Masonry in the winter is just miserable, been doing it for 30 years. You’re exactly right about building tents and running heat and the extra cost that accompanies winter jobs . Good luck , the worst part is thinking about it, it’s not so bad once you’re up and running.
My dad started in California and out there with earthquakes they did fill a lot of work solid. In the 60s they moved to Missouri after I was born and when I got into it we always ran commons around the flue. Weep joints in walls and we never had a freeze problem. Some guys even just balanced flue tile one on top of another and nothing else. Our biggest problem doing the type of projects you take, the mortar has too much sand and its soft. Some jobs the stack will be leaning so bad we wont put scaffolding near it, we get on the roof an push. Everything is fast pace now and time is money, no good materials and people bitch about the price. I'm 58 and this is probably my last year if the Socialists don't get voted out and prices don't go back down.
Oh, I know the feeling of working in the cold. I have cows that scream at me for being late to the barn due to me hating the cold, and the hatred of cold gets worse with age.
Chad, I've been at it a little over 10 years at this point. Not quite 33 and I already despise working in the cold. Good attitude usually lasts til Xmas give or take. I'm blessed to have work at all this time of year, but it's snapping cold here in Northern NJ this week and I am PUMPED for a few days of downtime. Get the rest when you can
I recently completed a chimney with a swb brick and was shocked by the quality. I haven’t used them in several years but don’t remember having to buy a hundred extra and sort through them. I enjoy your videos very much
Laid thousands of the old style SWB , new ones are garbage . Corners on them are out of square, length varies 3/8” so bond is not very nice either. We had a nice brick for many years , time to search out another.
Question? Why do Americans put the brickwork on the outside of the building? I have an old Victorian-built brick house in the UK and my stack is used by 5 fireplaces and is in the centre of the house to share the thermal mass stored heat throughout the house. Most of the homes around me are like this. Is it just a build fashion? or is there some design feature I am missing? Keeping water out. Check out the British chimney stack, pot stack caps. They work great and are not that expensive. Very easy to install and I think they look good.
When fireplaces were used as a primary heat source, they were mostly built in the center of the house with many fireplaces on one chimney. Now, everyone wants open concept living, so they push them to an exterior wall. Then, all the energy audit nerds scream about how inefficient masonry fireplaces are. 🤦
@@chadvaillancourt Oh, I see. No. worries, I just wanted to know if there was a local reason for the design. You guys do build your homes very differently from us. But, The living space is important and I get why having it on the outside wall would appeal. I guess when my old place was built fuel costs and maximising efficiency were very much a real issue to most people. Thank god we don't live in the 1800s eh. Although if fuel prices keep going the way they are we might be back in that situation very soon here in the UK.
What would cause a chimeny brick to pop it's "face" off? Had the top of our chimeny rebuilt 2 years ago and now about 20 bricks have litteraly popped 1/2 inch into the brick leaving the rest of the brick still in the chimeny. Mason says sometimes it happens, not his fault!!!
I sensed the frustration in your voice. I believe over the years that it just builds up and a fellar has just had enough! Too many people are inconsiderate of others for one thing! I feel your frustration is very much warranted. I'm older than you but with my occupation I so got tired of people to where I hated my job. With that said, I have a question. Why do they now have so many holes or any holes in the brick? I would think brick would be better if they were solid but I'm sure there's a reason for it, right? Or is it just cheaper to make?
They probably started making brick with holes to produce them faster and to be cheaper on freight. Cored brick do lay easier than solid brick, and it's a lot harder to break the bond because the mortar holds them in place. Personally, I haven't seen any evidence that they are inferior to soldid brick. Solid brick decay in the same way as cored brick when chimneys are improperly built and neglected.
Haha I get bitter working on chimneys here in Florida during the summer months. How about you come work with me in the winter and I'll come up there for the summer 😆
What’s your mix bro I’m a mason and I’m always trying to learn from other masons and I can tell you definitely know your shit. Hope you’re having a great day. Keep up the great work
@@chadvaillancourt that’s cool man nothing wrong with that! Plus this time of year keeping your sand from freezing can be a job so premix is definitely easier. Keep up the great work Bro
Fewer and fewer guys are willing to work in winter weather. Maybe some guys without papers. Full props to you for being out there, representing the best of a craft. You want to have a laugh, try looking for Russian brickwork on the internet. The sloppiest stuff you can imagine. Poor sobs in the gulag had to try to meet the quota whatever the weather, wearing rags and living on potato soup.
You're explanation is appreciated. People have no idea.. hopefully they will listen to your professional opinion.
Thank you again for sharing 🙏
Educational and good practice.
Masonry in the winter is just miserable, been doing it for 30 years. You’re exactly right about building tents and running heat and the extra cost that accompanies winter jobs . Good luck , the worst part is thinking about it, it’s not so bad once you’re up and running.
