Laying a brick mailbox
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- Опубликовано: 28 май 2021
- This video is building/laying a brick mailbox from the ground up. I speak on a few pointers, however, this video is geared more toward enjoyment viewing rather than instructional. It sits on a 30 inch by 30 inch concrete slab. Using all the common masonry tools such as brick trowel, 4 foot level, 2 foot level, modular spacing ruler, mortar, modular size brick with a block core.
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/ @justinbiddix
Link to my other brick laying videos building porch steps:
• Laying a brick porch s...
• Laying a brick porch step
Are you needing advice on what masonry tools to use? Check out Marshalltown brick trowels and Crick Levels!
When you hear your dad ,uncle, or grandfather, talking about how things use to built with quality by people who took pride in what they do, this is what there talking about. Every high school senior should have to build build this exactly as he did before they get diploma .
I really appreciate this comment!
Bricklaying is not a fundamental skill to know in 2024 my dude
@@fozziclan6639 were you ever curious why your mom look so much like your dad.
Great refresher. I helped a friend build a two story chimney on my house in the 1980"s that was my first exposure to brick laying. Since then I have completed a number of Wood Stove pads and wall surrounds. My next project now is two pillars with wings for my driveway gate. Love this kind of work can’t wait to start. You are a pro, you do nice clean work.
Sounds like you have done some pretty cool projects. I hope your driveway pillar project goes well! Thanks for commenting
Looks good but is it too far back for the mail man?
Best video by far!!!
Outstanding ! this is the best video that I have seen on youtube which explains everything that you did perfectly. You have been doing this for a while. I am building one just like the one that you built. I don't think anybody else is going to hit my mail box again with their car or truck or snowplow. Thanks Justin you do brilliant and strong work like a Master bricklayer should.
Thank you for the kind words! I’m glad you enjoyed this video! Good luck to you on your mailbox
Looks pretty good. Need a install at my house
Extremely well done.
Thank you!
Thanks for sharing, outstanding job
Thank you!
Great workmanship. Very informative video. Keep up the great work.
Thank you!
That’s a good idea to put concrete blocks in the middle of the brickwork to help tie it all together and reinforce it. I know you can get hollow blocks like these in the UK from some building merchants but we most commonly use the solid dense or aerated blocks. Really lovely job from the UK!!
Thank you! I am glad you enjoyed the video.
Let me guess .Justin .. You are taken! All the good ones are. She's a lucky lady I hope she knows it.
It's a mailbox, no need for inner blocks
Great, detailed, video! My mason, put in some rebar to tie box to footing. He also bowed the top course of brick slightly so water would run off. He also said I could remove box and replace if needed by knocking out mortar around front of box.
Thanks for sharing that information!
Rebar is a big no no in masonry mailboxes.
Masonry mailboxes need to have a break away from the footer in case someone hits it.
Other bricklayers have told me horror stories about people hitting their mailbox and suing the homeowner and the mason because it was all tied together with rebar and either killed someone or injured them in the accident
@@seanschafbuch4683 someone hitting it is exactly why i want to put rebar in it. Some asshole did a nice hit and run on my wood post mailbox last night. Now I am here looking into laying one of these myself
I have never left a RUclips Comment before, but felt the need to after watching your work. Outstanding craftsmanship & style. Good explanation throughout your video. The quality of your work comes thru in the end product. Thank you for sharing. I wish you years of success.
That really means a lot to me. Thank you so much!! Kind words like this encourage me.
Maybe watch some more bricklaying vids before you think that you have seen quality.
Stu Crompton is quality
That’s some really great work, excellent idea as well. I was surprised when I read some of the comments and you said you just do jobs like this on the side, you’ve got a great level of skill and knowledge for not doing it for a living. That’s a really nice finished product and strongly built. Top stuff my man 👍
Thank you very much! I really appreciate your comment
Thank you for the informative and awsome video,. this helps give me an idea on how to build the Mausoleum for my father's remains... take care and be bless!!!
Thank you! I wish you the best of luck on your project!
Outstanding video. I am glad I found this video, since my plans are to hopefully build a brick mailbox. Thank you.
Thank you! It’s not much of a how-to video. But it still shows some valuable information. Let me know how your project goes!
