You can do it. I know it is a long apprenticeship and years of on-job experience for a bricklayer to become proficient in the art of bricklaying. But a bricklayer is judged on two main criteria. The quality of his finished work and the time it took him to produce it. Much brickwork is done these days by contract or peace work. You will pay your bricklayer to lay your bricks by the brick. That means that for each brick the bricklayer lays there will be a set charge. That is just for laying and you have to provide the bricks and the sand and cement and other additives that are needed. The bricklayer will provide his own brickies laborer to carry the bricks for him and mix his mortar. So how can you possibly lay your own bricks.

For a start you will not be in a hurry like the bricklayer is to get in so many in the day to make it worthwhile money wise. You are able to take your time and with a few tips you will be able to do a pretty good job. If I can give you the basics to get started you will be off. We are lucky here because the bricklayer is one of those trades where he needs very few tools. Not like the poor old carpenter who needs a truck to cart all his tools to the job. The bricklayer can almost tuck his few tools under one arm and have all he needs for the days work.

First thing of course is the bricklayers trowel. This is the diamond shaped trowel on a wood handle and comes in a fairy standard size so you can’t go wrong. You will need a couple of good nylon string lines. Get the best ones so you can stretch them really tight without them breaking. If you are not careful on a windy day with your string line too slack you will end up with a curve in your brick wall to the prevailing wind. Depending on the finish you want with your mortar you will need a little tool to shape the mortar joint at the end of the day. You also will need a level and a few line blocks. If these are not available they are easy to make. Your line block can be cut out of a small piece of lumber about 3″ long and 2″ wide and deep. Cut the long side at the half way mark down half way and take this piece out. You now have a piece of lumber in an L shape. Run the saw through the other half, half way so the line can pass through.

On each corner of your brick wall stand a straight piece of 2″x 4″ with one corner at the corner of the brick. These are marked for each row of bricks and your line block will sit behind this piece and hold the line exactly where the brick is to be. Once you have all the lines set up round your job you can easily place the bricks in a dead straight line. Make sure they are level and an even distance apart. For this of course you are going to need your mortar.

DIY enthusiasts will usually ‘have a go’ at most things. However, more and more, the DIY enthusiast is being regulated in the same way as the professional tradesmen. This isn’t to say that they have not been previously bound by regulations applying to construction trades, but that a more consistent application of the rules is being applied.

One area which seems to be avoiding the strictest of regulation is the art of bricklaying, which is not always given the esteem it perhaps deserves.
Whilst a building or structure will remain standing under most circumstances, irrespective of the quality of workmanship, the aesthetic qualities of good brickwork will never be able to be appreciated unless the workmanship is of the highest quality.
Quality of workmanship of will always be a determining factor as to whether or not the finished project will gain the esteem it should deserve.
The choice of brick or masonry block will have a large bearing on the aesthetics of projects ranging from a common garden wall to large housing complex or mall but all will depend on the quality of the workmanship. In the right hands, poor or low quality bricks can be made to look much better than they really are. In the wrong hands, the quality of the brick will not make any difference at all – you won’t be able to hide poor workmanship.

If you do feel up to having a go, there are some basics that you will need to be aware of. Future articles will cover some of the more practical aspects of Do it Yourself bricklaying.

Do it Yourself bricklaying is not for the faint hearted. Be prepared for some hard graft – hard work.

Here’s a summary of the different methods brick cleaners can use

Bucket and Brush hand cleaning

This is the most popular method and uses different chemical cleaners including (sometimes) laundry detergent! A professional brick cleaner will know who manufactured the bricks and will usually use the recommended chemical cleaner for the bricks, and leave the solution on for the recommended amount of time after removing the bigger clumps of mortar with a paddle. They’ll scrub the bricks with a strong rough brush (like a big toothbrush). Once the bricks are cleaned the solution must be well rinsed otherwise stains and over-cleaning might occur which will look patchy.

Pressurised water cleaning

This method saves time and labour, but isn’t exactly the best way if you’re under water restrictions or prefer to save as much water as possible like most people. Water pressure can also damage the bricks themselves but a quality brick cleaner will have done the right preparation and know exactly how much pressure the bricks can withstand.

Sandblasting

Sandblasting bricks clean is a good way to reduce risk of chemical reactions and stains with the bricks, but if sandblasting is not done properly your bricks can be scarred. Not all bricks can be sandblasted clean, including sanded, glazed or coated bricks. Sandblasting machines use different types of materials including silica sand, crushed granite and sometimes even nut shells.

