a long time ago, and maybe before you were a kid, i watched local bricklayers build. they all used story poles. none of them were really conversant in English but the crews measured and marked with strings, lines, and poles. most of what they marked was in Italian. the built wonderful reliable and correctly dimensioned buildings and homes. i'm a supporter of those story poles you show and use Mike. Bring on part 2 and 3.
You are a master at working that trowel. I can only imagine how many millions of block and brick you laid. I think you mentioned laying brick at some of the office parks in western NJ. Thanks for posting and sharing your craft.
I just want to say thanks. I had some construction experience from when I was a kid but only limited block experience. I had a section of my basement wall that was buckling and with your videos and a little practice I was confident enough to take on the project. I had to restart a couple of times but got the hang of it pretty quickly. These videos took a lot of the mystery out of getting the job done properly. Cheers!
This is better than television, Mike im a heating engineer in the uk, and because work goes quiet in the summer, I turn my hand to other jobs, kitchens bathrooms etc, but I have done some building work lately to great success, I took instruction from your videos, the story pole was fantastic and allowed me to match up to the existing building, I never noticed before just how random some brickwork is and you can spoil a job if your new brickwork is to uniformed, I layed it out dry, as I do when I tile so that makes great sense to me, I wish you could see my first attempt (success) should I say. I could work with you any day, look after yourself and your future ex wife... All the best from Coventry uk
thanks Ellery, Great to hear that from you, I am glad if I can humbly pass some things on,,,, nothing like the castles in the U.K., I appreciate it. mike
Thank you. Your videos have educated me enough I feel better able to decide who to hire/not hire to do some block work for small pump housing structure. Helped me know what questions to ask about how they propose to construct it (only 5/6 courses high) but still. Also helped eliminate one someone recommended but said I only needed to lay the bottom course level on the ground. Appreciate the education very much.
Inspirational. I do framing and a little bit of everything but i was not taught like this. Now that im doing my own gigs i will work on doing things old school. Simple and efficient. Most contractors just want cheap and fast. The faster the work is done the more they pocket from the leftover budget.
We need more instructors like you. I can see that you have what a lot of people know longer have. A good work ethic and doing things the right way! Great videos!
Hi Mike My dad did layout similar to yours but when he could keep a bedjoint tight so he wouldn't have to hold the block up. He could lay block faster and use a little looser mortar. I was where you are so many times I can't remember ! Also learned to use a brickhammer never had a saw ! Love your videos ! I use lightweight block as much as I can now they cost more but I think my back is worth it!
.......not as critical to below grade block work as finished brickwork but we take care as to not "push the line". Leaving a little light in between the finished block and the line prevents "bowing" the wall. A little push here and a little push there walks the units out. Over a longer distance it is noticeable. This man Mike knows his trade and knows it well. Very good video.
you are Mike, think of all the knowledge you have dispersed in your videos.....thanks to people like you this country has built some great things. I appreciate your time in these videos
I was gonna say looked like you struggled with your back with the blocks. - They are heavy. I've watched all your videos it is amazing info. I even dared to block up my window opening after watching your videos. Buuut I messed up, turned out I made a soup of the mix, and I used all the cement so could'nt add any more cement, learned from that never use the whole bag.( or don't add too much water). But I layed it up dry and made a new mix the next day and it turned out good. - Love Your videos.
Hey, Mike. Since concrete isn't water proof, what do they do when they build a dam. Do they put some sort of rubber membrane in it? How do they keep it from freezing and cracking, like the hoover dam? Just wondering. Well, take it easy.
Hi unpicked, depending on where it is at it does freeze and crank and if they got rebar in it, it probably cracks more. Everything has a life expectancy, just like cars, thanks mike
Thanks for the kind response...the city approved 5ft in the front and 6ft on the side...the neighbors have 3ft high 8ft wide steel bar above concrete blocks with post in Between.. hope that helps thanks again..
Every time I start a task I say to myself, “you gotta lay it out dry”. The other day at work I said it out loud, and my partner said,” what are you talking about “? Lol... I love saying it.
