Mike never ceases to amaze me with his hand skills. His hands cut and shape bricks and stone exactly as they are in his mind. Fit and finish are near perfect the first time and every time. He functions where technique becomes art.
Hi Samsug, God bless you, I feel for what you are going through, I wrote a song called, " here comes the rain again" Mike haduck dedicated to your country, I used my old navy day picture because of the copyright laws, God bless, Mike
My grandfather was a mason still alive 81 Irish mason, you and him would get along just great at the local pub talking shop. Mike you are a great mason with alot of knowledge. Ty
Mike .... what can I say that I haven't said before ... i don't know. This is another great series for your channel and now I'm sure you and your brother could repair the Pyramids if the money is good enough.
Mike.... Thanks for another episode of "Keep it simple...." The .... can get you in trouble if you do not layout your task out first. That applies to many tasks. Thank for everything Brothers. God Bless. Ernie
Thats why i dont like those cored tapestry bricks there sand struck and they suck up water ,nothing like the hard water struck bricks another great job Mike look forward to next video.
One of the things I love about you is you get everything setup to see how it looks before getting to far Into something and you're not afraid to take your time that's the best way to go!
Great work. I wish I woulda watched this one before I redid my porch steps. Still turned out good but nothing like your uniformity. A mild acid wash and I'll be ready to seal it for winter. South Western PA go figure :))
Now the owner should soak that wall and steps in a Silane or Siloxane sealer. It will help keep out the water and those penetrating sealers last versus the acrylic sealers. It's why they are specified on parking ramps to protect the steel reinforcement in the concrete.
Excellent video yet again Mike thank you very much 👍🏻 i can't help but think there's a wall down the road from my house which dates to the 14 hundreds, it's all still there, not 1 missing 🤷🏻♂️ the weather here in Scotland is far worse than you guys ever get ??!!
Hi Mike, love your videos. Why is brickwork so sensitive in Pennsylvania, and why is it that lime mortar doesn’t hold up? In my home country of Sweden the building tradition is primarily from wood except a few local spots rich in limestone, and I can’t recall ever hearing that brickwork is coming apart… except my own house😂 I’d love to share some pictures of my brick house which is built with concrete and bricks from early 30s. I’m currently renovating the basement with lime based products. The outer basement walls are (probably) poured concrete which are really crumbly, and internal walls are bricks with failing lime render. Your video content is very inspirational and I will attempt repairing the concrete walls with your repair methods, thanks 🙏
Hi Carl, I dad a video called " brick walls" old school vrs new school, one of the walls was in denmark, it all depends where your using it and how, but in our area you can't even buy lime, nobody uses it, it just won't hold up, thanks Mike
haven't heard from you in a while buddy. I need a retainer wall fixed in the backyard. it's a solid cement wall. there is a cliff below it and it looks like it shifted away from its place and looks like it needs replacing
It's a scam Mike, the state doesn't want anybody to build stuff that lasts anymore. Been watching for years, from Binghamton my friend. You think building em with an outwards slope along with a nice amount of marble would work for that situation? Thank you so much for sharing, your advice is some that cannot be bought.
Live in western PA and am going to be repointing some sections of a brick chimney. Had planned to use type N mortar but now wonder if is should go type S or can i just add some Portland to my type N mix.
Hi Shawn, a lot depends on how hard the brick is, if it's not falling apart I might go with a s mortar if it's soft I would go with n. I can't say unless I was there to see it, thanks Mike
Hi Mike, I love this series! Just wondering…On my house in Ontario the bottom 3-4 rows of red brick along the front 60’ of my house is busted up from water/ice damage. I’ve fixed the water issue, now I have to replace the bricks. What horizontal distance of the 3-4 rows of brick can I remove at one time without worrying about the wall above collapsing? Any advise would be greatly appreciated as I’ll be tackling this myself this year. Cheers!
Hi Will, I can not answer that question, sounds like a structure issue, I would ask some of the locals and get some opinions, I haven't come across anything like that, if I do I will make a video on it, thanks, Mike
Nice looking outcome on this job. However, the owner putting back the same style as the failed porch is hard to understand. And wow, kneeling on stone with bare knees tells me you are a lot tougher than most guitar players :) Paul
Man, that wall was really crumbling. I see similar stuff over here in England as our weather aint that great. How many years did it take for that wall to get in that condition ?. Anyway, looked really good at the end...great stuff Mike.
