The reason why …Bricklayers ??

Just a interesting fact 🧱
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@the_traditional_bricklayer

[@auxtongfx2510]

To be fair Dean the case is still you're a "footings gang" or you're on the supers. The Groundworks and Civils companies that dig the roads and pour the footings hire their own bricklayers to take it up to damp. There's never really a crossover as when a job is won for these civils companies they price in the splash brickwork since it has to be block and beamed by themselves, and then filled around with ground, leaving 150 showing. Normally pour concrete on top of the beams as well. You'll find most sites get about 10 footings completely done and dusted before the main builder will bring in the supers gang. Strictly talking New build houses, where most new brickies will start, I'd honestly say that there is more skill in the ground, - NHPC standards are the same as supers - Engineering bricks are harder to keep clean than facebricks that can be very forgiving - Footings are commonly 35mm out and must be brought to within 5mm by the last splash course really teaching about bed sizes and gauge - Bricks have to be properly set out, you can't reset the bond on top any more, it has to be taken down and rebuilt - Footings step up and down for twin/tripple plots which can add a curveball when setting out - Angled bricks have to be cut and made by hand as the house builders only order the facebrick angles - Muck has to be mixed right and without the enormous amounts of plasterer to keep everything clean like the silo muck - These gangs also are contracted to build manholes getting a chance on radius work and arch over pipes. - Setting out retaining walls attempting different bonds that you would never see on the new build supers. Most importantly, I've never seen a footings gang use a profile, most footings are 2/3 block and 4-6 splash, so you build all your corners freehand while working to an altered gauge to make the build level. Sighting is also extremely difficult as you are normally one leg on a bank and the other up against your block work. If you can be a good bricklayer in the ground you can do it anywhere, I did 2 years when i first started on the trowel, when I finally moved to supers work the only thing I was lacking was some speed on the line as you said, I'd laid less bricks in my time, but I had more far more knowledge and skill than any around me. A lot of these guys that have only done supers work know nothing other than profiles and lines, with prefabbed arches. Just shows how watered down this trade is getting when what was once left to the shit brickies, is now the more difficult of the two. The real brickies nowadays are mostly doing the whole lot on their own privately, not just house bashing every day.

[@luketaylor8602]

Perfect answer 👌 I started mainly doing supers on site, rarely did anything in the ground unless there wasn't any plots to start. Didn't really learn to be a "proper" bricklayer until I started doing private work building houses extensions etc from start to finish. You would not want most super gangs setting out the plots lol

[@hefellump1]

My father never laid a concrete block until he went back home to Ireland from Coventry in 1979.As an English trained bricklayer he left everyone for dust in Ireland regarding brickwork.

[@petemoring67]

At school I wanted to be a bricklayer (Cause my Brother was one :-) .. Ended up in the late 60's Plastering ... First worked on the Bracknell NewTown dev's - Great Hollands first! ... 3 x bed, good size Council-Houses (With a Clerk of the Works) ALL brickwork, no stud-work ... That never really came in until mid- 70's (We HATED it with a vengeance) - We also never had Mixers for the first few years, got a Lorry load of Sand & Lime delivered first thing, knocked the LOT up by hand and a digger would feed us through the day through the patio doors which were fitted AFTER! .... OH the mud and the WINTERS back then EH ?? ... Brickies had the same Fandango to dance to as well 👍🤠

[@cairo678]

when i started in the mid eighties, i would quite often see bricklayers in their eighties still working.These men only ever laid bricks.They stayed well clear of blocks.Most bricklayers born after the 50s are crippled from laying heavy blocks.If i had my way i would ban all concrete blocks.Great video

[@walesdad]

Agree 100% with your comment about concrete blocks. Bar maybe having to build a decent thickness retaining wall, there is no need for these back breakers to be in use today.

