door fitted , I was probably laying 1 brick in the same time a bricky would lay 5 , but the garage was / is absolutely perfect , every single joint is 10mm , and perfectly square and plumb in every direction When I finished , told the bricky I know and he come round to have a look , he initially said , no way did you build that , then after 15 mins inspecting it He said actually I can tell a bricky didn’t built that as it’s absolutely perfect , it’s a work of art , it’s better then I could have done , but obviously a bricky would have did it 10 times as fast as I took

[@raverdal]

Good video , one question , why the three quarters ? Why not just set out to work bricks ?

[@SkillBuilder]

This was explained rigtht at the start. It is to keep it a few millimetres within the limit for planning consent.

[@raverdal]

@@SkillBuilder I see , would planners pull you over 25 mm ?

[@ToraKwai]

we have to use LBC on a project we're on, we're working on roughly 50% returns. and that was after a lot of arguing with the merchant, who in turn had to argue with LBC

[@sabnamgurung6226]

Hi I have floor heater problem. When I am using floor heater my motor overheats and both water pipes are hot too. So my concern is is it normal or I need to do something about it? Hope to hear from you thank you very much

[@Paul_Holmes]

Roger why aren't you doing something with Charlie Collison?

[@SkillBuilder]

We have never had any contact with Charlie Collison, Steve and Alex have supported our channel for years. It was time to return the compliment and meet them in person.

[@davebarrow2194]

Every other word would begin with an F if it was charlie🙈

[@Droningonuk]

​@SkillBuilder get glenn veness on!!!! It'll be a sell out!!!

[@Paul_Holmes]

@@SkillBuilder Fair enough

[@SuperHaptics]

Something I just noticed when the professional bricklayers tap the brick with thw trawl to set it they are always also pushing it down with their other hand. Thats what it makes it go where they want. Is that true?

[@nigelwood6242]

A good bricklayer never taps the brick

[@teepee9466]

Why are the bricks that join the porch to the house not toothed-in? Not as a criticism, just a question to help me understand. I thought toothing the bricks in results in a stronger joint between the two structures. Thanks.

[@BuildForceNortheast]

Speed

[@SkillBuilder]

teepee When I started as a brickies labourer I spent hours toothing in. It was easy in sand and lime but without angle grinders it was almost impossibe to avoid snapping the brick teeth in sand and cement. We peristed untl metric bricks came in and it was no longer possible to keep the courses. A bricklayer, named Furr, came up with the Furfix Profile and got it approved as a way of joining new work to existing. He manufactured it for many years from a small factory but eventually sold the business to Simpspm Strongtie. Building control officers now consider the profile to be a superior method of fixing because it allows differential movement between old and new. If a building moves and it has been toothed in the bricks will crack all the way down the join so it gains nothing. Most of the benefit of tying in is to provide sideways stability rather than preventing the brickwork pulling away. It helps to have a mastic joint down the profile.

[@teepee9466]

@@SkillBuilder very helpful, thanks. Technology/techniques have moved on, then!

[@paska22222]

love the video! but the bond and 3/4 cut in the middle not so much, i'm afraid🤫

[@SkillBuilder]

The reason for the zip is explained.

[@JohnnyMotel99]

Is that blown cavity insulation? Seems a bit odd in a fairly modern build.

[@SkillBuilder]

Yes it seems strange.

[@normanboyes4983]

You can be sure it will be something very very cheap.

[@pauldixon3677]

Nice video Roger. Highlights just how shite bricks are these days, LBC for me are the worst! There never seems to be any consistency in size, colour or texture! I dont know what the manufacturers are doing but they are very inconsistent. Oh and they have the audacity to charge an arm and a leg for the shit brick!

[@johncollier7744]

Steve, don't know what camera Roger uses, but you look a lot younger on here 😅

[@SkillBuilder]

We used the same camera on Steve as we do on Roger. It knocks 10 years off.

[@SteveAndAlexBuild]

😂😂🧱👍🏽

[@simontaylor6256]

Nice tidy job, if that building was 50mm wider it wouldn't have that 3/4 in it though

[@SkillBuilder]

Yes and has he explained the start he had to keep it just below the point where you need planning permission so that is the reason for the 3/4.