Respected sir,(Mick Haduck) I am 60,yrs old.Just got retired from Govt. Irrigation department as civil engineer. When passed I was in private sector. Most of all I have seen your videos ,highly useful to New comers, But in India Mason's are illetrate, they work under some Mason & by experience they become Mason. Your videos teach each& every detail how to carry out the work. Thanks if they they would have been in state wise mother tongue in India. An ASIAN COUNTRY. MY
Thank Shrikant, here also it is a dying trade, everything here anymore is fast and cheap, and I know these other countries are still doing it the old-school way, in many cases it is better and last longer, Thank you for the comment, I appreciate it, Mike
Hi mike, as always, your videos are a wealth of knowledge. I have a question I hope you can provide clarity on. The required finished elevation for the top of my 3 wide block wall is not a nominal measurement (IE: 72" to the top of the block), it's 70 3/4". I am wondering if the best approach would be do as you did in this video and just remove 1 1/4" of material from the bottom 3 courses of blocks and work my way up, or alternatively to make all the bed joints a 1/4" thick as opposed to the standard 3/8" thick joint.
Hi Homer, I have done it both ways, raised the joint or cut the bottom of the block, whatever I had to do to reach the height, If I get waht your saying, thanks Mike
Takes me back to when I was a teen-ager and mixing mud for my old man. He made a trough like yours from a couple 2 X 8s for sides and a sheet of stainless steel from a place he worked for to make the bed. I used a hoe with holes in it to mix.
Hi Tremolux, I could vision that in my brain, I remember seeing those old mud pans, home made, I will be doing a video on that down the road and remember what you said, thanks mike
Hi Mark, I can't answer that, everything depends on how and why the contractor built it, it's like 6 in one hand or half dozen in the other, thanks Mike
Hi great video, I just was not sure why the fact that the chimney blocked did not go deeper, prevented pouring a new piece of slab to fill the hole. thanks much
Hi Andrew, we did not want to disturb anything around the chimney and they filled a lot of the crawlspace up with gravel so it wouldn’t push out from the side, just one to those things, Thanks Mike
Hi Mike, thanks for the video. Now when you make your story pole, do you compensate for the plaster in between when doing your dry run?. Hope you understand my question.
Thank you Mike for passing on your knowledge and tips! I learned so much from watching your videos. I do have one question. When you marked your story pole, you marked at 8 inch for each block, adding up in total 56 inches for 7 block courses. Is there any gap between each block due to the layer of wet mortar laid between them? Should the height of 7 course blocks be slightly greater than 56 inches? This same question applies to horizontal length of a block wall as well. For example, for a wall of 20 blocks, would the length of the wall be 160 inches, or slightly longer than 160 inches? Thank you!
Hi yougoog, the blocks are automatically made shorter so that with the mortar joint it adds up to a full 8 inches, sometimes you got to make the joints bigger or smaller to reach height, best thing is to lay them out dry on a board and then you know for sure, I hope it helps thanks, mike
Mike Haduck Masonry Thank you Mike for your reply! Really appreciate your answer. It helps and makes sense! You are so nice and gentle. Yes, your great tip of laying them out dry and many other tips will be remembered and followed. Thank you and have a great day!
Hi Mike, if I pour a slab, I don't need footers? I have a cinder block & cement porch. I want to add on to it. (More length away from the house.) Is that possible? And do I need footers? It's about 3 feet high. I want to add like a few feet because it barely fits 2 chairs and there's no rail--not that WE ever fell off it 😂--for future resale. Or is something like that not really diy? Thanks a lot!
Would it save time and be easier on the back and hands etc to make two plywood boxes the same dimensions as two concrete blocks to do the dry layout with?
Hello Mike Happy New year. How much do you gain on your block joints ? Is there a gain on the vertical joints and horizontal joints after you add mortar . Thank you love your show.
Happy New year ray. I try to get the footer so my joints average out to 3/8 but in the real world sometimes that got to be tighter or thicker, whatever works within reason, my opinion. Thanks mike
Mr. Haduck, when you laid out your story pole for seven courses (56" total), wouldn't you have to account for the 3/8" mortar joints per course too? So, are you measuring on the story pole 8.375" instead of just 8"? This would total 58 5/8" yes? Please advise.
