Victorian extension Flemish Bond causing HEADACHE

Continuing the extension on a Victorian property, building it in matching brick in the Flemish bond style #construction #brickbonds #bricklaying

[@gbentley8176]

Thank god you are carrying on the fabulous brickwork tradition of the UK. Quality always shines through. Beautiful on the eye too.

[@foundationgood123]

Thank you🐼

[@foundationgood123]

@@Johnconno Meant my black eye lol ie panda but it was another comment I got mixed up with🥴

[@paddy961]

I did a job in New Zealand on an old chapel . The owner had sorted the bricks . They were like southwaters made in Aus . It was Flemish bond . My brikie mate was happy . 'I got a dollar a cut ' . Happy days !

[@kimleathercraft3852]

Absolute top job Chris. Well done pal. Loved the video and how the old buildings were done. Top man 👍👍

[@foundationgood123]

Thanks, glad you enjoyed it👍

[@frankperricone2065]

This is the first summer that I have not worked in over 40 years. About 20 years as a Union Bricklayer then over 20 years of owning my own Masonry construction business, we're I did all fazes of Masonry construction, brick, concrete and stone work. Not a big Flemish bond guy, I think that the normal half bond that is the more common of bonds. You do very good work and I find most Bricklayers are very proud of there work and should be.

[@miger1824]

Chris, your eye for detail is amazing and I only wish all builders were the same.

[@foundationgood123]

Thank you👍

[@davidallen1418]

I am a retired bricklayer, and I just can't get my head round the new way of laying the block work first. just seems wrong! 😊 good job by the way.

[@markrainford1219]

It's to stop you b**gers from filling the cavities with gobbo. 😂

[@keithrimmer3]

I remember in the 50s 60s using a mortar mill on jobs and mixing lime sand and finally crushed cinders on tight joints 1/4 inch with Accrington and Glossop and Staffordshire blues, nice job matey takes me back that dose.

[@PatrickKelly-lz3pv]

i used to mix mortar in what i was told was a pug mill is a mortar mill and a pug the same machine.

[@user-sc5yd4en3j]

Nice work mate, here in Australia that’s a standard size brick. Old solids can be even bigger again. Less chat chat and more tap tap! Get rich or die trowling.

[@africadreamin]

The attention to detail is awesome, nothing is taken for granted or fudged, craftsmanship at it's best.

[@foundationgood123]

Thak you, yes it has been an important part of the build, seemingly builders looked but didn’t even get back to the client obviously its the amount of detailed work ie they can’t “smash them down” a thousand a day!!!! Cheers👍

[@tonyjustice4554]

proper old school lancastrian brickie,love the old bonds learn them all at tech decades ago top man 👍

[@nuetral2374]

Great to see new work being tie in to old brick 🧱 thanks for sharing to Chris

[@nuetral2374]

Can't wait to see it finished great tradesmen your Attention to detail is 💯% 👌🏻

[@RoderickSpoke]

Massive respect Chris, your work is art. I would be happy handing money over for this quality of work.

[@foundationgood123]

Awe thank you for the heads up👍

[@SteveAndAlexBuild]

Massive respect Chris for taking that one on ! Especially on your own up on the scaff too 😳. Brickwork looks spot on mate and like it was always there… as it should 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽🧱

[@foundationgood123]

That’s much appreciated Steve and Alex, thank you has been a challenge but enjoying it all the way👍

[@SteveAndAlexBuild]

@@foundationgood123 👏🏽👏🏽🧱👍🏽

[@ashleychambers7602]

Always wondered how you match the mortar to existing brick work, brilliant video as always Chris 👍

[@gc2161]

Master at work. Thank you.

[@user-cn1em2qx6f]

looks way nicer then a modern brick.

[@reachforthesky1849]

Thanks for sharing your knowledge and experience

[@foundationgood123]

you’re welcome I’m happy to share it, We never had youtube back in the day it was to the library to find a book on the subject 😂

[@edwarddown448]

nice work Chris looking proper Victorian authentic.

[@foundationgood123]

Thank you, yes it was a wise choice on the owners behalf👍

[@panmad6156]

I dont watch much tv but I could watch this guy all day...

[@phillipchapman169]

Fascinating vid and a very knowledgable and studious bricky/craftsman.

[@foundationgood123]

Many thanks!

[@michaelstevens3479]

Way back when it was OK to move the window a couple of inches to avoid closures on window reveals.