Hey Mike I have a question, how long does the ready made mortar last in the pail before it hardens and can I ad water after it starts to harden to keep it going and again like always it’s a pleasure to watch your work. This skill is something I hope to learn and pass on as well
Love your work, Mike! Wondering if in Missouri (we are zone 7 just like in PA) you would recommend certain mix for a 6' vertical crack similar to this?
Mike, just wondering why you didn't cut the halves out on the corner? I never have seen you with a 14" brick saw and understand if you don't want to invest in one at this stage in your career. However, if that owner wants to sell that house, a straight cold joint on the corner of that porch will really be an eye sore. Anyways, thanks for the video and the little trick (twisting) the wall tie...I gotta remember that one!
Mike would be interested in building brick columns for me for the front of my driveway or refer someone to me? I live in North Jersey. Wish you the best as always.
Hi yes, I didn't have much choice to keep the integrity of the wall, if it had a porch over it it would be 100 times better but I also tied in in with duro wall and I know the top cap stone will help a lot, thanks Mike
Hold it a second...Ihave been watching your videos were you said not to use the wall ties because they rot out, you also emphasize wetting everything first so the cement sticks...this video contradicts all the other suggestions and recommendations in other videos...I am very confused..never saw you wet the brick ....another thing...why can't you guys use a sealer to seal the brick if water filtration is so damaging.
Hi H, masonry is not black and white, when restoring a brick job like that you don't have a choice but to copy what was there, and I got a video out called " should I wet it first"? Mike haduck,, thanks mike
Why don’t you’s use engineering brick ? I live near a railway bridge that constantly has water running through it and in 40 year I’ve hardly seen them replaced a brick they repoint it every now and then, understand they’re more expensive, but surly that better than rebuilding.
Hi Sum, the owners are the ones that pick them out, usually for looks, but I agree, they make industrial brick which last longer but don't have the look. brick work as a whole is slowly disappearing in the USA, thanks , Mike
Mike never ceases to amaze me with his hand skills. His hands cut and shape bricks and stone exactly as they are in his mind. Fit and finish are near perfect the first time and every time. He functions where technique becomes art.
Hi not, sometimes I feel like I am faking it, thanks for the kind words, Mike
Keep em coming Honest Mike, your followers eagerly look forward to them!
Thanks James, Mike
The Bob Ross of masonry. Good job..... regardless of deal size.
Thanks old man, Mike
Hello from Ukraine!
Hi Samsug, God bless you, I feel for what you are going through, I wrote a song called, " here comes the rain again" Mike haduck dedicated to your country, I used my old navy day picture because of the copyright laws, God bless, Mike
These are my favorite type of videos you put out. This one was like a directors cut which I really enjoy!
Thanks Jim, Mike
My grandfather was a mason still alive 81 Irish mason, you and him would get along just great at the local pub talking shop. Mike you are a great mason with alot of knowledge. Ty
Thanks Jamie, I appreciate the kind words, Mike
Mike .... what can I say that I haven't said before ... i don't know. This is another great series for your channel and now I'm sure you and your brother could repair the Pyramids if the money is good enough.
Thanks Thor, lol, Mike
A dog’s breakfast!!
Your the best mike!!
Nice video!!
Thanks Anthony, Mike
Mike.... Thanks for another episode of "Keep it simple...." The .... can get you in trouble if you do not layout your task out first. That applies to many tasks. Thank for everything Brothers. God Bless. Ernie
Thanks Ernie, God bless, Mike
Looks great, Mike! They should make wall ties out of stainless. They'd last much longer.
Thanks, I agree, Mike
Hi Mike. Your ability to cut brick and stone with only a hand and a hammer is extraordinary. I love these videos.
Thanks Brian, Mike
Thanks , Mike
geat job Mike all best old school 👍
Thanks Tom, Mike
I love the T-shirt Mike 😎
Thanks Barry, Mike
Thats why i dont like those cored tapestry bricks there sand struck and they suck up water ,nothing like the hard water struck bricks another great job Mike look forward to next video.
Thanks Rocco, Mike
Great videos. Down to earth and sensible advice as always. Thanks for the content.
Thanks Kris, Mike
One of the things I love about you is you get everything setup to see how it looks before getting to far Into something and you're not afraid to take your time that's the best way to go!