Hi Dr. A concrete block is not a full 8 Inches usually 7 5/8, so with the joint it is 8 inches, lay it out dry on the story pole and you can't go wrong, thanks Mike
Hi Mike can you tell me what a mason tender is ? We've had a chat and come up with several ideas from a small wooden mallet to tenderise masons to what we call a donkey . Dave from Wales 👍
Mr Mike can I ask you a question ? Say I want to build a block building 46ft x 40ft square and 15ft tall what kind of block would need to be used and would you have to fill every block ?
hi nijosm, I got to say that block work is becoming a thing of the past, usually they put up pole barns, or steel buildings, insulate them and they are cheap compared to block, I would do some big research, with all the rules and regs they are not doing block much anymore, I hope it helps, thanks mike
Hi Lorenzo, we have laid first course on the same day the footer was laid, or at least square it off with the corners but In most cases the forms got to come off and gravel in, then the block delivered, thanks Mike
@@MikeHaduck I noticed you use your transit to keep your heights correct. I’m doing a simple 10x14 addition. Do you think I can lay it out and have decent results just using a 4ft level and water level. I know it probably won’t be as accurate as a transit or laser.
Hi mike , I live a couple hours from you in southern NY , would love to come give you a hand one day on a job to learn a few things if you would have me , thanks
I love your channel! Question, how are the new blocks bonded or attached to the fieldstone foundation? Or are the blocks just butted up against it and filled with mortar?
Hi Program, with most masonry it just gravity holding it down and the cement is just a binder, I show it on my series , how I do block work, thanks, Mike
Mike, when you trimmed that footer block with the hammer, is that the same kind of hammer that I’d use to trim stone/rock? I’m wanting to build a low stone wall in my yard.
Hi Daniel, I use what it called a brick hammer, they come in different sizes, and depending on the size of the stone I might use a smaller sledge, anything that works, I hope it helps, thanks mike
Yes, thanks Mike, helps. Hadn’t thought of a sledge. I’m using a granite from the Hollywood hillsides. Large stones from a wall in Beverly Hills that was demolished for some kill bds project. Man, I wish I lived near you. Lots of questions!
Just a quick question, I thought as a general rule you would make the footing twice as wide as the block width, any reason it is wider on this footing?
Hi Tony, if it wasn’t for the chimney problem I would’ve poured the whole thing solid, but definitely the wider the better for a few more dollars worth of concrete, thanks, Mike
Hi John, I f you want to go higher you make a binder cement joint, smaller, smaller cement joint, but you have to have a good plan before you start, thanks, mike
HI R A, no , I don;t have anyone anymore, I team up with whoever the job is, I am almost completely retired, one small job a week is usually enough, thanks mike
I’ll have that on this week some guys like to use sleeves , Other guys like to keep it solid so it all the pens on what the plumber want it thanks Mike
Mike I love your videos. Fellow vet, thank you for your service. It does not go unnoticed. Wanted to get in contact with you about concrete, how can I reach you?
Hi Latt, I appreciate it, I can,t give advice over the Internet, I show the way I do it and give my opinion , I have a email address in the about section, thanks, mike
and then people figured out time is money and mistakes = job security for later workers and builders... So the old times of doing things kind of died off, which is a good thing
HI jiro, I can't say unless I knew your area, best to do some looking around at others in your area and have a talk with the local inspector, I hope it helps, thanks mike
Hi John, you’ll see it if you look a little closer, but something to note, those old stone walls had no flooters, And they’ve been there over 100 years, thanks Mike
the sewer line repair is child-like. burying that partially repaired/replaced line is incomplete. more care should've been taken. a plumber shouldve been called in to do the work properly.
I cringed when I saw that sewer clean out. They should have used a 4” double sided cleanout. Literally 10 more bucks. A future plumber is going to be cussing them. Lol
Nice video brother. Not sure what your beliefs are regarding God, but I would like to take this opportunity to say something about eating flesh. Many animals around the world suffer horribly at the hands of meat eaters. Please consider to eliminate flesh from your diet before your time is up on this planet.