[@BruvaBob]

I do agree with you but from a cost purpose it sure makes a difference to a budget. Also gotta say I dont really know any bricky past their 40's who isn't fucked nowadays either with crabhands or back prob's and good point its mainly blockwork thats causing this!

[@tolaff]

I started in the early eighties and we layed sp whites (ryash) in the foundations .They came in still hot .We built some houses with 2 story fronts and 3 back so had retaining walls 2 brick thick.Thousands upon thousands of bricks .We had dumpers but no telehandlers so we used to dig out near the road with a JCB so we could throw the bricks in the dumper straight from the lorry as the lorrys had no Hi AB. The foundations where dug with a JCB as 360 diggers only just coming in. So the foundations where not dug out in the middle just mounds of dirt as the JCB could drive over or spin.the trenckh was narrow and twisting for bricks was a killer.I would rather lay 1000 concrete blocks in a foundation than 6000 bricks but my grandad bless him when concrete blocks first came out said to me. The guy who invented tese wants one dropped on his bollocks.

[@BruvaBob]

@@walesdad For load bearing structures supporting steels etc then conc blocks are critical mate. But this channel and comments have driven me to ensure my design teams are using eng brick as much as poss from now on and will try and avoid using blocks beyond a thermalite

[@lfc290]

Bollox

[@terrytrapp6036]

So someone double checking cavity size is doing it wrong, give it a rest, old laser eyes here waffling shite again

[@thetraditionalbricklayer9650]

Lefty stop breaking it down to what y wnt to hear …if u can not sight 100mm and have to check every course give up and certainly do not throw a stone at those who can sight …my generation won’t take that xxxx from u lefty liberals

[@terrytrapp6036]

@@thetraditionalbricklayer9650 who said every course , nothing wrong checking your work even if it is just for peace of mind, your generation, my generation and the next will all do things the way they are taught, no ones wrong or right, just more than one way to skin a cat, and lefty ??? Give it a rest, couldn't give a toss about all that bollocks.

[@thetraditionalbricklayer9650]

@@terrytrapp6036y u throwing stones then if u Dnt give a monkeys ??? Listen the world income from if a man can do something u Carnt then u respect …called pecking order ..if I’m free handing corners and only plumb and level around 6 course and it’s spot on …bloody respect it lad Dnt come on ere throwing muggy comments ….like that other tool …listen the odd person excels in there profession weather your a cocktail bar man or bricklayer if 1 invests and practices and can express talent u Dnt sit and mock em specially if u Carnt perform that task …like having a go at Ronaldo for scoring over head kick ….Oi ronnie can u not do that please because we Carnt 😂😂😂 Wonder why the games in trouble gone all left and liberal

[@tonyjones7372]

I was a B/L in the 1980s, in Manchester, we didn't have 'splash' gangs as such, but there were gangs who stuck to footing, because they were young, and very fit, and could make good money, by working vary very hard, and putting in 1000 a day footing bricks. I never went down that route and stuck to face-work, and still at 60 years old, I suffer with my joints, so these guys must be really suffering, as they took hard work to the extreme.

[@rogerlovell8224]

IN Birmingham back in the sixties .We took over from the footings did our own splash courses cos we built in slate do.adouble slate in a rich cement mortar 3 blues or red engineers .Pointing the dpc usually cut and struck .Also building stone cills and thresholds..

[@casabrickwork]

as an apprentice learning the traditional way on site by the old man, I really appreciate these videos. Full of insight and learning, thanks deano your my 2nd mentor!

[@thetraditionalbricklayer9650]

That’s it mate listen to the old man ..he may be hard sometimes but he will mean well Say Allo to the old man for me 🧱

[@casabrickwork]

@@thetraditionalbricklayer9650 Will do mate we both watch all your videos :)

[@dread4836]

Respect brother, 61 yr old ex bricklayer

[@jackrussell9811]

mostly blockwork on new builds replaced brickwork in the 70/s so not many of todays "old school" would have been laying 9" flemish bond on internals

[@steveadams6552]

Been doing it 50 years now , my how the industry has changed , still enjoying it except the concs !!