You do a great job 👏 really thoughtful in your work. Such a shame there’s not more like this
My dad started in California and out there with earthquakes they did fill a lot of work solid. In the 60s they moved to Missouri after I was born and when I got into it we always ran commons around the flue. Weep joints in walls and we never had a freeze problem. Some guys even just balanced flue tile one on top of another and nothing else. Our biggest problem doing the type of projects you take, the mortar has too much sand and its soft. Some jobs the stack will be leaning so bad we wont put scaffolding near it, we get on the roof an push. Everything is fast pace now and time is money, no good materials and people bitch about the price. I'm 58 and this is probably my last year if the Socialists don't get voted out and prices don't go back down.
Great video...thanks chad
Oh, I know the feeling of working in the cold. I have cows that scream at me for being late to the barn due to me hating the cold, and the hatred of cold gets worse with age.
Chad, I've been at it a little over 10 years at this point. Not quite 33 and I already despise working in the cold. Good attitude usually lasts til Xmas give or take. I'm blessed to have work at all this time of year, but it's snapping cold here in Northern NJ this week and I am PUMPED for a few days of downtime. Get the rest when you can
I recently completed a chimney with a swb brick and was shocked by the quality. I haven’t used them in several years but don’t remember having to buy a hundred extra and sort through them. I enjoy your videos very much
It's a shame. They were decent brick, and now they're straight garbage since Glen-Gery started making them.
Laid thousands of the old style SWB , new ones are garbage . Corners on them are out of square, length varies 3/8” so bond is not very nice either. We had a nice brick for many years , time to search out another.
wow the quality of the new brick is disgusting...come on people how can you put out a product like that!
Question? Why do Americans put the brickwork on the outside of the building?
I have an old Victorian-built brick house in the UK and my stack is used by 5 fireplaces and is in the centre of the house to share the thermal mass stored heat throughout the house.
Most of the homes around me are like this.
Is it just a build fashion? or is there some design feature I am missing?
Keeping water out. Check out the British chimney stack, pot stack caps. They work great and are not that expensive. Very easy to install and I think they look good.
When fireplaces were used as a primary heat source, they were mostly built in the center of the house with many fireplaces on one chimney. Now, everyone wants open concept living, so they push them to an exterior wall. Then, all the energy audit nerds scream about how inefficient masonry fireplaces are. 🤦
@@chadvaillancourt Oh, I see.
No. worries, I just wanted to know if there was a local reason for the design.
You guys do build your homes very differently from us.
But, The living space is important and I get why having it on the outside wall would appeal.
I guess when my old place was built fuel costs and maximising efficiency were very much a real issue to most people.
Thank god we don't live in the 1800s eh.
Although if fuel prices keep going the way they are we might be back in that situation very soon here in the UK.
What would be a softer mortar you would recommend? Love the videos I’m learning a lot keep them coming!
Type N is the softest and easiest to find. I would love to get my hands on some quick lime like the old timers got to use.
What would cause a chimeny brick to pop it's "face" off? Had the top of our chimeny rebuilt 2 years ago and now about 20 bricks have litteraly popped 1/2 inch into the brick leaving the rest of the brick still in the chimeny. Mason says sometimes it happens, not his fault!!!
The old bricks have been there since 1973 when the house was built, a bit raggedy but still just fine. Glad we did not do the whole thing.
Tent and heat the job , here in Colorado every year we do it , pain in butt but , have to get done my dude , feel me ?
I sensed the frustration in your voice. I believe over the years that it just builds up and a fellar has just had enough! Too many people are inconsiderate of others for one thing! I feel your frustration is very much warranted. I'm older than you but with my occupation I so got tired of people to where I hated my job. With that said, I have a question. Why do they now have so many holes or any holes in the brick? I would think brick would be better if they were solid but I'm sure there's a reason for it, right? Or is it just cheaper to make?
They probably started making brick with holes to produce them faster and to be cheaper on freight. Cored brick do lay easier than solid brick, and it's a lot harder to break the bond because the mortar holds them in place. Personally, I haven't seen any evidence that they are inferior to soldid brick. Solid brick decay in the same way as cored brick when chimneys are improperly built and neglected.
@@chadvaillancourt Thx of the info!
Haha I get bitter working on chimneys here in Florida during the summer months. How about you come work with me in the winter and I'll come up there for the summer 😆
I couldn't imagine Florida in the summer... Must be hell.
Haha about as crappy as the freezing conditions up north in the winter. Great vids brother keep them coming.
What’s your mix bro I’m a mason and I’m always trying to learn from other masons and I can tell you definitely know your shit. Hope you’re having a great day. Keep up the great work
I'm just using Spec mix type N premix on this one. As far as premix goes, it's probably the best I've used.
@@chadvaillancourt that’s cool man nothing wrong with that! Plus this time of year keeping your sand from freezing can be a job so premix is definitely easier. Keep up the great work
Bro
Walk straight up so don’t have to cut it
Can’t you get away with one layer of brick and 1” layer of refractory mortar in the smoke chamber?
You should be able to as long as you use a product that has been listed to zero clearance by UL. The inspector may have a hard time with it.
Fewer and fewer guys are willing to work in winter weather. Maybe some guys without papers. Full props to you for being out there, representing the best of a craft. You want to have a laugh, try looking for Russian brickwork on the internet. The sloppiest stuff you can imagine. Poor sobs in the gulag had to try to meet the quota whatever the weather, wearing rags and living on potato soup.