Hi the greatecb, I am not the creator, just the created, (1Timothy 4:3) has something to say about it plus all the other verses so what you do or think would be between you and the Lord. (the pot don't tell the pot maker what to do,) I don't want to get involved in that kind of discussion, after all my studies I feeI a lot more comfortable in my life,, I hope you will too, I wish you well, God bless, mike
Love your work Mike. Reminds me of my Uncle. He's been doing this for 50 years. Great information
Thanks Willie, I appreciate it, Mike
I love the right angle square from plywood so simple 💯👍
Thanks darren,, Mike
a long time ago, and maybe before you were a kid, i watched local bricklayers build.
they all used story poles. none of them were really conversant in English but the crews
measured and marked with strings, lines, and poles.
most of what they marked was in Italian.
the built wonderful reliable and correctly dimensioned buildings and homes.
i'm a supporter of those story poles you show and use Mike.
Bring on part 2 and 3.
thanks pensive, glad to hear you remember that, you are part of old school history, thanks for passing that on. mike
Love your channel Mike and I always look forward to watching your videos. Thank you for unselfishly sharing your knowledge and experience with us.
thank you Jon, I appreciate it. mike
Mike, the knowledge and details are great. My favorite videos are block and brick work. Ive learned a lot from your video's
Thanks Daniel I appreciate it, Mike
You are a master at working that trowel. I can only imagine how many millions of block and brick you laid. I think you mentioned laying brick at some of the office parks in western NJ. Thanks for posting and sharing your craft.
thanks Fillow, I appreciate it. mike
Nice work Mike...appreciate your simplicity!!!
thank you Bee, I appreciate it. mike
Thanks Mike, I'm a painter, but I'm a diy guy because I have a home. You are my go to guy when I work masonry things. Thanks for be a great teacher.
Thanks Charles, I appreciate hearing that, Mike
I just want to say thanks. I had some construction experience from when I was a kid but only limited block experience. I had a section of my basement wall that was buckling and with your videos and a little practice I was confident enough to take on the project. I had to restart a couple of times but got the hang of it pretty quickly. These videos took a lot of the mystery out of getting the job done properly. Cheers!
Thanks Andrew, I’m glad if they helped, Mike
This is better than television, Mike im a heating engineer in the uk, and because work goes quiet in the summer, I turn my hand to other jobs, kitchens bathrooms etc, but I have done some building work lately to great success, I took instruction from your videos, the story pole was fantastic and allowed me to match up to the existing building, I never noticed before just how random some brickwork is and you can spoil a job if your new brickwork is to uniformed, I layed it out dry, as I do when I tile so that makes great sense to me, I wish you could see my first attempt (success) should I say. I could work with you any day, look after yourself and your future ex wife... All the best from Coventry uk
thanks Ellery, Great to hear that from you, I am glad if I can humbly pass some things on,,,, nothing like the castles in the U.K., I appreciate it. mike
Thank you. Your videos have educated me enough I feel better able to decide who to hire/not hire to do some block work for small pump housing structure. Helped me know what questions to ask about how they propose to construct it (only 5/6 courses high) but still. Also helped eliminate one someone recommended but said I only needed to lay the bottom course level on the ground. Appreciate the education very much.
Hi Cynthia, every situation is a bit different, it dosent sound like you need a lot to cover a pump, I hope it helps, Mike's
Great vid, good explanations, clearly shown examples, well done , hats off to mike.
thanks hrxy1, I appreciate it, mike
Inspirational. I do framing and a little bit of everything but i was not taught like this. Now that im doing my own gigs i will work on doing things old school. Simple and efficient. Most contractors just want cheap and fast. The faster the work is done the more they pocket from the leftover budget.
Thanks Alex, I appreciate it, mike
We need more instructors like you. I can see that you have what a lot of people know longer have. A good work ethic and doing things the right way! Great videos!
Thanks Belin , I appreciate it, mike
Thank you for your great videos! You're providing a valuable service.
thanks, I appreciate it. mike
Always a solid foundation Mike. Always good to take the time to lay things out.
Thank you, sir, for taking the time to teach us all!!!
Thanks Victor, I appreciate it, mike
Great job. Always better to measure, measure, measure. Thank you for always putting the importance of it. Thank you again.
thanks Jamel, I appreciate it. mike
Wish I had seen this video before I hired someone to do my block work. Great video! Thanks for sharing.
Thanks Luis, mike
Love your videos.