[@scottnever8732]

Great video HO K brickwork below dpc is usually upto the ground working crew, they supply their own bricklayers, usually younger guys that can chuck about con blocks and find out later in life that it has broken them lol. Difference nowadays is the expectations on footings, no longer are you uping the line 2 courses and siting the first course. Sites now expect all work to be jointed and brushed even below dpc, seen bricklayers go around foundations with a kango chipping up snots from the concrete! Thats why I left site

[@hitthebricksllc9365]

I look up to you sir I’m a newbie self taught brick layer African American and I’m still working on my craft and I appreciate your videos not to learn how to lay brick but just the gems you drop and tips I value the information you share

[@shanesullivan5656]

Exactly right mate; I went through the same way in 1979 - load out until tea time then on the party walls in my break and whenever I got the chance/ my dad was a brilliant bricklayer but he made me even better- not blowing my own trumpet Deano but I get what you’re saying and brilliant video as always/ good man 🍀👍cheers Shane

[@thetraditionalbricklayer9650]

That’s it mate …up the men 👊

[@Emtbwebb]

The future of young bricklayers is glim, sites are all about the people in suits these days! Bricklayers used to be very respected! The young kids need more of your skills dean your ace 💪🏼🤝🏼

[@antonywall7888]

I started my apprenticeship 1976 and everything you say is spot on, I spent months just laying muck just to get it right. I’m 63 now 2 new hips, 1 new knee with the other needed and due lower back surgery in the new year, so just about F#@ked but I’d do it all again, I love laying bricks.

[@tolaff]

I do my own foundations and splash and will not work off anyone elses as i use a set out tape so all frames work and bonding is correct.Air bricks in the right place ,damps ,insi,ties.I mostly put the block and beam on also and build with my gang of 8 guys roughly 40 to 50 houses a year depending on size.

[@debbiev7975]

As a Dutch woman the way you talk keeps me warm at night! 😂 Great channel!

[@thetraditionalbricklayer9650]

Keep that warm for me woman

[@gorgen23]

Oh La La 😂

[@johnsmith-ik6uz]

Wonderful knowledge.Thank you for sharing.

[@Noname88184]

A great teacher ! And a good role model for the new generation ! Good core values and a proper gentleman

[@thetraditionalbricklayer9650]

Thank you pal

[@basingstokesteve9131]

@@thetraditionalbricklayer9650 kzbin.info/www/bejne/hIbdgJWint5qp68 this one is for you Deano

[@razzek2638]

On the sites i work on its a bit half and half. Grandworkers often do the splashes up to to block and beam, then brickies take over and other times the brickies do both. My firm doesnt have “splash gangs” just lots of Romanians but you do see guys who just come in & bring plots up to block and beam.

[@markrichardson5295]

Only doing domestic work i do setting out, up to dpc and above. I wont follow on from work set out by others up to dpc. To many time i find out of level and the bond messed up

[@timhancocks7635]

I built a brick wall with my dad two days ago he is 83 . Proper old school. been on the sites since he was 16 . Now we just do private work. Proper head down arse up work in his days. No forklifts everything loaded out by hand

[@thetraditionalbricklayer9650]

Never change mate ..that’s wat me and the lad do

[@sugarcan1110]

The man that supplys the shovel is richer than the man doing the work

[@rudyschurmann6211]

when I started doing it. I actually had to lay blocks as well. and after months I was able to work on the facades. And I couldn't go along at all.my back is worn out from it 😂and the time before construction must be completed. is really very little.