As usual, if you need a quality brick cleaner simply post your job and we’ll find one for you!

The most obvious component of a building is its brickwork. The size, colour and texture of the bricks together with the mortar colour and joint finish will combine to give a particular look. Decisions on brickwork will have to complement the building’s style, roofing material and colour, window and door frame colour as well as the driveway and landscaping style. Most significant brick merchants have computer-generated colour matching services that help individuals attain the look they want.

The bricklayer’s job is to study the plans and lay bricks to construct perpendicular walls from perfectly horizontal layers of bricks. Of course, all corners should be exactly square to each other (90 degrees) unless specified otherwise. Some builders prefer to set out a slab themselves with chalk lines to delineate the exact location of brick walls. This makes the bricklayer’s task less complicated. Set out is usually best done prior to the delivery of bricks when the slab is clear of obstructions. When the bricklayers arrive on site they should have brides, brickies’ sand, cement, wall ties, waterproofing additive, lintels, brickbond wire and reinforcing rods, flashing material, all door and window frames and their accessories (clips) accessible to them. Their job is to assemble all these inputs. Bricklayers commonly work in teams of between two and four. This part of the construction takes longest since it is pretty labour intensive. Having a large brickies team on site isn’t good practice since variation between finishes around the building is likely to happen. Furthermore, if the rate of construction is too rapid, particularly in cool, damp weather, it is possible for the weight of fresh brickwork to cause slumping of lower bedding joints. On the other hand, a larger team will mean reduced scaffold hire time.

The first job for the bricklayers would be to set out the building. They should not use the concreter’s lines without checking they’re correct. All setbacks must be double checked. They’ll then proceed to brush down any sand that has accumulated on the footing and slab. A mortar mix with waterproof additive will probably be smeared about 5mm thick over the whole upright edge of the slab. The purpose of this would be to prevent moisture penetrating the slab. This is followed by the laying of the very first course of brickwork of the external walls. No mortar is placed on the perpendicular joint (perp) of each fourth brick. This creates openings called weep holes by way of which any water that may enter the cavity can escape again. Weep holes also allow air to circulate via the cavity and enable it to dry out. In wet climates it is helpful to use vent bricks to aid air circulation inside the cavity and also to add a waterproofing additive to the mortar of the very first few courses of brickwork. A clear waterproofing mix ought to of course be used if face bricks are involved.

The Spirit Level is probably the most expensive part of the bricklayers tool kit, because keeping the work level (horizontal) and plumb (vertical) is the core to producing high quality brickwork job. These levels come in different sizes; with the main size for everyday work is nine hundred millimeters (3 feet) or twelve hundred millimeters (4 feet) in length. Two things affect the length of a bricklayers spirit level:

• The longer the level, the greater the accuracy.
• When working in cramped quarters a long level is useless. So it is also useful to have a nine-inch torpedo level in your kit to work in tight spaces.

Bricklayers spirit levels come in several different styles, materials, lengths, features and price ranges. Despite this, levels are not terribly expensive and a good one will last you a lifetime with proper care. However, a bad one will cause you real problems if you are producing work that is not straight, horizontal or vertical, so do not compromise on quality!

So what should you look for when choosing a level? The two most important factors to look for are the design and the material it is made of. The cheaper levels will have simple I-beam designs because they look like an “I” when viewed from the end. Cheaper designs are often made of hard plastic. Better quality levels are made of machined aluminum or hardwood bound with brass. These will have a more stable, box design that is less likely to warp and twist. Another factor to look for is a lifetime warranty on the vials.

Whilst they are similar in design and price to a standard carpenters level, bricklayers levels are designed to be more rugged for continual use around bricks, blocks, and mortar. Also, they are designed for repeated cleaning with a brush and water. Some levels have a reinforced edge that can be tapped with a trowel or hammer while the level is lying on the bricks – this simplifies checking and adjusting the brick courses as the work proceeds.

As well as being solid level, it is important that the bubble vial is accurate. These bubbles should set in clear resin/plastic and be protected by the body of the level. In some high quality levels, the vials are replaceable if they break, or even adjustable if they become inaccurate.

Being a bricklayer is one of the simplest and most ancient trades in the world. One peculiar post online has stated that there is a great demand for bricklayers in Australia. This conclusion was gathered from the many suggestions, comments and advice given to the particular post online.