Thanks Mark, Mike
Love the videos!! Look forward to the next.✌
GO Bricklaying Thanks Go IAppreciate it Mike
Hi Mike
My dad did layout similar to yours but when he could keep a bedjoint tight so he wouldn't have to hold the block up. He could lay block faster and use a little looser mortar. I was where you are so many times I can't remember ! Also learned to use a brickhammer never had a saw ! Love your videos ! I use lightweight block as much as I can now they cost more but I think my back is worth it!
Thanks Jeff, it is nice to hear that, mike
Excellent video mike . Looking forward to the rest .
Thanks bric, Mike
.......not as critical to below grade block work as finished brickwork but we take care as to not "push the line". Leaving a little light in between the finished block and the line prevents "bowing" the wall. A little push here and a little push there walks the units out. Over a longer distance it is noticeable. This man Mike knows his trade and knows it well. Very good video.
Thanks Dan, mike
WoW thanks Mike! A lot of work,, always lay it out dry your RIGHT and the best thanks again!
Thanks col, Mike
¡Muy appeprecios, Senior Haddock!
Thanks Gypsy, Mike
Thank you for your service Mike!
Would also like to say Thank You for your Service.
thanks Rhonda, I appreciate it. mike
thanks RIck, I appreciate it. mike
Always a very interesting video, I always pick up a little something. 👍🏻
thanks robert, I appreciate it. mike
Excellent. Very helpful. Thanks.
Thanks, Mike
You make us Veterans proud sir!
Thanks Jose, mike
Real nice Mike. I’ll be doing some brick and block work soon. Thanks for the pointers. That will help. Appreciated.
Vic
thanks Vic, I appreciate it. mike
Mike....you are a great American
Hi neck, I hope, Mike
you are Mike, think of all the knowledge you have dispersed in your videos.....thanks to people like you this country has built some great things. I appreciate your time in these videos
I was gonna say looked like you struggled with your back with the blocks. - They are heavy. I've watched all your videos it is amazing info. I even dared to block up my window opening after watching your videos. Buuut I messed up, turned out I made a soup of the mix, and I used all the cement so could'nt add any more cement, learned from that never use the whole bag.( or don't add too much water). But I layed it up dry and made a new mix the next day and it turned out good. - Love Your videos.
thanks Thunder, I am glad it worked out, I appreciate it. mike
Great as always
Thanks Tofomy, I appreciate it Mike
Videos are great educational pieces, would be great to see you do a slip form wall
Hi Ronald, I Really don’t know much about that, never used it, but I’m sure it works, thanks Mike
Master work
Thanks Louis as always I appreciate it Mike
Mike love ur videos.. im in the trade as well.. you remind .me so much of .my dad.. hes always sayin ( beautiful ...) love ur work
Hi 1986, I get a lot of comments like this, a lot of old-timers were in the masonry tray, thanks Mike
Love how you have clamps holding down the canopy on your Ute mate :)
thanks Duke, I appreciate it. mike
Great video
thank you jiro, I appreciate it. mike
Another great teaching video.
I'm glad to see your style, it's awesome!
....13
I always appreciate it. thanks 13, mike
Hey, Mike. Since concrete isn't water proof, what do they do when they build a dam. Do they put some sort of rubber membrane in it? How do they keep it from freezing and cracking, like the hoover dam? Just wondering.
Well, take it easy.
Hi unpicked, depending on where it is at it does freeze and crank and if they got rebar in it, it probably cracks more. Everything has a life expectancy, just like cars, thanks mike
@@MikeHaduck Thanks, man.
Thanks for the kind response...the city approved 5ft in the front and 6ft on the side...the neighbors have 3ft high 8ft wide steel bar above concrete blocks with post in Between.. hope that helps thanks again..
Every time I start a task I say to myself, “you gotta lay it out dry”. The other day at work I said it out loud, and my partner said,” what are you talking about “? Lol... I love saying it.
BitHead1000 Thanks I appreciate it it is a great policy thanks Mike
Nice to see a Komatsu working.
Steven Sexton Thanks Stephen they seem to be a popular machine Mike
Respected sir,(Mick Haduck)
I am 60,yrs old.Just got retired from Govt. Irrigation department as civil engineer. When passed I was in private sector.