[@ianroberts5083]

Great to see your posts and videos deano. They are very insightful for people who are willing to learn. Plus the piss taking and banter added for good measure 😂 keep up the good work 💪#WHS

[@thetraditionalbricklayer9650]

Yeah laid off this platform for a while as works really busy but we going to keep posting variation up try and get this trade back to ring skilled again Tnks for reaching out brother Hope you’re well

[@ianroberts5083]

@@thetraditionalbricklayer9650 all good here deano 👊

[@harryduthie7438]

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[@BruvaBob]

First time Ive seen your channel mate and joined right away Totally agree pal, Im a Project mananger for past 30 odd years starting in 1986 in London. No one believes me when I say I used to work with brickies at docklands who in their 70's in the late 1980's early 1990's could lay 800 bricks a day minimum, less believe their hod carriers was also in his 70's. Now, you'd be lucky to get a brickies who lays 400 a day. Mind you when I was on docklands as a junior, we was so behind on programme the brickies were earning 50p per laid brick. I still have nighmares about quantifying the m2 of brickwork whilst hanging off scaffold 100m high lol. To answer your question, Yes you're right mate, splash course is down to the brickies now, it changed for me around 10-15years ago. I think its mainly down to most subbies work going into proper contacts and setting outs - no one to blame but yourselves kinda thing. Sorry to say but as a PM I prefer it this way as it stops you bloddy brickies moaning about the settingout being wrong on levels etc lol

[@nickgroocock4087]

500 pound a 1000 in the eighties amazing.the brickies must have been covered in rubies and diamonds

[@thetraditionalbricklayer9650]

Allo mate good read that comment …I worry for the future of the trade seems to becoming a semi skilled trade that’s why I try and send this message to all the youngsters Good luck pal

[@BruvaBob]

@@nickgroocock4087 Only on docklands have I ever seen those kinds of wages paid out, but when you're so far behind on programme due to shortage of labour on such a big project then you gotta pay those kinds of money....

[@BruvaBob]

@@nickgroocock4087 Tell me Nick, are brickies any different nowadays? Ask Mr KZbin channel how much he makes a year... I guess he'll tell you to FO but I bet its over £100k a year

[@BruvaBob]

@@thetraditionalbricklayer9650 Agree pal but then thats down to the mian contractor really as I always say you can contract a master bricky or you contract a guy who does everything but is a master of nothing. With the level of projects we do, I want a master not an amatuer. Give me a guy who does nothing but lay bricks all day rather than a monkey who'll take half a day just to setout and then lay only 3-400 bricks a day... wonky

[@Tone_Team]

As a brickwork subbie, Superstructure only, we don't do splash courses. Footing gangs normally do the whole lot nowadays. Standards have improved and they tend to get it right and we don't find ourselves rebonding or reversing, as you said this use to be quite common. Only time when splash courses are left to superstructure gangs are when timber frame is used...........and we don't do timber frame 👍🏻

[@thetraditionalbricklayer9650]

Allo mate …I’ll Ave to come up and do a day with you’re gang

[@frankperricone2065]

It seems like nowadays if a brickie started at 20 years old by the time you get to 60 years old your burnt out because of the block work.l

[@stupoohead]

Regarding footings, they have got to be high spec... Spot on to the datum, concrete lintels over the air brick system, even joint up the inside of the cavities on some contracts! We'll do the splash and set the bond perfect. Got to have a good quality footing to build a good superstructure

[@harryhobdey6496]

Footings are where the money is deano 💵

[@richardstetson8221]

When I first started watching these bricklaying videos in the UK I thought it was weird that you would have a crew that does below dpc and another come to do above and when I started out they had me spreading and jointing for a bit before I laid any bricks to learn to Guage the mortar and get comfortable with a trowel

[@craigjolley2320]

Usally you have gangs working for the groundworking firm doing the footings and the splash course for your slab and then you have separate gangs building above dpc for a brickwork firm

[@markrobinson1458]

I can't disagree with that, i remember a clerk of works kicking down work if not right, you learn fast or its get your coat and f*** off, its funny looking back 😂 👍

[@thetraditionalbricklayer9650]

Remeber no matter how good u was the heart would be pumping wen u see the clerk with the big level come over and his little torch with a pin to Chk perps and cavity’s