I totally agree with you that one would gain some valuable information watching your video. There were many things I personally didn't know, and now, I can try to build my own brick mailbox. I will surely let you know how it goes. Thanks once again.
wonderful!! thank you! building a brick mailbox this week and had no clue where to start😂 great video!
Thanks! This video was not extremely informational but I’m sure it can be beneficial in some way. Good luck to you
Very impressive work.
I really appreciate the compliment! Thanks for watching!
Wow looks really good ! Nice work!
Thank you!
Lovely job very neat 👍
Thank you very much!
Beautiful...i love it
Good job man!
Really really nice work, great craftsmanship, alot of work done in an extremely Professional manner, great video on steps required to keep everything square and level
Thank you! I appreciate that
looks very good! I would really like to do that myself one day
Thank you!
Very nice job love it
Thank you!
Looks amazing. Wish you lived close by.
Thank you for the kind comment!
Looks good.
Awesome work!!!
Thanks!
Great job, what a steady hands you have bro.
Thank you for the kind comment!
Came out good bro great job.
Thank you!
Great video and wonderful work
Thank you very much!
Good Video! Thanks.
Thank you!
It looks like a small wood oven very solid piece of work..😎
Thank you!
That's a handsome mailbox!
I appreciate that
I went to a vocational high school and we laid brick and block for half the school day...this Italian Cat was our instructor....Tony Coppa-letta aka Mr. C.....Nice work young man...brought back memories.....one thing i suggest is " Wall Ties " every coarse of block...it literally ties the block and brick together....
Thanks! I learned in high school also. Thank you for the wall tie suggestion. I bought a box of them. I’ll use them on the next one
You did right. There’s no need for wall ties on a two foot wall with ninety degree corners every two feet making a two foot square. You already knew that though I’m sure. 😊
I always see things and wonder 'how did they do that?' This video was so interesting I admire artisans of all kinds.
Thank you for the kind comment! I admire artisans also.
Nice job man!!!
Thanks!
Also, very well put together video. 👍🧱
Thank you!
great job and great video
Thanks!
Good job, I like it
Thanks!
Great vid dude 👍🏻
Thanks!
Good job mate
Thank you
Nice work
Thank you
Beautiful
Thanks!!
Love the mushroom finish
Thank you!
Nice job! If I have to mix in a barrow mix your sand and cement first in the barrow then add water just a lil tip..
Thanks!
Wow…nice job! I want to do this myself, but it may be more than I want to take on. Lol.
Thank you! Go for it. It’s a fun project!
Lovely neat job looks the business ☘☘👍
Thank you very much!
Bro that looks amazing!! Great info in the beginning about telling what size to start off with and what size you need to stay with coming up I would’ve liked to seen how you went around the very top of the mailbox and how you did the bricks up top with the over hang? Thanks
Thanks! Next time I do a brick video I will try to include more details on how I do that offset at the top.
Props to masons, they make it look easy. When really it's not.
That’s the truth. I don’t lay brick every day. I’m generally humbled when I do. It’s tough!
Awesome dude. I want to get into this as a side hustle and maybe expand to other masonry gigs so that I can get out of shitty aviation.
Thanks! Masonry is a pretty cool skill for sure! Let me know how it goes for you. If I can answer any questions let me know.
Wussup with that crick level!? Nii Niii Niiiice
Thanks! It’s pretty nice. I used to use starrett levels. They are great also
@@JustinBiddix they make wood levels? Or aluminum?
@@dylanlaton7809 the ones I used were a combination of wood and aluminum
As someone whose new to brick laying and stuff like that, is there a specific reason behind that one layer where you stood the brick up and not just kept the pattern going? Or is it just for design purposes?
It’s is for design purpose only.
Gracias por subir tu video
De nada!
I just had a 20x20 square mailbox built last week, like the one pictured.I'm trying to locate a solar top for it. One that will fit , not just sitting one on top of it. If u have any leads, let me know. Thx
I honestly do not have any information to share with you about solar tops. Sorry about that. Thanks for watching and good luck finding a nice top for your mailbox!
Hey sir, great video. Very helpful. Do you remember about how many bags of cement you went through on this? I don't know how to estimate how many to buy. Thanks!
Thank you, about 3 or 4 (80 pound) bags of type s masonry cement. depending on how efficient you are. Maybe could get away with 3 bags. The ones I use are not pre mixed. I add my own mortar sand. The ratio I have always used is 1 part cement 3 parts sand
AWESOME...
