the fine art of brickwork - Brick-on-edge

[@MrStella1976]

You take so much pride in your work and the end result speaks volumes...1st class Rob 👌

[@robsonger1]

thank you

[@588158]

Rob, Since it is so easy to either gain or loose fractions of mm which are cumulative when laying brick on edge, I would love to see you do a video showing how to use the spacing ruler. Thanks.

[@robsonger1]

Hi Hurdy, If the wall is in whole bond then 3 to 1 is followed and no dry bond is necessary, however, if the wall is reverse bond then you could lay dry bond and mark you gauge, I don't do this though, I will measure the dimishing gap as I go knowing I have to tighen up with each brick until I reach gauge.

[@robsonger1]

Hello Angelo, thank you so much for your comment. I'm pleased that you are enjoying the video's and I wish you all the success in this craft. Thank you

[@robsonger1]

ah, thank you, after a very long day you made me smile.

[@max29july]

why dont you put a video up and show us all how its done ?

[@588158]

Hi Rob, I see you laying brick on edge very quickly. I am teaching my self how to lay brick on edge and am having difficulty in keeping the bricks aligned in the same plane. When I lay a brick and adjust it, I end up disturbing the brick I previously laid causing that brick to sink a bit. In order for me not have that occur. I have to wait a while for the bed mortar to stiffen before laying the next brick. What am I doing wrong? Should my mortar be stiffer? We don't have Plasticizers here in the USA so in order to make mortar more plastic we have to use more water. Can you give me some advice as how to proceed?

[@robsonger1]

I don't understand why you don't have lime over there, it is the original mortar and the best plasticiser... if all else fails, try a very very small portion of washing up liquid....remembering that this kills the mortar, so only a very very small amount, and mix it really well to get the air in.

[@588158]

Thank you for your reply. Yes We do have lime. I am making a practice mortar with 3 parts sand to 1 part hydrated lime. Would slaked lime putty be better? maybe I am putting to much mortar on the brick causing the brick to move when I am trying to make sure I get the gauge correct. Yes, I have read that plasticizer reduce bond strength but it seems every UK brick laying video I have watched they use an admixture plasticizer and their mortars look nice and fat.

[@robsonger1]

yes mortar plasticisers are ok but only if not excessively used. Lime putty is semi hydraulic so it would set hard in time as it mixes with the air and brick dust.. Your 1:3 mix is the best to use, and as with all limes the first few times you remix it (in a crush/mortar mill) the workability gets better and better

[@588158]

thanks Rob. I try to lay 5 bricks a day between two Blocks to practice getting things flush and properly gauged; then I knock it down and do it again. Do I need to refresh the mix with lime because I am reusing the mortar over and over?

[@brickbybric]

588158 www.finehomebuilding.com/2000/10/01/mortar-what-type-do-you-need . Hi rob in the USA they use masonry cement ,which is a preblended bagged product of o.p.c and lime . You mix 3 parts sand by volume to each bag to make the various mixes.they have each bag proportioned in such a way that when you add 3 parts sand you come up with the various mixes ( the difference is in the bag) so if you wanted to use a 6 sand 1 lime 1 cement mix you would purchase bags of type n masonry cement and so on. Separate bags of o.p.c and lime are available over there if you wanted to blend the mortar yourself.

[@sarfraz6931]

Hi Rob great video, what mortar mix ratio are you using as it looks very workable?

[@cuttski]

Are those cambridge whites your laying rob?

[@hadijafari8029]

Hi do you have video on window sill

[@588158]

Hi rob, sorry to be a pest but you didn't answer my question .When I lay a brick and adjust it, I end up disturbing the brick I previously laid causing that brick to sink a bit. In order for me not have that occur. I have to wait a while for the bed mortar to stiffen before laying the next brick. What am I doing wrong? Should my mortar be stiffer?

[@robsonger1]

it sounds like your mortar needs a little bit more plasticiser, when you mix your mortar try shaking the wheelbarrow, if the mortar gets water rising to the surface then it is a dead mortar, needs more life/plasticiser so that when you do the shake test the mortar remains firm and doesn't collapse into a watery mess.

[@588158]

thank you Rob.

[@588158]

good point, i never thought about that! is that because by spreading a longer length of bed mortar the mortar will be given a chance to stiffen a bit so the bricks wont sag?

[@588158]

Never mind bullick13 comment. youtube is full people who love to make people so bad. If he is so good, why dosent he post a video.. I think you are one of the finest bricklayers I have ever seen. Laying bricks on edge or rowlock as we say in the states is more difficult than laying them to the line on a wall. I would love to see you do brick steps.

