you treat your customers really great Mike. they probably appreciate you checking back in six months or a year, you really care about the quality of your work and it shows.
Good tradesmen do check back on their work. It's your work that makes your reputation. Word of mouth of happy customers sells jobs. Your customers talk to friends who need work done and the're the ones that sell your reputation.
Thank you Mike for Sharing your Experience! I am a Visual Learner..so Watching you Really helps me A lot! I am not in this trade.. but I find it very interesting to watch u at your Art as a Mason ⚒⛏🔨👍🏼👏🏼👏🏼😀
Great video Mike, have watched many of your videos. Good tradesman are few and far between here in England. Makes me wonder where we will end up without people like you to pass on the knowledge in the future.
Hi again Mike, I meant to say; Today, there are few trademan in England like you now. We have some great buildings from years ago but it seems we are losing the passion to do an outstanding job and all it seems about is Money. Is it the same in America
Hey Mike! I hope your doing well. You are an SME/Badass when it comes to this stuff. I saw maybe 15+videos of you doing work. I got a really good understanding on how to fix my stairs. I just hope I don't botch the job since I'm watching videos and winging it.
Love the steps and wall videos. I just built my first wood stove fireplace in my house with the help of your videos. It came out amazing. Thank you. A request out of left field... please any knowledge of 13th-15th century architecture. Cheers!
HI ALement, I have a video called "Limestone caps, carving and Plaining (Tomassitti stone company) Mike haduck" the books at the end of the video will say a lot, I hope it helps, thanks mike
Sorry Mike I am a repeat offender of putting the tread stone under the step to prevent the tread from tilting or moving. It also prevents me from making a mortar joint along the tread. Seems like contractors here in Tennessee don't like that look. I love your videos they give me motivation every morning before I head off to the job. 33 years in this masonry business and learning every day. Stay level.my friend
Thanks Charles, anything that works, it's 6 in one hand or half dozen in the other, no right or wrong way as long as it works, it's good to hear from professionals, thanks Mike
Mike first off I want to say I respect you dearly. You are truly a legend in mason work and I love your videos and stories you tell. Keep them going. Mike I have brick that matches my house and I want to build a raised planter about approximately 13ft by 5ft. I was thinking of digging a foundation of two to three feet deep, throwing gravel down, then pouring concrete in it then using cinder blocks on top and then using the brick along side of the cider block and then use limestone on top as a cap? I live in North Jersey. Total height will exceed three feet high. Your thoughts. I need some expert advise. Thanks again.
Hi Maddog, It sound like you are on the right track as far a building but, I seen the frost push those planters and a lot of termite issues because of them, I have tore a lot down, I seen some put styrofoam on the inside but they are iffy, I hope it make sense, thanks mike
Hi Belin, every job is a bit different, I would say do a little more research and think it out, usually the whole Imestone threads are sold at brick supply and masonry supply companies and most will cut it to size, I hope it helps, mike
I have a expansion joint that is 2 inches deep. by an inch wide. I know I can fill it with cement. Trying to get snow out of it, is hard. Luckily that thawing and freezing hadn't caused any cracking. Can I use backer rod and then something like Sika(or however you spell it)? Will that affect the way the joint is supposed to work? I just think the joint is ugly.
Hi baal, I would say it all depends on the situation, I can only show what I use on each and every job, and every job is different, I hope it helps, thanks mike
Hi Gabe, I wouldn’t know until I actually got to the problem, but more than likely I would leave it there and pour a new one right on top, everything depends, thanks mike
Mike - You didn't show how you attached the iron railing to keep it from expanding and breaking the concrete or stone. In western Oregon, it freezes, but not like in Pennsylvania. The issues here are rain, rust and hot summers. I've seen many iron railings here with a plate welded to the bottom, then secured with nuts to threaded rods or bolts embedded in the concrete. The smaller diameter rods don't seem to crack the concrete. There's probably less heat transfer too. I tend to use stainless because I hate having to repair stuff later. Of course, the concrete height has to be accurate.
Hi Blank, it was imbedded in the concrete, and they did not want to go through all the expense, so I did what I had to and when they replace the concrete sidewalks I will attack the problem than, if I had to put it through the stone threads it would have been a different story, thanks mike
Hi Mc Griggs, I appreciate that, you know I do not know how to do all that stuff, I just keep making the videos , I think you just hit the bell and then it notifiys you but I am not sure, thanks mike
As an 18 year old who’s never laid a single brick, would I be any help to a mason as a helper for a summer job? Or should I get some practice first. I’ve been watching all these videos and I wanna put this knowledge into practice.
Hi Ed,, I always add portland, or with our mountain weather they will fall apart fast. our family been doing it over 70 years, other areas are different, thanks mike
Great video like always Mike.You don't waste material & save the customer money.
Thanks H B I try, thanks Mike
This was a job that would be a disaster for someone else. Smooth work!