Thank you!
Question: Isn't it a little too far from the curb for the courier to reach from the vehicle? I know some municipality only requires only 8" from the curb.
It’s a little far. The reason I set it back so far is there is a water main right in front of it. If they ever need to repair the line they can leave the mailbox in.
Looks very good. Yours is the best I’ve seen. How many bricks did you use and how much concrete and sand did it take?
Thanks! The brick can be bought in a cube or a “band/section. A cube is 500 brick. A band is 100. You will need 3 bands. For a total of 300 brick. Get about 25 solids for the cap on top. It takes about 4 bags of type s masonry cement and about a cubic yard of sand.
@@JustinBiddix I can't believe you're not a pro. Your mailbox really looked professional done, and your instructions were on point. Did you have to cut any of the bricks to fit over the top of the mail box?
Super nice mailbox!!How many bricks, cinder blocks, and bags of concrete were used in this project?
Thank you! About 300 brick, 10-12 cinder block, 3-5 bags of type s masonry cement depending on how efficient you are (you add your own mortar sand to these) - tip for buying this many brick: go to a brick yard and ask for 3 “bands or sections” of brick. Each band is about 100 brick. A whole cube of brick is about 500 brick. Purchasing by the band or cube is the way to go because they are strapped together. If you bring plastic wrap for packaging you can wrap the sections together and they can load your truck with a fork lift. If you don’t go this route then buy a set of brick tongs on Amazon. They are cheap and work great! -you may already know all of this. I just felt like writing all of this to help you or someone else out.
Great video! Only question is how many bricks did you need and how do you calculate? Thx
Thank you. This is modular size brick. I like to purchase 300 brick for a mailbox. You can get them by the “band” or “section” at a brick yard. Each band is 100 brick. A whole “cube” is 500 brick. Rule of thumb for modular size brick is 7 brick per square foot of wall. There are also some good brick calculators online. Just identify what size brick you are using and square footage of wall.
Question. What all did you mix into the cement?
Yes, so that was type S masonry cement mixed with mortar sand. Mortar sand color will vary depending on your region. Some will be white, some yellow, some darker... the ratio I always use is 3 parts sand to 1 part masonry cement.
My daddy was a brick layer when he was alive i was always his helper now i wanna do this and build boxes and my son can be my helper
Really good bossman keep up the great work thank you for taking your time to share this video with us ! Question did you reinforce it with rebar ?
Thank you! Rebar in the footer. No rebar in the mailbox.
Walking my dog I see so many of these brick mail boxes looking like the leaning tower of Pisa, I hope the foundation was very deep and anchored with rebar otherwise it will be yet another in a few years!!
That's because those mailboxes don't have a footer under them, you shouldn't tie a mailbox to the footer with rebar as code states masonry mailboxes need to be able to break away or apart if struck by a vehicle
@@seanschafbuch4683 where I live, the guy in a sharp curve kept getting his box knocked over by cars. He sunk a 5" pipe in the ground. Next person to hit it got seriously injured and he faced lawsuits and charges.
Sounds like a good mailbox
You are correct! Even though code doesn’t allow structural components, I’m not running risk and poured concrete pad with rebar, as well as embedded rebar sticking out to tie masonry/concrete together. I infilled masonry cells @ rebar locations. I added brick ties to masonry to allow connection as well. My engineering background is to blame for over design lol😂
@@el_ingeniero_87 yea I would of thrown in some ties. But I know it’s going to be fine! Beautiful work and great videos!
How did you cut the 2 curved bricks that sit on top of the front of the mailbox?
Hey, they are cut at an angle. I used a miter saw with a diamond blade to make those cuts.
Incredible video and very well done looks so nice! I’m getting ready to build one in the next couple weeks. Where did you get that mailbox insert from?
Thanks! Good luck on your project! I got this insert from Lowe’s I think or Home Depot
Super, I’ll check them out.
amazing job, I would like to ask you approximately how many bricks did you have to use for that job?
Thank you. This takes about 300 brick
Great video and informational ! Did you vote fill those blocks with gravel by chance? Also, what was the offset you used for the top cap? Thanks!
Also, did you pour that concrete slab? What would you recommend for someone that is interested in installing this?
