c/bricklayers

Serious question, our local code now requires expansion joints every 20 feet on brick facades, and the crew is divided.

Some guys say it PREVENTS cracking from temperature swings, but others argue it just adds more seams and weak points, so what's your call?

My recent project used unverified reclaimed bricks

Many bricklayers insist on checking every brick's history. I disagree when the bricks are clearly in good condition.

My neighbor's brickwork advice ended with him in a mud puddle

I was fixing a brick step outside my house. A guy walking his dog stopped to say my joints looked uneven. He picked up a brick to show me, but his dog pulled the leash. He tripped and landed right in a fresh puddle of slurry. We both cracked up, and his dog started barking like crazy. Now he just waves from across the street.

I finally argued with my bricklayer about mortar mix on a cold morning.

Cold additives don't fix poor bonding if the brick isn't pre-warmed first.

Why did I think I could build a brick retaining wall without help?

My yard has a bad slope so I tried to fix it with bricks. Lining them up straight was tougher than I thought. The mortar would not stick right in the hot weather. I wasted a lot of mix getting the consistency wrong. Now part of the wall is crooked and needs fixing. I spend all my free time on this. I really wish I had some tips from pros.

TIL my niece's shaky hands didn't stop her from setting her first brick right...

Guiding her through the motion and seeing that brick sit level... yeah, that's a good day.

Vent: In my experience, waiting for a custom lintel to arrive took so long we built a temporary arch out of scrap wood.