[@itsnoneofucar8792]

Let's bring the smiles,,chris looks like c Eastwood..make my day..😎

[@viankalobosvalenzuela7456]

Excelente trabajo Chris saludos 👌👍🧱⚒️💪

[@johnwyatt2316]

Great video and lots of time taken with bricks and correct bond. Only suggestion I would make is cover the stone cill with plastic or wide damp and cut ott at the end. Do stain especially with coloured mortar. 👍👍

[@foundationgood123]

Yes you’re right, I did cover them ie built thin visqueen into the beds, however the client wanted to paint them as we were going, hence you see them painted on the vid. That then was an agreement we have had. And thanks for the heads up too👍

[@johnwyatt2316]

@@foundationgood123 quality work. So nice to see. Bit of a slog loading out then building. But we've all done this at times. Stay safe fella 👍👍

[@foundationgood123]

@@johnwyatt2316 Yes, thats life 👍

[@robinhadley]

That's some good going on your own for a day Chris. Top work.

[@foundationgood123]

Aw thanks matey👍

[@steveniemiec9261]

Exceptional quality and amazing skills!

[@foundationgood123]

Thank you 👍

[@wolfie854]

Nice job. Fascinating.

[@foundationgood123]

Many thanks!

[@ShalomBrother]

Looks like it grew there!

[@mkd6702]

Lovely work pal 👏👏

[@foundationgood123]

Thank you👍

[@petewood5097]

6.23 the left hand side of the middle pier is in correct. Instead of the closer at the end it should have been a header against the reveal then the queen closer next to it. Time served bricklayer now retired.

[@foundationgood123]

Not necessarily so, look at the house behind me its the same!!!

[@petewood5097]

I did notice that. Two wrongs don’t make a right tho mate.

[@foundationgood123]

@@petewood5097 There are many buildings done this way!!! Just think its personal preference matey.

[@johns1982]

Ex Brickie never ever ever a quarter bat at a reveal. It's not a preference it's a bibd. . By the way go learn to spread. Sick of shit bricklayers on you tube

[@scottcalvert2984]

great progress 👍

[@foundationgood123]

Thank you👍

[@itsnoneofucar8792]

That noise was the Flemish headache.🤬

[@mikeflynn4373]

Nice job mate...well done.

[@foundationgood123]

Thank you Mike👍

[@harry2969]

Quality work!

[@foundationgood123]

much appreciated 👍

[@plssmellmycheese]

"dont drag it"... exactly!

[@foundationgood123]

“What’s with the one liner” it doesn’t make sense buddy

[@plssmellmycheese]

@@foundationgood123 at the end of the vid, they are installing the steel and just as they lift it in position, the young guy at "this " end of the steel thinks about making a slight adjustment to its position on the pad stone...which our brickie...and he notices, and prompts hin to say "dont drag it"...a newbie on site would be tempted to "drag" the steel into position, and break off the pad and several courses of finished brickwork...much to the disdain of the poor brickie...i had the same thought as i watched... thats all 😉

[@foundationgood123]

@@plssmellmycheese Yeah absolutely, makes sense now you’ve explained it. Gotta teach the younger generation the tips and experience we have over the years👍

[@djhago3123]

A tip about the die ... put it in your water it goes though the mix better

[@garyhodgson6569]

Looking good quality job 👍

[@foundationgood123]

Thanks you👍

[@grahamdavies7743]

if you think flemish is a headache try quetta bond lol

[@happyuk06]

Do building regs ever allow you to continue with 13 inch thick imperial-sized walls with no cavity wall, on an job like this? So that you don't have to create a load of half-sized headers / queen closures? It would certainly be more in keeping with the original builds. It looks like they had to ad-lib a lot in those days too, with having to put in different cuts everywhere.

[@sroberts605]

I would guess that comes down to cost again - even if you had an outside full-brick width leaf and the insulation inside within studwork, you'd still be doubling the amount of bricks?

[@ashleymccarthy6232]

Tough job this mate, well done

[@foundationgood123]

Very challenging bro, but have enjoyed it👍

[@hotpoker4212]

Hope you gettjing s gd price, thats head wreckin job, with tha size varients on those bricks, love your videos, keep up d gd work,🇨🇮🇨🇮

[@sheepdogman1]

What a challenge. Top class work

[@foundationgood123]

Thank you, it certainly was. The roofs all on now. I’m going to show in the next video

[@sheepdogman1]

@@foundationgood123 look forward to it

[@T.attema]

Hallo Chris Longhurst, I have been watching a couple of video s of yours. Very nice to see all the techniques explaint! I had a question. I saw that you have to cut a lot of the stones. How do you know how much to cut of do you use the same measerment or do you cut to fit when your need them? Thanks for the videos

[@maxwellmc9734]

😂 kittens 😂😂great job 👍

[@dazuk1969]

My days, those bricks are beasts. Our Victorian friends didn't make things easy for themselves. I am surprised you had to have them made and couldn't find them in a salvage yard. Maybe it was cheaper to have them made than scouring salvage yards. Nice job though dude.

