The demand for bricklayers is on the rise. That means if you want to be part of this flouring industry and get a job, you should be able to deliver quality to your clients. As a bricklayer, it is not all about laying the bricks but doing your work as a professional.
Experts will advise that you take a bricklaying course from a recognized institution in the industry and gain the required skills before you can apply for a bricklaying job. If you choose to learn while at work, these are some of the tips you can employ to make your work more accessible as a bricklayer.
1 – Stay focused
How fast you can lay bricks matters a lot; it determines how long it takes to complete the project. When watching a bricklayer, you will realize they don’t seem to be moving fast, but they seem to have covered a lot at the end of the day.
Well, it is not about how fast you are but keeping up with the rhythm at work. Therefore, you should focus on gaining a movement pattern and then refine the movements to build on speed. Keep your mind on the task, and you’ll get the pace.
2 – Lay the brick on the lane
Laying the brick on the lane is essential to keep it in position. Use your palm and fingers to put some pressure to rub the brick down the lane.
You should avoid using your handle or trowel to tap on the brick and put it into position. Doing this will wear down the towel, and It is faster to use your hand to lay some pressure on the brick.
3 – Cut excess mortar
Having excess mortar between the bricks makes your work look untidy at the end. While you lay the bricks down the line, you should keep the trowel in the correct position so you can cut the excess mortar and just keep it there.
This technique gives the bottom of the brick just to be laid against. You should now cut off the excess mortar when the brick is in the correct position. By doing this, you avoid smearing mortar on the face of the brick.
4 – Spreading the mortar
For a beginner in bricklaying, spreading the mortar is not that easy. You can follow the below steps if you want to learn how to apply mortar correctly when bricklaying.
- Pick the right size of mortar on the trowel; an amount you are comfortable with. The more you practice doing this, the more you can pick the correct amount.
- Spread a layer of mortar on the area you intend to lay the brick.
- Trim the excess mortar from both sides of the spread. You can use this excess mortar to extend the spread to other areas.
5 – Furrow the mortar bed
Furrowing is a process of running the trowel through the bed to create a cavity in the middle. You can do this in two ways. One is to keep the trowel in line with the bricks, lift it to the line, and then press it down.
The other way is holding the trowel perpendicularly to the brick underneath the string line and then using the trowel tip to furrow. The second method is the simplest because it is fast and more straightforward.
Final Thoughts
When laying bricks, you want to have the right tools and supplies. If you lack these two, doing a great job won’t be easy. You should also know how to mix the mortar not to compromise the result.
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