While the world is in the middle of a recession, Australia has been able to weather the buffeting winds especially in its property market. In reality, there is a clear demand for bricklayers as there is a current construction boom in the country. Because of this demand, there have been a number of bricklayers from the United Kingdom and other parts of the world that have tried to immigrate to Australia with their family.

A bricklayer is essentially an individual who lays down rock and mortar for the many home and residential projects. It is essential that the wall be straight and waterproofed properly. While this is backbreaking work for a minimum wage in Australia, the laying of individual bricks is key to the success of the individual. There is a current demand but how ling this demand will remain depends on the number of current projects underway in the country.

The current rates for an Australian bricklayer is at Aus $3,000 per month after taxes. On bigger projects, many earn paychecks as much as Aus $9,000 if they lead the project themselves. The tax rate in Australia ranks among the highest in the world and this taken with the cost of living where you are situated in the country. This determines the minimum required paycheck you should be taking home in order to survive in Australia.

One come on for bricklayers in Australia is becoming a contractor themselves. There are many ups and downs though when you undertake the work yourself. There are many problems though that are associated with contracting projects for yourself. You need to learn “the Australian way” of doing things before undertaking this task. Building your own business is much more rewarding for you, especially as you started as a bricklayer from your original home country.

Some may say this is madness in the current economic climate, others may say by the time you qualify there will be lots of jobs. In my opinion colleges should make apprentices stay at college full-time for 4 years and teach them other skills, one thing is for sure, the more skills you have, the easier you will find work.

It is not enough to be able to just lay bricks today. Construction skills today seem too much simpler, not just for bricklayers, but for a lot of trades as modular systems come into the UK’s Construction Industry. I do not think modern construction sites are the best place for an apprentice to learn his skills. Construction sites today are all about speed and have nothing to do with standards, there is no time for personal standards. Find yourself a local builder and ask him to train you, may take a little longer to complete your apprenticeship, but believe me you will be armed with a lot more skills that will appeal to future employers.

These are my five steps to deciding if you want to be an Apprentice in the world of Bricklaying

Step 1: What are my Prospects?

Q. Do you know a skilled and experienced Bricklayer in your family or close friends?

A. Ask this person if they can find you a local builder that can offer you an apprenticeship that really means something. You need a company that will work with your college to make sure you are learning the skills that the employer needs.

• Ask your college at the interview stage about the prospects of finding an employer that will offer you the skills you need

• Ask your college what systems are in place to protect you from be used as cheap labour by the employer

• Ask your college if you will be taught the skills that are needed by your employer

• Ask your college if they will do regular site visits to the company to make sure you are being trained correctly

Make sure the company you are working for actually do bricklaying within their work programme, all to many say they do, but they mostly do landscaping or paving. You cannot expect with a small builder to be laying bricks and blocks all day, but a large part of your time should be associated with trowel trades.

When you build with bricks you’re creating something that can be appreciated for generations. It’s not uncommon to find structures in complete ruin except for the masonry such as a brick chimney or wall.

The reasons for do-it-yourself bricklaying vary, but the primary reason seems to be cost. Others include learning a valuable skill for starting a new business, or simply learning a new hobby. Planning a bricklaying project begins with gathering ideas and envisioning the end result. Don’t overlook this step. Masonry is permanent so be cautious and remember you need to do it right – the results of your efforts will be on public display for a long, long time.

As you begin your planning it’s important to consider size and scale, location, material selection, drainage and appearance. Make deatiled drawings of the planned project so to eliminate design flaws and aid in estimating building costs.

Visit your local home improvement center or hardware store and collect samples of the material you have in mind and evaluate the way they blend with your existing landscaping. Depending on whether you plan on pouring a small slab or building a brick archway, estimate the dimensions of your project as accurately as possible. This eliminates extra shopping trips. Since your using brick the local brickyard is where you’ll find the best supply of bricklayers material. They also carry the tools you are going to need.

Speaking of the tools, and to work effectively you are going to have to buy or rent some special purpose tools. I suggest that if this is a one-time project then by all means rent the tools. What follows is a suggested list of tools for doing brickwork.