Thanks! I did not fill the blocks with gravel. I did fill them a little bit with some left over mud. The offset is 5/8 of an inch. I did pour the slab. I usually pour a 30x30 slab at least 12 inches thick here in NC. I recommend reinforcing the slab with rebar.
@@JustinBiddix thanks for the reply man! I definitely appreciate it. Great content
@@jadekillian yeah better safe than sorry. I wouldn't want the ground to get too wet after a lot of rain and the box start to lean over. maybe over kill.. but I don't want my name to be on a leaning box.
Is it necessary to put cinde block inside of the hollow part?
It probably won’t last forever if you don’t have block inside. But you can certainly do it without block. Just make sure the footer is deep and wide. Footer is very important
Great video and nice work! Wondering what you were adding to the mortar at the beginning of the video? Looked like dirt, but maybe colored sand to get the color you wanted? Please let me know the logic of the mortar mix. Thanks!
Thanks for watching! That is mortar sand I was adding to the mortar. The color yellow is the most common mortar sand in the area I built the mailbox. That particular mortar mix I was using needed sand added. It was not a pre mixed mortar. I hope this answered your question. Let me know if not and I’ll try to further explain.
@@JustinBiddix can you buy pre mixed mortar so you don’t have to mix it? Your the first I’ve seen add sand to it so I am not sure
@@BigHomie030 yes you can buy pre mix mortar and it will certainly do the job. The reason I add my own sand is because typically pre mixed mortars have less workability and set up faster. You will have to work a bit faster with pre mix. I like the workability of the masonry cement with sand better than pre mix.
Great job and video! How long did this take you to make?
Thanks! This took me probably about 15-20 hours total including concrete foundation. I’m a slow brick layer because I don’t actually lay brick all that frequently. I have seen highly skilled masons knock something like this out in just one day.
How do you determine how much mortar to put between the brick?
The joints need to be full with no gaps or voids. It takes practice to get a feel for how much mortar to use without wasting a lot. Generally the bed joint (horizontal joints) should be 3/8 inch thick. And head joints (vertical joints) should be about 3/8 inch thick. There are codes for each area that go into detail about how thick your joints have to or need to be in particular areas of construction. A great tool to use to gauge bed joint thickness and keep them consistent is a masonry modular spacing ruler. That is what I use. For the head joints just use your finger tip as a measuring tool and try to keep the head joints full and consistent.
Great job!! Looks really good! Can you tell me how or if you mounted the mailbox or is it just sitting inside?
Thanks! I just sit the mailbox in there and mud around it.
I was wondering the same...i suppose you could anchor it if you drill in the brick before setting the upper course
Probably just sitting inside
What happens if you dont already have a concrete footing? How deep do we dig to make one
It really depends on your region. You should look up building codes and find that information. But here in NC I have been digging them about 18-24 inches thick with no problems. And it should be approximately 30x30 inches for this size mailbox.
Wow, great job! Are you a brick layer, or just the DIY type? Also, how did you go about matching the mortar color of your house?
Thanks! I am not a brick layer. I just do a few side jobs like this. I add a little bit of extra sand to help the mortar match the house.
@@JustinBiddix Not a bricklayer but you at the very least did some vocational or other training. I've been in the trade for decades and nobody works a trowel like that unless they have some time in. Looks good!
@@finders-keepers1518 thanks! I did take some high school classes on brick laying.
@@finders-keepers1518 It looks plumb and level.
Looks good dude! What's your sand/mortar/Portland (whatever you were using) ratio? What region of the country ya in?
Thanks! It’s type s masonry cement with yellow mortar sand. 3 parts sand to 1 part masonry cement. This is in western NC
@@JustinBiddix Right on! I'm in VA so probably would use similar mix
is the yellow sand you say you used the same as masonry sand from home depot for example??
It’s about 300 brick. And yes masonry sand from the Home Depot would be an equivalent to what I used
how many bricks approx did you use for this plus the blocks?
300 brick and I think about 10 or 12 block
Very beautiful, but it would be more convenient if a lamp is installed on the post, it can be used for lighting and decoration
The golf cart cracked me up! With a finished project that looks like this you are allowed to call yourself a bricklayer. I would throw some wall ties in every 16" just to keep the internet police happy.
Thanks!!
