My old boss always said hand mixing lets you judge the texture just right. Last week, the crew brought in a mixer to beat the deadline. It saved a ton of time, but the mix seemed off to me. Some guys argue time is money, while my gut says stick with hands. What's your vote on this?
The local sand mix there is way too coarse for mortar. Had to redo a whole section because it kept crumbling.
This quick step helps me work faster and keeps my tools in good shape.
I figured cleaning my trowel at the end of the week saved time. Then, dried mortar stuck so hard it took forever to scrape off. That messy job pushed me to clean tools after each use. Now, my gear stays in much better shape. It's a simple shift that really helps.
Took us all Saturday. Figured out the old mortar recipe. Kids love the pizza now.
I used to lay bricks too fast, so my lines were off. Now I use a story pole to keep each course level. It's a simple fix that prevents headaches.
My son is helping me build a brick patio in our yard. I let him have fun and learn at his own pace, but my wife says I should push him to do it right. What's the best way to teach family without starting fights?
I was adding a small brick wall around my garden pond for looks. Got carried away and made it too tall without proper support. A heavy rain came, and half the bricks slid right into the water. Now I have a makeshift fish hideout and a lot of cleanup. Funny how things go sideways sometimes, lmao.