[@foundationgood123]

Very true!

[@clivewarner2162]

Solid brick wall I assume? My W London house of that era had to have the chimney rebuilt because it hadn't been keyed into the wall and was about to crash down through the bedroom. And a chemical DPC. What DPC are you using in the new part, bituminous membrane? Nice brickwork. When does the insulation go in between the blocks and bricks? I've given up working with bricks, I got de Quervain's from building my pizza oven.

[@alanmooney]

Great job Chris, A very challenging little project all around, looking good despite the original gauge being so inconsistent. What did the bricks cost to have especially made?

[@foundationgood123]

Thanks for the comment, the bricks worked out £1 a brick and free delivery. We had 7000 made and that’s why they were a great price👍

[@bigears4014]

A brickie with brain is rare

[@grahamwarford5452]

Tradesman at his art.👏👏

[@foundationgood123]

Thank you, much appreciated 👍

[@andrewbeaumont5492]

Super job, though you do sound a bit fed up at times. Very well done.

[@foundationgood123]

Ahah yes somtimes lol

[@biblebasics100]

Awesom, love that bond and love your bricky skills as ever. That brickwork is amazing too🧱😎

[@foundationgood123]

Cheers👍

[@damiengirvan5020]

I bet this man is excellent at Lego:)

[@foundationgood123]

😝

[@jaymann]

Fantastic work, as always, Chris.

[@foundationgood123]

Thank you very much👍

[@dumptonpark]

Very nice work that could not be easy to do specially on your own i always admire a great brick layers work. 🍪☕

[@foundationgood123]

Thank you 👍

[@grahamthebaronhesketh.]

Are you using metric bricks or imperial?

[@eddieharding2432]

Don't forget a queen closer is 46mm wide , otherwise you get tiny joints on the corner and it looks bad . Also you don't put a closer on the end of anything . It should have been header closer by the door and not closer header .

[@foundationgood123]

Hey there so many opinions on this its bonkers. I followed the original build mate and the Victorian builders were the best🤣

[@eddieharding2432]

@@foundationgood123 No you didn't . Bond is always set out 2 courses below DPC min . Bucket handle pointing ??????

[@foundationgood123]

@@eddieharding2432 No you’re wrong, I was on site not you. I followed exactly the old build and the reason why they did running bond was the air bricks. As I said, there are so many different opinions on this bond so please don’t come the authority , as everyone seems to be the authority. Let the original be the authority, the Victorian builders!!!

[@superdinkydoo]

Eddie is correct, just because it was done before doesn't make it right. Sorry to upset you.

[@foundationgood123]

@@superdinkydoo Er you’re not up setting me, I know everyone has there way of doing the jobs, but you have to take in consideration the actual job, it isn’t that straightforward. There are large air bricks for the wooden floors (all around) and so the straightforward stretcher bond was used! This new build is following the original, it also has large air bricks and the stretcher bond works it better. I don’t know what all the fuss is about, are you guy’s at college?

[@jean-pierredeclemy7032]

The purpose of the Flemish bond was to strengthen the wall, where you are using half bricks the original wall was nine inches thick and the headers went front to back. A very sturdy wall that stands for hundreds of years. Time will tell how long modern walls will last.

[@johnm.515]

Single wythe flem seems pointless

[@SB-dg8hq]

​@@johnm.515the Flemish bond brickwork is used on a solid 9" wall. In this situation the Flemish bond is just to match the brickwork as these days we use a cavity wall construction. In this situation it's a long job because every other brick has to be cut. Personally I think that the end result will be worth the extra work and expense. A good place to see the Flemish Bond used these days is on garden walls that obviously don't have a cavity and you can see both sides. By laying the header bricks across the wall it ties the brickwork together to make a really solid wall. I'm a carpenter but on some jobs the bricklayer has laboured for me and then I labour for the bricklayer, so we worked as a team on jobs. The bricklayer that I worked with was a real craftsman I enjoyed labouring for him.

[@frankryan2505]

What's the general quality of bricklaying in the UK? I work in construction in Australia, its generally pretty terrible here..

[@davebloke829]

Well done big fella! Those jobs are always a headscratcher! They look hard bricks!