Thanks thomas,, Mike
you treat your customers really great Mike. they probably appreciate you checking back in six months or a year, you really care about the quality of your work and it shows.
thanks Chris, I especially want to make sure before I put a video out, lol, thanks mike
Good tradesmen do check back on their work. It's your work that makes your reputation. Word of mouth of happy customers sells jobs. Your customers talk to friends who need work done and the're the ones that sell your reputation.
Mike, You make it look so easy...Thanks for the tips .
Thanks Charlie, mike
I enjoy watching these smaller projects that I could see myself doing.
thanks Justin, I appreciate it. mike
Honest Mike. Like a doctor!
thanks Ryan, I appreciate it. mike
A real artisan who wants to solve a problem in a very environmentally friendly way and the right way.
thanks Maria, I appreciate the comment, mike
Great video Mike, thank you for taking the time to put these videos out for us all to learn.
thanks Frank, I appreciate it. mike
it's fun to watch skilled craftspeople build stuff. ha!
Great job...This job really shines....
thanks Dave, mike
I like the dentist analogy. I also like the fact that you repurpose existing material. (Been meaning to mention that) I always try to do that myself.
thanks again Chris, I appreciate it. mike
Thank you Mike for Sharing your Experience! I am a Visual Learner..so Watching you Really helps me A lot! I am not in this trade.. but I find it very interesting to watch u at your Art as a Mason ⚒⛏🔨👍🏼👏🏼👏🏼😀
thanks Rich, I appreciate it. mike
Always great to watch your videos, captivating.
thanks robert, I appreciate it. mike
I like you ideas in reusing what's still good.
Thanks Jim, mike
Great work Mike always love your workmanship
thanks 55098, appreciate it. mike
thanks 55098, I appreciate it. mike
Thanks Mike. I have been improving my skills watching your videos.
thanks Wayne, I appreciate it. mike
Awesome! Everything always looks better when you tackle it! Thanks for the education!! 👍
thanks tlims, I do hope it looks better when I am done, .lol, thanks mike
Another great lesson thanks Mike, hello from Pittsburgh !
thanks col, I appreciate it. mike
Great job, Mike.
thanks TIm, I appreciate it. mike
Phenomenal work Mike, I love how you use the box to give a pattern.
Outstanding video, you make the work easy to learn, no problem👌
thanks Hydra, I appreciate it, mike
Great video Mike, have watched many of your videos. Good tradesman are few and far between here in England. Makes me wonder where we will end up without people like you to pass on the knowledge in the future.
Hi Tim, I always thought the finest masonry work was done in England, thanks for the comment, mike
Hi again Mike, I meant to say; Today, there are few trademan in England like you now. We have some great buildings from years ago but it seems we are losing the passion to do an outstanding job and all it seems about is Money. Is it the same in America
Hi Tim, yes its , thanks mike
Job well done Mike. Looks great!
thanks C, I appreciate it. mike
Mike, YOU are the ONLY one I have subscribed to. If you're in NJ and need a free helper, consider me. I am retired.
Hi independent, I appreciate it but basically I’m retired to actually am in New Jersey sailing, I appreciate it though thanks Mike
Hey Mike! I hope your doing well. You are an SME/Badass when it comes to this stuff. I saw maybe 15+videos of you doing work. I got a really good understanding on how to fix my stairs. I just hope I don't botch the job since I'm watching videos and winging it.
Hi A F A, Mike
Great advice and great video as always Mike! Thank you for excellent advice!
thanks Veronica, mike
Excellent results!
Thanks for taking time to edit and post the video!
....13
always appreciate it. thanks 13. mike
Great work Mike....wish you worked in NJ....thanks for your videos!
thanks Tom, I appreciate it. mike
Good job mike .
thanks bric, nice hearing from you again, mike
Wow! Your the Best Mike!
HI Jaime, I appreciate it. mike
Great vid Mike.
thanks Philip, I appreciate it. mike
Another great video.✌
thanks GO, I appreciate it. mike
Thanks for the videos! Very insightful!
thanks Michael, I appreciate it. mike
Great common sense as always.
Dorset England
Thanks Ron, it’s good to hear from England, mike
Excellent mike, I wish you lived here in Southern California so you can re due my drive way
thanks conjering, I wish I was with the snow we are having up here, lol, thanks mike
Love the steps and wall videos. I just built my first wood stove fireplace in my house with the help of your videos. It came out amazing. Thank you. A request out of left field... please any knowledge of 13th-15th century architecture. Cheers!
