Been laying brick for 8 years and just figured out I was buttering joints backwards

Was on a job last Tuesday in Columbus and my foreman stopped by to check my work. He watched me for like 2 minutes and then asked why I was buttering the head joints before the bed joints. I didnt even know there was a right order. Been doing it the same way since I apprenticed. Now I feel like an idiot but my walls are already way tighter. Anyone else find out they were doing some basic move wrong way later in their career?

2 comments

2 Comments

matthewsullivan10d ago

You ever realize how much we just copy what we see without ever asking why? I caught myself holding a hammer wrong for 15 years. Always choked up near the head for no reason. Saw a video of a carpenter swinging from the handle end and my mind blew. Its like driving with your seat too close to the wheel your whole life and not knowing theres a lever. Small thing but it makes you wonder what else youre doing stupid.

kim_martin10d ago

Man I did the EXACT same thing for about 6 years, a old timer on a commercial job finally set me straight and I felt like a total fool. But hey, at least we figured it out eventually right?