Most of all I have seen your videos ,highly useful to New comers, But in India Mason's are illetrate, they work under some Mason & by experience they become Mason. Your videos teach each& every detail how to carry out the work. Thanks if they they would have been in state wise mother tongue in India. An ASIAN COUNTRY. MY
Thank Shrikant, here also it is a dying trade, everything here anymore is fast and cheap, and I know these other countries are still doing it the old-school way, in many cases it is better and last longer, Thank you for the comment, I appreciate it, Mike
Hi mike, as always, your videos are a wealth of knowledge. I have a question I hope you can provide clarity on. The required finished elevation for the top of my 3 wide block wall is not a nominal measurement (IE: 72" to the top of the block), it's 70 3/4". I am wondering if the best approach would be do as you did in this video and just remove 1 1/4" of material from the bottom 3 courses of blocks and work my way up, or alternatively to make all the bed joints a 1/4" thick as opposed to the standard 3/8" thick joint.
Hi Homer, I have done it both ways, raised the joint or cut the bottom of the block, whatever I had to do to reach the height, If I get waht your saying, thanks Mike
Thanks mike 👍🏼
thank you Andy, mike
Takes me back to when I was a teen-ager and mixing mud for my old man. He made a trough like yours from a couple 2 X 8s for sides and a sheet of stainless steel from a place he worked for to make the bed. I used a hoe with holes in it to mix.
Hi Tremolux, I could vision that in my brain, I remember seeing those old mud pans, home made, I will be doing a video on that down the road and remember what you said, thanks mike
Great tip at 8.32...thanks
Thanks Lou, mike
awesome.
Thanks ,Mike
Mike should my buyer only look at houses that have poured concrete walls or is cinder block acceptable
Hi Mark, I can't answer that, everything depends on how and why the contractor built it, it's like 6 in one hand or half dozen in the other, thanks Mike
Hi great video, I just was not sure why the fact that the chimney blocked did not go deeper, prevented pouring a new piece of slab to fill the hole. thanks much
Hi Andrew, we did not want to disturb anything around the chimney and they filled a lot of the crawlspace up with gravel so it wouldn’t push out from the side, just one to those things, Thanks Mike
Hi Mike, thanks for the video. Now when you make your story pole, do you compensate for the plaster in between when doing your dry run?. Hope you understand my question.
Hi Reggie, yes I do, I try to compensate for everything and make sure the carpenter agrees, thanks mike
Hey Mike. Cant get enough of these videos ...I watch them over and over! how long did you wait for the footer to cure before you can start block work?
Hi Brian, some contractors wait a couple days because of shrinkage, but everybody looks at it differently, thanks Mike
Thank you Mike for passing on your knowledge and tips! I learned so much from watching your videos. I do have one question. When you marked your story pole, you marked at 8 inch for each block, adding up in total 56 inches for 7 block courses. Is there any gap between each block due to the layer of wet mortar laid between them? Should the height of 7 course blocks be slightly greater than 56 inches? This same question applies to horizontal length of a block wall as well. For example, for a wall of 20 blocks, would the length of the wall be 160 inches, or slightly longer than 160 inches? Thank you!
Hi yougoog, the blocks are automatically made shorter so that with the mortar joint it adds up to a full 8 inches, sometimes you got to make the joints bigger or smaller to reach height, best thing is to lay them out dry on a board and then you know for sure, I hope it helps thanks, mike
Mike Haduck Masonry Thank you Mike for your reply! Really appreciate your answer. It helps and makes sense! You are so nice and gentle. Yes, your great tip of laying them out dry and many other tips will be remembered and followed. Thank you and have a great day!
Mike, I am in central Florida. I want to pour 5 step concrete stairs and wing walls. Any idea what kind of footings I will need ?
Hi Titus, I can't say, I don't know the codes in that area, I would ask the locals, thanks Mike
Hi Mike, if I pour a slab, I don't need footers? I have a cinder block & cement porch. I want to add on to it. (More length away from the house.) Is that possible? And do I need footers? It's about 3 feet high. I want to add like a few feet because it barely fits 2 chairs and there's no rail--not that WE ever fell off it 😂--for future resale. Or is something like that not really diy? Thanks a lot!
Hi Salty, I can't say unless I was there to see it, I would ask some of the locals and go from there, thanks Mike
gotta love haduck the best.
p.s. you got crazy anti meat types now
Thanks just another day in paradise LOL Mike
Would it save time and be easier on the back and hands etc to make two plywood boxes the same dimensions as two concrete blocks to do the dry layout with?