HI ALement, I have a video called "Limestone caps, carving and Plaining (Tomassitti stone company) Mike haduck" the books at the end of the video will say a lot, I hope it helps, thanks mike
Sorry Mike I am a repeat offender of putting the tread stone under the step to prevent the tread from tilting or moving. It also prevents me from making a mortar joint along the tread. Seems like contractors here in Tennessee don't like that look. I love your videos they give me motivation every morning before I head off to the job. 33 years in this masonry business and learning every day. Stay level.my friend
Thanks Charles, anything that works, it's 6 in one hand or half dozen in the other, no right or wrong way as long as it works, it's good to hear from professionals, thanks Mike
Mike first off I want to say I respect you dearly. You are truly a legend in mason work and I love your videos and stories you tell. Keep them going. Mike I have brick that matches my house and I want to build a raised planter about approximately 13ft by 5ft. I was thinking of digging a foundation of two to three feet deep, throwing gravel down, then pouring concrete in it then using cinder blocks on top and then using the brick along side of the cider block and then use limestone on top as a cap? I live in North Jersey. Total height will exceed three feet high. Your thoughts. I need some expert advise. Thanks again.
Hi Maddog, It sound like you are on the right track as far a building but, I seen the frost push those planters and a lot of termite issues because of them, I have tore a lot down, I seen some put styrofoam on the inside but they are iffy, I hope it make sense, thanks mike
You answered a lot of my questions. Except do I make the concrete step or can I buy it all ready made? I have brick holding it up like this house.
Hi Belin, every job is a bit different, I would say do a little more research and think it out, usually the whole
Imestone threads are sold at brick supply and masonry supply companies and most will cut it to size, I hope it helps, mike
very interesting!
thanks Sue, I appreciate it. mike
I have a expansion joint that is 2 inches deep. by an inch wide. I know I can fill it with cement. Trying to get snow out of it, is hard. Luckily that thawing and freezing hadn't caused any cracking.
Can I use backer rod and then something like Sika(or however you spell it)? Will that affect the way the joint is supposed to work? I just think the joint is ugly.
Hi baal, I would say it all depends on the situation, I can only show what I use on each and every job, and every job is different, I hope it helps, thanks mike
For the broken corner, why didn't you put anchor screws so the new concrete can be better attached?
Hi Tiger, I never had a problem without the anchor screws I just make sure it’s wet first, and it’s put in there good, thanks Mike
Mike what would you have done if the footer was bad? thanks
Hi Gabe, I wouldn’t know until I actually got to the problem, but more than likely I would leave it there and pour a new one right on top, everything depends, thanks mike
Any chance i could share a photo of a set of stairs im refacing get your thoughts
Hi Justin, I really can’t do that over the Internet, but I appreciate it, Mike
mike whats better broad london or philly trowel
hi zaid, anything that works, as long as it feels good in my hand that is all that matters, thanks mike
Mike - You didn't show how you attached the iron railing to keep it from expanding and breaking the concrete or stone. In western Oregon, it freezes, but not like in Pennsylvania. The issues here are rain, rust and hot summers. I've seen many iron railings here with a plate welded to the bottom, then secured with nuts to threaded rods or bolts embedded in the concrete. The smaller diameter rods don't seem to crack the concrete. There's probably less heat transfer too. I tend to use stainless because I hate having to repair stuff later. Of course, the concrete height has to be accurate.
Hi Blank, it was imbedded in the concrete, and they did not want to go through all the expense, so I did what I had to and when they replace the concrete sidewalks I will attack the problem than, if I had to put it through the stone threads it would have been a different story, thanks mike
Nice job Mike as usual I would love to add you as a friend or join you friend list so I can always stay up to date
Hi Mc Griggs, I appreciate that, you know I do not know how to do all that stuff, I just keep making the videos , I think you just hit the bell and then it notifiys you but I am not sure, thanks mike
As an 18 year old who’s never laid a single brick, would I be any help to a mason as a helper for a summer job? Or should I get some practice first. I’ve been watching all these videos and I wanna put this knowledge into practice.
Hi Tim, a good place to start would probably be with a landscaper, mason jobs are getting rare, I hope it helps, thanks mike
I’ll ask around for a landscaper then. Thanks mike!
Hi Tim, I think it is a good place to start for the summer and you can expand your interest from there, thanks mike
Tim Lambert Nice to see a young guy that is ready to work hard..There is hope still.... take care and good luck..
I could not beleive the morter didnt hold..Why is that??? The weather in penn???
Hi Dave, the weather where I live is a killer with masonry, freeze and thaw constantly, other areas in the country are different, thanks, mike
مايك شغلك حلو مع تحياتي ام مصطفى العراق
thanks,, mike
Mike your knees have to be hamburger man. Great info in your videos 👍
thanks J.P. I am still holding out but I am feeling it , thanks mike
i personnly use a marshalltown broad london
i started with a Marshalltown finished with a rose
why not use lime mortor instead of portland would be able to reuse the stone and bricks
hi zaid, lime mortar will not hold up in the weather conditions of my area, other places are different, thanks mike
Who is Mike dentist, Isaac Yankem DDS.
Mortar works in nj why not pa .......thats dark mortar and dark block 35 yrs building steps allways the dark block and dark mud deteriorates fast ....
Hi Ed,, I always add portland, or with our mountain weather they will fall apart fast. our family been doing it over 70 years, other areas are different, thanks mike