Bricklayers or brickies work hard – there’s no doubt about it. If you’re averse to hard yakka, then a career as a bricklayer is not for you. If you’re interesting in starting a bricklaying apprenticeship, here are the top 5 skills you’ll need:

Must be physically fit Bricklaying like all construction jobs (unless you’re the foreman), is physically demanding. If you’re unfit, you’ll soon get found out on the job site. Bricklaying involves a lot of repetitive heavy lifting. Start getting into some cardio and strength training now to prepare your body.

Good hand and eye coordination. Building involves measuring, cutting and lining up brick work. You’ll want to have good manual dexterity. It also goes without saying your eyesight must be good too.

Can’t be afraid of heights. Working at heights, standing on ladders and scaffolding, carrying bricks and buckets of mortar requires good balance. Anyone who gets lightheaded climbing a step ladder is probably not well suited to becoming a bricklayer.

Work independently and as part of a team Starting out as an, you’ll be working as a brickies off-sider, basically mixing, lifting and doing the menial tasks as you learn. This means you need to be able to work in a team, with good communication skills. As you progress, you’ll be given jobs to complete on your own.

Good mechanical and technical aptitude

Being able to read building designs or blueprints is essential. You must be able to follow technical instructions to ensure you abide by the engineering requirements in the plans. Likewise, having a mechanical mind will help when you’re using and maintaining equipment.

If you think you have what it takes to become a bricklayer, why not give it a shot. Even if there are one or two things in that list you’re not too sure about, don’t forget you’ll learn so much on the job as part of your bricklaying apprenticeship.

Sammy Turk has been writing articles on a number or subjects including bricklaying apprenticeships. Learn how to become a bricklayer [http://www.getahead101.com/bricklaying-apprenticeships.html] today.

I’ll start off by saying that I personally love the trade. Yes it is very demanding and learning the skills is both mentally and physically tough. But the rewards are also very high. I personally did not want a desk job and wanted to work with my hands.

As a brick layer, you find yourself working with a range of building materials such as bricks, concrete blocks, sand cement, brick ties and lintells to name just a few!

The job involved planning and laying of bricks in all kinds of walls. This can be anything from simple garden walls, garages or even newly built houses or flats.

Brick layers have to work on many different types different construction site. Some brick layers make a choice to to specialize. For example some choose loft or barn conversions whilst others prefer restoration work.

When deciding whether to undertake an apprenticeship you will need to consider its demands. Brick laying is a physically hard job. You will be working with heavy materials such as bricks and blocks that weigh tonnes, so some back and leg ache is expected on a regular basis! Also brick laying is for the most part an outdoor activity that is carried out in all kinds of weather conditions so you have to make sure that this doesn’t bother you. Then there are the qualifications and training that you will need in order to be seen as a competent professional. With an NVQ Level 2 qualification and a technical certificate you can expect to start your working life on around 16,000 per year but with experience and as your skills and knowledge develop this will rise. You could perhaps even run your own projects and be your own boss!

Brick laying is also a potentially dangerous job and often includes working at height so it is very important that you listen carefully to all health and safety instructions you are given. This will allow you to work safely without causing injury to yourself or others.

I’ll start off by saying that I personally love the trade. Yes it is very demanding and learning the skills is both mentally and physically tough. But the rewards are also very high. I personally did not want a desk job and wanted to work with my hands.

As a brick layer, you find yourself working with a range of building materials such as bricks, concrete blocks, sand cement, brick ties and lintells to name just a few!

The job involved planning and laying of bricks in all kinds of walls. This can be anything from simple garden walls, garages or even newly built houses or flats.

Brick layers have to work on many different types different construction site. Some brick layers make a choice to to specialize. For example some choose loft or barn conversions whilst others prefer restoration work.

When deciding whether to undertake an apprenticeship you will need to consider its demands. Brick laying is a physically hard job. You will be working with heavy materials such as bricks and blocks that weigh tonnes, so some back and leg ache is expected on a regular basis! Also brick laying is for the most part an outdoor activity that is carried out in all kinds of weather conditions so you have to make sure that this doesn’t bother you. Then there are the qualifications and training that you will need in order to be seen as a competent professional. With an NVQ Level 2 qualification and a technical certificate you can expect to start your working life on around 16,000 per year but with experience and as your skills and knowledge develop this will rise. You could perhaps even run your own projects and be your own boss!

Brick laying is also a potentially dangerous job and often includes working at height so it is very important that you listen carefully to all health and safety instructions you are given. This will allow you to work safely without causing injury to yourself or others.