[@foundationgood123]

Thanks Dave, yes they have been but have enjoyed the challenge 👍

[@FiscalWoofer]

Lovely detail you are putting in! Would the Victorians have used a lime base mortar?

[@foundationgood123]

Yes and they used a gritty black sand with the lime👍

[@MrBillgiles]

Would you do this bond again or is once enough? It is great to see different bonds but it must be difficult to match, especially when the original has faults in it. Well done.

[@foundationgood123]

I got the garden wall to build in the same bond 👍

[@ilovepizzadoyou]

They certainly don't make brickies like this now.

[@spanishpeaches2930]

Better to pay someone an extra weeks wages to set out and do the job right, rather than rush the job, "save" the money and be pissed off with the tradesman at the finish. Live to see proper work...skilled work done..with someone who takes real pride in their work. Robin Clevitt is another one.

[@colinbrigham8253]

I would have not had a closer at the door opening but 2 heads to maintain quarter bond which is what you are working in or .am I wrong 😕 S

[@Chrismartin88]

I was always shown to add the water to the rear of the mixer not the front as don’t mix fully

[@foundationgood123]

Yes get that, but the instructions on the colour tin says mix it dry in order to get the colour powder uniform throughout! Case of the two issues!!!

[@Michael-di5cl]

skills

[@dan__________________]

So nice. I wish we built nice stuff like this in north america.

[@markrainford1219]

You used to. Until about 1776ish. 😂

[@hotpoker4212]

How did you lift those sandstone heads on your own,??

[@Resenbrink]

Such a pleasure watching someone work who knows what to do and is bloody good at it.

[@foundationgood123]

Thank you👍

[@jimhardy1897]

Up north dont flemish bond start with a 3 quarter and down south like you have there header closure? just wondered where you are?

[@foundationgood123]

Staffordshire

[@gongatots4115]

Hi there. Interested to know why you don't cut the cavities before joining onto original building with extention?

[@foundationgood123]

We assumed it was a sold wall!!

[@chrissaunders4702]

I don't think the original house has cavities. They didn't start them til the 1930s and the Flemish bond is a give away that it's solid. Your right that in most instances you make a continuous cavity, but on this job it's not the case.

[@timstradling7764]

Great job !! It is as they say, attention to detail that matters. I have heard too often that we don’t build like they used to, and I say thank God. We have the benefit of the laser level which picks holes in the quality of the old work as you found - 20 to 30mm difference in level at the other end of the extension. It takes an experienced man to get over this. The ordinary man in the street doesn’t know what to look for, they just see a brick wall - how difficult could that be to put up, oh yeah, if only they knew! I had a 10” solid greenhouse 24’ x12’ base to build a few years ago in Flemish bond, all whole modern handmade bricks which varied in length by 1/4” and width by 1/8”. It was a test that I enjoyed to get both faces looking good without using snapped headers, all done on my knees as the top was only 3’ high. Cursed it sometimes, but the customers were delighted with the finished article - made my day😊 A very good earner for customers who wanted a quality job and were happy to pay. I turned up to meet the bespoke greenhouse installers who said it was the best base they’d ever seen. I walked away with a happy glow😊

[@foundationgood123]

Nice one👍 I was the same😊

[@philbrooks6639]

Hi Is the oversite done after the foundation? Can you build the Brick frame before the internal floor up to screed?

[@foundationgood123]

Hi, generally as normal practice the over site concrete is poured when the building is up-to DPC hight as it’s easier to get all the MOT, sand blinding, insulation and if needed the reinforcement, however you can leave the floors till last ie when the superstructure is built but the main way is when the build is up to DPC as it’s easier to level and gives a good pad to work off. Trust that helps!

[@philbrooks6639]

@@foundationgood123 thanks for the response. I guess my builder doesn't want to wait for the screed to dry before building the brick frame

[@jimhardy1897]

closure up against the frame..wrong

[@gazza1136]

No brick smaller than a half bat up reveals chris, nice job, but not impressed with how u set the bond out. You cant have closers up a reveal buddy👍

[@foundationgood123]

Thanks, but again there are many opinions on that point you have made. To be fair, I followed the original build by the way!

[@waynefoster848]

Nice to see you don't ping the line,old school

[@foundationgood123]

😆

[@sedulousdabbler5468]

Beautiful work. Hopefully you’ll have facia boards to cover the gable ends as you’ll have some very tricky cuts to do. Maximum respect to you

[@stuartelder581]

Excellent brick work Chris 👍

[@foundationgood123]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@padraigharrison6919]

50 bricks to a square meter what are the average size of the bricks? cheers great watch

[@markrainford1219]

Where did you say the bricks were made?