[@Frag1990]

if alex has been doing it for 8 years he's well behind the learning curve

[@keithbryden5395]

2 threequarters in that front return avoid the zip

[@markmorgan6231]

Instead of using the 4 by 1 to pin into. Pin into the wall starter as your profile 👍

[@samyueru612]

Fake air brick at the front love it

[@SkillBuilder]

it is ducted through to the beam and block void

[@richardlyons7582]

Roger love it when your nearing the top and you step back to look at the wall and one brick is round the wrong way, Oh %@&$ it and you know you can't leave it.

[@brotherJason1991]

Why don't you use the wall starter as a profile,no need to put timber up just a pencil line and follow beds

[@jamoco1]

Rog, best stick to plumbing

[@SkillBuilder]

Don't be such as spoil sport, my plumbing wasn't too good on my first day, or year, or decade come to that.

[@martinjohncassidyCASSIDY]

Why have you got a three quarter cut in the middle,

[@SkillBuilder]

To keep the building just inside the limit on planning permission. It was explained at the start

[@martinjohncassidyCASSIDY]

@@SkillBuilder any skilled bricklayer puts the cuts in the corner Mr , what you know about bricklaying you could write on the back of a postage stamp sideways.

[@SkillBuilder]

I am going to go away and cry now.

[@paul756uk2]

London brick are only still in business because of brick matching to existing properties that used them back in the day. Also, I've seen entire houses having their face bricks replaced in 80s built houses because they've gone pink and entirely lost their facing. What's gone so wrong with the garbage they produce these days? Having said that it's always heartening to see tradesmen having pride in their work.

[@jamesbrett6518]

Stainless is magnetic. Just tried a spoon versus a magnet from an old HDD

[@SkillBuilder]

some stainless is but it depends on the grade. Wall ties are a good grade because they need to last 100 years.

[@MarkgarrettGarrett-gt2hc]

Flashing so no water down cavity . Weeps holes

[@martinjohncassidyCASSIDY]

Here is one for you how do you overcome a grunter in brickwork.

[@JamesGormley-k5j]

There's a top and bottom to them bricks aswell

[@troyboy4345]

60% increase labour cost if you add a Plumber in a job, they need to pay for the private Dental work

[@scottnever8732]

Roger is definitely a better plasterer lol

[@hoog111]

Put your glasses on Roger.

[@240soundwave]

The Old BriKii?

[@Rifleman_corps]

ear protection for an SDS drill , seen it all now 😂

[@SkillBuilder]

sorry mate I am not hearing you

[@fireblaster9961]

Sparky collaboration next?

[@SkillBuilder]

shocking news

[@JohnMoran-fh9lo]

Why are there so many cut 3/4 bricks? In the front door pillar, ppssibly yes, but with minor adjustments to the sizes, you can still keep within permitted planning. In the past, after inheriting a poorly set out foundation, I've cut 10mm off 3 or 4 brick, to avoid a nasty looking 3/4 in the middle of a wall. That 3/4 will look worse, all the way up, in the middle of short gable, that faces the road, for the world to see !! Its face brickwork, it isn't just about the quality of the brick and the pointing

[@SkillBuilder]

It was explained that it needed to stay withing permitted development to avoid planning. If you know how to make it bigger but keep it smaller you should tell us.

[@JohnMoran-fh9lo]

@SkillBuilder simple to explain, it's about setting out walls to brick sizes not fixed dimensions. A brick is (generally) 215mm + 10mm mortar joint = 225mm x 13 bricks = 2.925m. As a skilled builder, would you recommend losing 75mm over a 3 m length and keeping it aesthetically pleasing on the front of the house, or do you prefer a cut that looks like a zip up the middle? Alternatively, as I mentioned, neatly cut 4 bricks rather than one and "disguise" the cut. I'm a working Bricklayer, Tutor, Assessor, with over 44 yrs experience in an Industry thats tried to destroy bricklaying as a trade.

[@peterthebricky]

I like the corner blocks Thought I heard a woodpecker

[@SteveAndAlexBuild]

Nowt wrong with tapping 🤙🏾

[@derekrobertson1548]

What was added to the cement mixer at 2:10 in thr video?

[@SkillBuilder]

black dye

[@dbank6107]

why a three quarter? Could have chased bond.

[@tomasdevine7756]

All apartment blocks and sites with northern Ireland slashers are frogs down. Some cant build brick the right way up. I cant understand how it happens its a total disgrace.