[@matthewgilfillan4924]

Very helpful bro

[@user-lp3uu9ir4h]

80lb Conks Siatica a plenty , in Germany basement conks had handles in the block and a hole in the middle on top to put brick hammer in to lift the block so it was easier to lay , and yes internal walls back in the day put your laying quantity up tenfold your a clued up geezer and an honest one too top man

[@belucky9630]

Top of the Pops keep them coming 👍🏻

[@peteabbott5653]

we do splash and supers,not subs,the sites we work on the sub gangs dont want the splash,South West England

[@karloflaherty]

wow man ,your passion reflects mine ,pm sometime ,greetings from an irish 6th generation bricky

[@frankperricone2065]

When I started in the the early 80's they started making finished block, decorated block. Then there was 12" block 3/4 solid. To men would lay them. 8" block you layer yourself. Here in the U.S. you had corner men and Lead men. Corner and lead men would go to the wall and set corners and leads. Then there were lay out men. They would read the blue prints and lay the footing blocks in the foundation, lay out men and corner men made a little more money. Block work tour my body up.

[@thetraditionalbricklayer9650]

Allo mate ..same here we had corner men normally on extra £5/10 a day ..good bricklayers didn’t go on any blockwork

[@frankperricone2065]

@@thetraditionalbricklayer9650 Same here, they would try to have the better Bricklayers laying the bricks and what we call a bad Bricklayer a boot, but some jobs there was no brick to lay, finished 12" black, know ruff block work, no brick veneer, decorative block.

[@richardhutchings4799]

Admire your talks,I

[@dent20111]

Mate I came across your channel 5 mins ago, legend!! new sub brother love the work!

[@thetraditionalbricklayer9650]

Thank you mate Good health to ya

[@tylergraham1750]

im on the groundworks on site and this place im at has bricky gang working for groundworkers bringing the brickwork up to dpc (assume that splash) and a few gangs that are completely separate doing all the brickwork above damp

[@anthonyworthington6495]

I think you will find they did not have blocks in the old days,i have seen party wallsbuilt in terracotta block and 2"clincker block in house's built in 40-50 built houses

[@shylockakita]

A perfect explanation...

[@davidgray5764]

1970 Scotland. When I was on my apprenticeship we worked in gangs of 6 and 8. The old boys 60ish, would be on the facing brick corners. One on each end, the young guns 30s, with young families would run the line, (chasing the bonus). As 2yr 3yr apprentice you were in the middle. The forman new the apprentice would be trying to lay more bricks than the 30 year olds. But it was a matter of pride, as you get better you could if the bricky was distracted talking, get in more. But at that point the old on the corner would push his cap back say tay the other corner man, glad we have young Davey with us to bring in the bonus. You would be lucky if laid a third of what the brickie laid for the rest of walls 26 courses!😀

[@nervousbreakdown1108]

Hey mate i'm wondering what you use to carry your tools around on the job? Most fellas where I'm at use a bucket... Would love to see a video about what tools you use daily and see how it differs in place to place

[@thetraditionalbricklayer9650]

See if I get time mate …but I’ve always used a bucket

[@alangreenley3257]

in the late 60,s 70,s most footings were brickwork not blockwork, so this was the ideal place for apprentice bricklayers to learn bricklaying,, and everything you say is true, we were taught how to build corners ,how to set out bonding etc all done in the ground, the speed would come later, it was all about getting it right, times have change now, and its all about profiles, shame

[@seanmurphy5158]

Nice land rover,,

[@jmxlli1410]

This guy knows what he talking bout nothing like the old school and he’s the headmaster 😂😂…all these new build houses are all off and not level the amount of times that people buy new builds then they have to call people in to fix so much

[@jasonbrown9783]

That was very interesting!