Can I ask. Are the bessa blocks in the middle necessary? Could it be done without them fine? I’ve not seen anyone place them internally like that. I’m concerned as a rookie will it be extra difficult to keep them plus the bricks all plum and level 😅
You really need the blocks. Yes, it can be done without. But they are cheap and make a huge structural difference
Hey boss, how many bricks exactly or more less did you use on this mailbox & around how much would you charge for one like this? How many days did it take? Once again thanks for the great vid
It’s about 300 brick. And 10 or 12 block. It takes me about 2 or 3 days. I’m not a very experienced mason though. Someone who does it everyday could knock it out in one day. I’d charge about $2,000 for this right now
This is awesome. You by any chance know how many bricks it took to build? Thanks for the video!
Thanks! yes its about 300 brick. You should get 3 "bands or sections" at the brick yard. They come wrapped in 100 brick a band or a whole cube is wrapped 500 brick
@@JustinBiddix appreciate that info! Thanks a ton!
Great job, about how many bricks did you use for that project?
Thanks. For a mailbox I purchase 3 “bands” or “sections” 3 bands is 300 brick.
@@JustinBiddix thank you
How much it cost in materials?
About to do it mailbox, great detail video, does your mailman walk or drive by. I have to make sure mine is on the curb so he can stay in the truck. Thanks
Thanks! The mail man drives by. The reason I set it so far back was to avoid being on top of the water main for the street. Maybe they could leave the mailbox if they ever had to make a repair on that water main.
He is still able to just put the wheel right on the curb and reach this one
I was thinking the same but makes sense with the water main.
Yes yes is very nice
Why thank you
I'm going to be using lime mortar. Will lime mortar adhere to the metal mailbox at all? If not, is the pressure from the bricks beside it and the pressure coming down from the courses on top of it enough to secure it and keep it from coming out of the brick structure?
Also, the concrete base that I poured is fast-setting quikrete. Will my type S lime mortar stick to that? Or do I need to spread thinset, and then lime mortar on top of that for my first course?
I don’t have the knowledge to answer your question confidently. I would assume you’d be fine without thin set on the footer. And probably be fine around the metal mailbox also. Again, I’m not sure. Just assuming. I’ve never used lime mortar.
You never showed us how you cut the bricks that went over and around ! How are we supposed to learn ? Did you concrete the inside of the opening as you inserted the mailbox ?
The video is more for entertainment than learning. I am sorry you couldn’t learn much! Each situation is different for how to cut the brick. Sometimes I used a chop saw with a diamond blade or a grinder with a diamond blade to make the cuts. Yes I fill the all voids solid around the mailbox as it goes into the structure
I wonder if they had to redo it since it's a foot too far from the curb?
I did not. It still stands. I put it far from the curb because there is a water main in between the curb and the mailbox. It can be repaired without ripping up the mailbox. it’s a shallow curb that the mail man can drive on very easily.
So the mail carrier has to drive up over the curb? Some are very picky, might make you redo it
Yeah. There was a water main right in front of the mailbox. I put the mailbox just behind that. But this curb is not a sharp steep curve. Very gradual. My mail carrier doesn’t mind.
I did one of those last night I think it must have been the breakfast burrito.
I hear ya!
I like how you do it.. but you have to use wall tide
Thanks!
great work ! how much does a job like this cost?
Thanks! Depending on what region you are in. In the southeast America probably looking 1,500-2000 dollars that should include everything even the concrete footer and mailbox insert
Very Nice Work!
Thank you !
Justin, what was the red powder? And what was your mix ratio?
You may be talking about the yellow mortar sand? I use 1 part masonry cement to 3 part mortar sand
@@JustinBiddix
Maybe it was yellow. 😆
I live on the West Coast and our Masonary sans is kinda dark grey
Yes it’s yellow in that particular area (western NC) I have been doing some work in South Georgia recently and the most common mortar sand here is white
How much brick should I get to build this mailbox
About 300
Yes it does. Ty
Thanks!
I'm working on mine . And it is going to take me forever with no skills in this here department. But when I'm done. .... It will be perfect to me. And I will have another hat to hang.... Your video had what I needed. . ty
About how many brick did you go through doing this
About 300
You should have built a block pier first, with wall ties. Then, lay the brick. Much stronger, and the correct way to do it.
Thanks for the advice!