[@cuttski]

Why didnt you mitre the corners in rob so you've got a Continuous brick on edge all way round?? It doesnt look too good with that header then a full Stretcher on the corner!!! just an Observation not a criticism.

[@PDSVIDEO1966]

Hi Rob,another quality job,seeing the tools laying around,what about a video on the tools you use,makes,pro's and con's,problem makes to stay clear of and does an expensive trowel make that much difference to a cheap one?.How to look after tools ie cleaning And what's your thought on the bricky tool that you can buy for laying bricks or blocks?.

[@nigelmccluskey]

Marshaltown make the best in my opinion,very light,but you cant cut bricks in half with em.

[@bullick13]

i hope to start filming on thursday.

[@eleanortamburrini8336]

What obvious reason Rob working to a line is always faster

[@Doncorleone44]

Nice 1 rob! Can u do a vid of brick on edge with rosemary tile drip edge please m8

[@robsonger1]

I have a few videos coming up, ill see what I can do..

[@shawnlion4778]

Great work , men

[@pulladinbullfitta]

Hi Rob.. Where are you from?

[@robsonger1]

I'm in East Anglia

[@pulladinbullfitta]

@@robsonger1 if you ever move to the south east give me a heads up. Would be happy to give you a full time job as you're the only brickie that I've seen that takes the same care as I do 👍

[@robsonger1]

thank you db, I'll keep that in mind.

[@eduardovalentimdesouza5646]

Aí sim em mestre

[@Xxjoeynumber1xX]

in America the "Brick on edge" is called a rowlock

[@petesteele4487]

The third brick you lay is twisted and the fourth to high. Not enough bed down and never have a spot overhand and work over the wall that's just stupid. Also not gauged out very well as your top course is straight bond with your brick on edge. Should of gauged it really so you half bond the brick on edge with the top course of stretchers.

[@brandonprestwich5442]

Only way to half bond it on a short wall like that would have been to put a couple soap cuts in at the ends and that would look like shit. Though if it we're me I would have mitered the corners. Work still looks good.

[@kizza802]

@@brandonprestwich5442 to both of you he ran the b.o.e capping the only way he could with the straight joint. Giving that its only a capping it doesn't matter because its not taking any load it doesn't look bad either its only a knee jerk reaction that us brickies have too straight joints. It also wouldn't work if he mitred either giving the fact that in the uk 3 bricks on edge including joints is 1 bricks length so mitres on the corner wouldn't solve the problem. Only viable way is to ensure your last course reveals headers on the corners b4 b.o.e capping

[@stevengodbolt2329]

1 year in finding it hard to find work any advive please

[@robsonger1]

can you find a gang that needs a bricklayer/labourer and work in with them until you find something to use your skills?

[@stevengodbolt2329]

Yeh ill try but at college twice a week doing brick prt 2 no one wants ta take people on for 3 days a week : ((

[@robsonger1]

when I was teaching I got a few trainees to work 2 days a week with local builders for free for a month or 2, this gave my students on site experience and also showed the trainee was showing commitment. On every occasion bar one every student got a job after the 2 week period.

[@stevengodbolt2329]

Brilliant thanks ill try that brilliant videos by the way its helped me alit thanks

[@matthumphries4208]

Steven Godbolt hi man wear are you based?

[@samford1390]

Shane catlow. Just seen your vid. All I can say is you would be kicked off site in the uk for making such a mess of the bricks. Keep up the good work rob.

[@norddeutschermaurer4635]

👍😁

[@bullick13]

I've put a small vid on you tube if your keen to have a look

[@kizza802]

Had a look its terrible! Typical Aussie slashers. With no formal training convict bricklaying as an old aussie guy told me, no true craft heritage. And I know cuz i live in oz and have to put up with working with labourers on the trowel daily. Bloody hell cant even build a wall without mud all over it needing acid cleaning...this man rob is a true craft bricklayer.

[@bullick13]

I'm always up and ready to back myself with my bricklaying skills.If you would like to see me and my trowel at work you're welcome to .

[@bullick13]

Mate im a bricklayer myself and i have never seen anybody butter a brick like that. The art of bricklaying involves fluid motion witch you show none of.

[@eleanortamburrini8336]

You look like a decent bricklayer then you do silly things ,why not strike a line on both sides then you won't have to check with your level

[@robsonger1]

...for the obvious reason