24
That time a foreman told me my mortar was too wet
He said 'if it runs off your trowel like pancake batter, you're gonna have a mess in the wall' and I started mixing it stiffer, around a 3 on the slump scale, and my bricks stopped shifting overnight... anyone else had to unlearn bad habits from YouTube videos?
3 comments
Log in to join the discussion
Log In3 Comments
amy_foster792mo ago
Oh man, I learned masonry from YouTube too... let's just say my first wall looked like a wavy potato chip.
4
daniel_walker1mo ago
Did you ever go back and fix that wavy wall, or is it still standing as a monument to YouTube university? I agree with what @the_robin said about real masons not just gatekeeping. There is a ton of subtle stuff they know, like how to mix the mortar just right so it doesnt slump or how to read a level properly on uneven ground. Its one of those trades where one little mistake in the foundation just keeps multiplying as you go up.
6
the_robin2mo ago
Haha "wavy potato chip" is exactly how I'd describe my first attempt too. I was convinced real masons were just gatekeeping and that anyone could do it with enough patience. Then I tried building a retaining wall and realized there's a reason they charge what they do. YouTube makes it look way easier than it actually is.
3