Laying brick for 22 years and finally broke 1,000 in a single day

I been a bricklayer since I was 18, working jobs all over Ohio. Last Tuesday we were on this big commercial garage job near Columbus, and I just kept going. By 4 pm I had laid 1,042 bricks by myself, which is way more than my usual 600 or 700. The foreman came over and counted just to be sure, said he hadn't seen that kind of pace in years. I think it was the mortar mix that day, it was just right, not too sticky not too dry. Has anyone else hit a big number that surprised them on a regular job?

3 comments

3 Comments

grantw3222d ago

Did you at least stop to take a victory lap around the pile of bricks or was the foreman the only one celebrating? Honestly, sounds like the mortar mix was doing half the work for you, don't get too cocky now.

milacraig21d ago

You mentioned the mortar mix doing half the work, but honestly I have to push back on that. A bad mix can ruin your whole day no matter how good you are, but it won't lay bricks straight or keep your lines level on its own. That foreman was celebrating because we had a rhythm going and the wall came out plumb and true from start to finish. Give the mortar credit sure, but don't sell the labor short either.

susan64920d ago

Honestly sounds like the mortar mix was doing half the work" - nah man, you gotta give credit where it's due. Even the best mix can't make up for bad hands or tired arms after 22 years. That pace came from skill and rhythm, not just the mortar.