Do-It-Yourself Masonry

  Bricklaying for Beginners: A Guide to Building Strong and Durable Walls Bricklaying is the process of laying bricks to build walls, chimneys, fireplaces, and other structures. This skill has been in use for thousands of years and is still widely used today. While bricklaying can seem like a daunting task for beginners, with the right tools and some practice, anyone can master this technique. Here is a step-by-step guide to get you started on your bricklaying journey. Step 1: Gather your materials Before you begin laying bricks, you will need to gather all of the necessary materials. This includes bricks, mortar, a trowel, a spirit level, a hammer, and a pointing tool. Make sure to purchase high-quality materials, as this will ensure that your walls are strong and durable. Step 2: Prepare your foundation The foundation of any brick wall must be solid and level. This means that you will need to prepare the ground by digging a trench and filling it with a concrete mix. Use a spirit leve

This image shows only part of an ambitious project a friend of mine hired me to do as part of beautification project for her backyard. The full project consisted of three patios that fanned out in a T. Imagine a patio at every end-point of the T and even one where the T intersects. Needless to say, this is one project I was glad to see come to an end, as I was getting a little older then and the amount of time I spent bent over really took a toll on my back.