[@karloflaherty]

hate going of a footing i didnt build

[@jameshirst2785]

Good maths 1000 bricks a week for 3 years is not 10000

[@watchmanendtimes]

So why are convrete blocks used? Are they cheaper as well?

[@trecking]

I've always built footing and everything above splash....a lot of companies do just do the everything up to damp. I wouldn't personally say that the lads who do up to dpc where rough though, simply because I've always been told that the footing was so important, the lads who come in after u will slag your work off, the brickwork isn't level or the perps are all over the place...but I can see that there definitely a few gangs that will say, just get it in....we're not building the house 😂

[@rammie9731]

So true that is and young 1s now don’t wanna get out bed !

[@BoSSLeVeLs]

A lot of the oldskool were also ruff as fk 😂 But I see ya point

[@johncremeans969]

The perps the perps took me a while to figure out you meant the head joints in America we have head joints and bead joints the head joint would be a perp. I guess it means perpendicular

[@davidinmossy]

That a modded land rover? haha very cool wouldnt like to think how much that monster guzzels

[@Foyster62]

Still got splash gangs they still can’t set out

[@thetraditionalbricklayer9650]

Made me laugh this 😂

[@TheAsa1972]

They were laying Heavy old commons

[@andrewwalshe988]

You and changy have a fight

[@davidbarnett8002]

When i started in the late 80s i worked on many ward jobs all there internal walls were brickwork inc jack walls all fletton work Sand lime bricks underground Trouble is these days it seems to be i laid 900 a 1000 etc Who fkin cares a bricklayer is Creative Problem solver Setter out Bonder Quantity calculator And the youngsters aint got that and think they dont need to be

[@evocarti]

Anyone with at least half a brain cell will know who you're having a dig at, but he did have a sly dig at you in his last video, so all's fair in muck and war. Anyway, to answer your question, yes, footings gangs do everything up to damp on housing sites with one exception: When there's a lot of under build that will be seen the foreman will put a day work gang on it. That's just my experience of house bashing in West Sussex. There's a lot of money in the footings but you'll never perfect your craft if you stay below damp all your life and footings gangs, by and large, a quietly looked down on. Besides that, having been away from site work for so long, there's a topic going around on sites that you may not have heard that will really put a cat among the pigeons. Price gangs are quick and make more money, but do they know, overall, as much about construction as day workers?

[@thetraditionalbricklayer9650]

Allo mate ..seems to be fashionable to have a dig at the old TTB 😂 to be fair a lot have had there coller felt from a few factual bids I put out but they live there life I live myn 😉 Yeah I Dnt think the myth of price gangs will ever change in and out the boys Hope you’re well

[@evocarti]

@@thetraditionalbricklayer9650 Yeah, I always wondered why Changy took down that video where he mocked you and called you a dickhead. A word in his ear like?

[@josephlyons6637]

Working on site as trowel I'd think ive seen the best trowel yet. Then iwould start on a nother site and think the same again. My point is there are thousands of good bricklayers out there. Ive yet to see one who was the best but many who thought they were.

[@joelmeen6332]

As my old man always says your a bricklayer not a brick tapper

[@andys.channel]

Iam scottish mate whats the splash?

[@topcatcoolio8807]

Hi mate, I think it's those who lash them in the footings

[@greetingsbox4229]

Do your fly up your profile might fall out

[@thelunney1]

Lay it and leave it.

[@danielcharrington5604]

Sighting ,what are on about ,get to 50s and come back 100mm measuring as you get older your eyesight goes please tell me am I lying

[@thetraditionalbricklayer9650]

You’re lying …u must be able to feel 100mm my old Tracy does

[@danielcharrington5604]

@@thetraditionalbricklayer9650 she told me 25 😀

[@rammie9731]

Footin gangs are the ones earning the £££££ now big buck and no messing about we cleaning cavity’s etc but yes agree they are the ruff guys 😅

[@grahamobrienverynicex9804]

Dean I like that truck

[@grahamobrienverynicex9804]

Dean they like footings