Hi JWB. The less things on the job, the better,I like to keep it simple and use what I got, if that makes sense, thanks Mike
Be blessed
thanks jirojoseph. mike
Hello Mike Happy New year. How much do you gain on your block joints ? Is there a gain on the vertical joints and horizontal joints after you add mortar . Thank you love your show.
Happy New year ray. I try to get the footer so my joints average out to 3/8 but in the real world sometimes that got to be tighter or thicker, whatever works within reason, my opinion. Thanks mike
Those orange covers for the rebar. Is that code or just good idea?
Hi Mark, common sense more than a code, I been poked before, thanks Mike
Do you have a video of the material cost and how you go about making a diagram of the project. Thanks I’m advance
Hi, I don't, but usually it's the contractor who comes up with all that. The excavator and myself was separate, thanks mike
Love your videos.
Thank you
Hey how come you don’t wet the blocks first?
Hi Preston. , straight blockwork or brick work you don’t because it will make a mess, thanks, mike
Mr. Haduck, when you laid out your story pole for seven courses (56" total), wouldn't you have to account for the 3/8" mortar joints per course too? So, are you measuring on the story pole 8.375" instead of just 8"? This would total 58 5/8" yes? Please advise.
Hi Dr. A concrete block is not a full 8 Inches usually 7 5/8, so with the joint it is 8 inches, lay it out dry on the story pole and you can't go wrong, thanks Mike
Hi Mike can you tell me what a mason tender is ? We've had a chat and come up with several ideas from a small wooden mallet to tenderise masons to what we call a donkey . Dave from Wales 👍
Hi Dave, around these parts it was always a masons helper, someone who mixed the cement and carried the brick, thanks, mike
@@MikeHaduck ah thanks Mike a donkey around here 😂 Dave from Wales 👍
Mr Mike can I ask you a question ? Say I want to build a block building 46ft x 40ft square and 15ft tall what kind of block would need to be used and would you have to fill every block ?
hi nijosm, I got to say that block work is becoming a thing of the past, usually they put up pole barns, or steel buildings, insulate them and they are cheap compared to block, I would do some big research, with all the rules and regs they are not doing block much anymore, I hope it helps, thanks mike
So is it ok to start laying block before the footer is Dry, I saw you drive the rebar in and start laying. Or was there a delay in there?
Hi Lorenzo, we have laid first course on the same day the footer was laid, or at least square it off with the corners but In most cases the forms got to come off and gravel in, then the block delivered, thanks Mike
@@MikeHaduck I noticed you use your transit to keep your heights correct. I’m doing a simple 10x14 addition. Do you think I can lay it out and have decent results just using a 4ft level and water level. I know it probably won’t be as accurate as a transit or laser.
Hi mike , I live a couple hours from you in southern NY , would love to come give you a hand one day on a job to learn a few things if you would have me , thanks
Josh Brennan, nothing like learning from a master. Hope you do get the opportunity.
Hi Josh, thanks for the kind words, If anything arises I would let you know, thanks mike
thanks Daniel, just passing along what I leaned from the old timers , thanks mike
Hi Chris, thanks, too bad the world is so big, lol, mike
Sounds great mike thank you
Question the sewer line that you replace is a PVC pipe or ABS?
Hi Fanian, I do not what he used but I think abs is black and pvc is white, thanks, mike
Mike, those are some heavy block; no need for you to visit the gym, you’re “there” every day! Pleasure to watch a pro working!
Hi Daniel, no more block work for me, It almost killed me, lol, mike
I love your channel! Question, how are the new blocks bonded or attached to the fieldstone foundation? Or are the blocks just butted up against it and filled with mortar?
Hi Program, with most masonry it just gravity holding it down and the cement is just a binder, I show it on my series , how I do block work, thanks, Mike
Mike, when you trimmed that footer block with the hammer, is that the same kind of hammer that I’d use to trim stone/rock? I’m wanting to build a low stone wall in my yard.