[@foundationgood123]

They were made in Cumbria, by Furness brick company

[@maskedavenger2578]

These brickies these days have never obviously heard of the good old threaded bumper course ,invented in Merseyside around the 1980 ‘s by a chancer doing cash jobs ,too lazy to cut the bricks .

[@TestTest-zb3dt]

Great brickwork, shame about the plastic windows. They should be thrown in the bin and replaced with weighted sashes.

[@christopherwilliams5019]

So refreshing to see quality craftsmanship. Expert at work, here👏🏻 everyone else seems to want the easiest job...done in quickest time. SHITE!!!!! What an excellent job👌🏻

[@daves4026]

Great to see people paying for a quality build. I like watching work like this

[@lhfloors]

Good work Chris would the original mortar in house be lime and sand cheers

[@foundationgood123]

Yes, lime and black sand.

[@jannenreuben7398]

Lime, sand and fly ash to bulk out the mix (also improves the compressive strength).

[@snapdragogon69]

You got a black eye at 11:54

[@leeedwards9994]

really nice job you know your craft .... ive seen some fairly poor victorian work often covered up in decorative moldings but to be fair to them they didnt have the accurate tools we have today .....

[@foundationgood123]

Very true, wood, string and a lead weight 🥴

[@brickrightbuildinglandscaping]

A challenge Chris especially them bricks and in flemish bond .Gauge on the existing was out aswell did it send the wall plates out aswell? Looking really good a job that needs patience and planning which you managed very very well didn't panic your experience did you well a cracker of a job brilliant mate loved the video 👏 👍 🧱🧱🧱

[@foundationgood123]

Hi Justin, thank you for the heads up bro. Yes a tricky job...Got all the plates up and bob on, just a mill here and there and got it on target👍

[@brickrightbuildinglandscaping]

@@foundationgood123 Top man Great job planning and skills involved chris 👏 👍

[@richardmarley3064]

Them weeps won’t work 😂

[@mrboyban]

Gosh I hope that brick is not what caused you the black eye. All the best!

[@joshuamatheron1]

Very nice job. That brickwork could actually pass as original. Dark mortar makes a huge difference. Looked like a pain but well worth it.

[@foundationgood123]

Thank you Joshua, much appreciated👍

[@andrewarthurmatthews6685]

What’s so painful about mixing the correct amounts of sand, cement and pigment ? He has a machine to do the mixing

[@joshuamatheron1]

@@andrewarthurmatthews6685 I was referring to job as a whole. Different sized bricks etc

[@sandwormgod4771]

You sir, are a Master of your Art.

[@dean7245]

Quality workmanship 👍

[@anthonyworthington6495]

It's a shame you couldn't take the bricks and window cills and window lintels out of the rear walls. Be sacrilege to plaster over that brick work,and probably would have saved the tenants some money,after all that your doing a smashing job will be looking to see the next episode

[@foundationgood123]

Yeah, they’re gonna sell the existing sills and headers 👍

[@ripitaat]

Nice job! Why are you using a strong mix 4-1?

[@foundationgood123]

On the spec

[@sidwallace6053]

Strange to think that you had to use victorian type bricks in keeping with the original but yet instead of having sash windows put in they have upvc windows instead which goes totally against everything you’re doing and they look absolutely ugly too,I’ll admit sash windows cost a small fortune compared but nevertheless in some counties you can get grants for certain listed buildings

[@scottcalvert2984]

They have put sash windows in the new bit. That old one was a temp fix as thats coming out!

[@Bd-ox4mi]

The worst sand to use I’ve found is huews gray awful

[@MrCobbsalad]

no labourer?

[@foundationgood123]

Just me and the trusted scaffold hoist👍

[@catabaticanabatic3800]

Being a non-brickie, what is the purpose of this Flemish bond , is it purely a decorative thing? Must be expensive to do. Excellent looking work.

[@foundationgood123]

The bond is originally used in a solid 9” wall in order to add strength with the header through bricks ie tying the wall together. It is also an attractive bond and looks pleasing to the eye! What is happening on this build is a matching brick and a matching brick bond so that the new build is in keeping with the existing! Hope that helps🤔

[@johncunningham5799]

Good job chris double exstension on your own not easy

[@andrewarthurmatthews6685]

Yes whilst an interesting video it became a moan about how difficult, how big , how small, etc these ‘new ‘bricks are ! Once yes but to repeat it , well enough already. Also some explanation of terminology would help those not au fait with bricklaying ; ‘weepers ‘ , for instance or maybe I heard that wrong?