Hi Daniel, I use what it called a brick hammer, they come in different sizes, and depending on the size of the stone I might use a smaller sledge, anything that works, I hope it helps, thanks mike
Yes, thanks Mike, helps. Hadn’t thought of a sledge. I’m using a granite from the Hollywood hillsides. Large stones from a wall in Beverly Hills that was demolished for some kill bds project. Man, I wish I lived near you. Lots of questions!
Just a quick question, I thought as a general rule you would make the footing twice as wide as the block width, any reason it is wider on this footing?
Hi Tony, if it wasn’t for the chimney problem I would’ve poured the whole thing solid, but definitely the wider the better for a few more dollars worth of concrete, thanks, Mike
Why no vertical rebar tying the block to the footer?
There is, every four feet, thanks Mike
how do you figure the distance of the space between blocks for the story pole?
Hi John, I f you want to go higher you make a binder cement joint, smaller, smaller cement joint, but you have to have a good plan before you start, thanks, mike
interesting!
Thanks sHe, Mike
Thanks for the video Mike. Do you have a laborer or do
You usually work alone. I almost always work alone.
HI R A, no , I don;t have anyone anymore, I team up with whoever the job is, I am almost completely retired, one small job a week is usually enough, thanks mike
You are a cool cat. I'm sure we would be buddies if you lived in my area.
I am interested in how you are going to go around that sewer pipe.
I’ll have that on this week some guys like to use sleeves , Other guys like to keep it solid so it all the pens on what the plumber want it thanks Mike
Mike I love your videos. Fellow vet, thank you for your service. It does not go unnoticed. Wanted to get in contact with you about concrete, how can I reach you?
Hi Latt, I appreciate it, I can,t give advice over the Internet, I show the way I do it and give my opinion , I have a email address in the about section, thanks, mike
and then people figured out time is money and mistakes = job security for later workers and builders... So the old times of doing things kind of died off, which is a good thing
Thanks for the comment, mike
Hoping a how to video on a block wall... sidewalk will be covered by the block...how deep Will I go thx
HI jiro, I can't say unless I knew your area, best to do some looking around at others in your area and have a talk with the local inspector, I hope it helps, thanks mike
No rebar in the footer? Was this skipped in the video?
Hi John, you’ll see it if you look a little closer, but something to note, those old stone walls had no flooters, And they’ve been there over 100 years, thanks Mike
How old was the house? Looked like an old foundation.
Hi Jim, I bet the 1920s. Thanks mike
My scale ruler melted the same way, think I spilled a solvent on it while enroute to a job.
Hi James, I had a couple do that,, mike
the corner to corner measurement can be wrong too, might end up with a rhombus.
Hi Jonathan, I never had a problem yet, thank God, Mike
Cement or mortar
Hi Al, sometimes a mixture of both for block, thanks Mike
the sewer line repair is child-like. burying that partially repaired/replaced line is incomplete. more care should've been taken. a plumber shouldve been called in to do the work properly.
Hi Fred, the plumber who been doing this over fifty years was the one who wanted it that way, thanks Mike
😵💫🤯
Thanks, Mike
How about of drenaje
Hi Raymond, unless there is light at the end of the run or you can connect it on the old, the inspector says no, thanks mike
I cringed when I saw that sewer clean out. They should have used a 4” double sided cleanout. Literally 10 more bucks. A future plumber is going to be cussing them. Lol
Thanks Michael, mike
When are you retiring? This is backbreaking work, your no spring chicken
Hi Michael, for sure that was my last block job, I couldn’t bend over for three days, thanks Mike
“I didn’t think laying blocks would be bad on my back” really?
Hi Wayne, yes really, Mike
Nice video brother. Not sure what your beliefs are regarding God, but I would like to take this opportunity to say something about eating flesh. Many animals around the world suffer horribly at the hands of meat eaters. Please consider to eliminate flesh from your diet before your time is up on this planet.
God ate fish while he was here on earth (Luke 24:42-43). God cannot sin nor can he be tempted with evil (James 1:13).
Hi the greatecb, I am not the creator, just the created, (1Timothy 4:3) has something to say about it plus all the other verses so what you do or think would be between you and the Lord. (the pot don't tell the pot maker what to do,) I don't want to get involved in that kind of discussion, after all my studies I feeI a lot more comfortable in my life,, I hope you will too, I wish you well, God bless, mike