Thanks Casey, I Agree you you, that's the way to go, thanks Mike
you made that look very nice Mike. take care
Thanks Brian, Mike
Great work. I wish I woulda watched this one before I redid my porch steps. Still turned out good but nothing like your uniformity. A mild acid wash and I'll be ready to seal it for winter. South Western PA go figure :))
Thanks, Mike
you didn't wet the brick or existing concrete, this project really brought out your skills...txs for sharing
Hi Tom, I did a video called " should I wet it " yes or no? Mike haduck, I think I explain it best there, thanks Mike
Hello there 👋👋,how are you doing today?hope you’re having a good start?God bless you!❤️
Great! I appreciate the knowledge you share, it inspired me to fix my own brick foundation last fall, and it worked great! Thank you!
Thanks Dan, Mike
Always a joy to see a new video, always enjoy the videos and advice throughout.
Thanks Ken, Mike
Thanks very much Mike !
Thanks Henry, Mike
Thank you Mike, I learnt a lot from this video.
Zac - Sydney Australia
Thanks Zac, Mike
Wow great job I was lost from the start. I love watching you do your magic.
Thanks again Ed, mike
Your the man Mike, no big deal,
All the best from the UK
Thanks Bradley, nice to hear from the UK, thanks Mike
awesome . as usual . thanks again Mike .... My house in the desert is double brick , so this helps lots.
Thanks Tim, Mike
Thank you Mike!
Thanks sikk, Mike
Now the owner should soak that wall and steps in a Silane or Siloxane sealer. It will help keep out the water and those penetrating sealers last versus the acrylic sealers. It's why they are specified on parking ramps to protect the steel reinforcement in the concrete.
Thanks, Mike
Love your videos Mike.
Thanks KB, Mike
Getting ready to rebuild my courtyard entry stoop. Done a little brick work before but you’re videos are really helping. Thank you
Thanks, Mike
that looked like it took some time. Looked good at the end. Your videos are interesting.
Take care!!
Thanks Sue, Mike
Excellent video yet again Mike thank you very much 👍🏻 i can't help but think there's a wall down the road from my house which dates to the 14 hundreds, it's all still there, not 1 missing 🤷🏻♂️ the weather here in Scotland is far worse than you guys ever get ??!!
Hi Chic, they build them right where you are I am sure, thanks Mike
god bless you Mike
Thanks JO, God bless also, Mike
Hi Mike, love your videos. Why is brickwork so sensitive in Pennsylvania, and why is it that lime mortar doesn’t hold up? In my home country of Sweden the building tradition is primarily from wood except a few local spots rich in limestone, and I can’t recall ever hearing that brickwork is coming apart… except my own house😂 I’d love to share some pictures of my brick house which is built with concrete and bricks from early 30s. I’m currently renovating the basement with lime based products. The outer basement walls are (probably) poured concrete which are really crumbly, and internal walls are bricks with failing lime render. Your video content is very inspirational and I will attempt repairing the concrete walls with your repair methods, thanks 🙏
Hi Carl, I dad a video called " brick walls" old school vrs new school, one of the walls was in denmark, it all depends where your using it and how, but in our area you can't even buy lime, nobody uses it, it just won't hold up, thanks Mike
Thx mike!
Thanks Dan, Mike
i always enjoy watching your videos. Like how at the end you always explain what you did. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks arc,, Mike
Some man Mike! Keep up the good work!
Thanks Peter, Mike
Thanks Mike, you're an inspiration.
Thanks Paul, Mike
Nice job 😎. Impressive work... God bless 🙏
Thanks lizza, God bless, Mike
Darn Mike I was certain I'm gonna get a masters degree for laying bricks 🙃. I'm so wrong,anyway nooooo big deal...lol respect 🙏 to you always mike.
Thanks Texs, Mike
No big deal folks!
Thanks Tyler, Mike
haven't heard from you in a while buddy. I need a retainer wall fixed in the backyard. it's a solid cement wall. there is a cliff below it and it looks like it shifted away from its place and looks like it needs replacing
Hi Jacob, I appreciate it but I am not taking on any more work this year, thanks Mike
Good job!
Thanks ,Mike
It's a scam Mike, the state doesn't want anybody to build stuff that lasts anymore. Been watching for years, from Binghamton my friend.
You think building em with an outwards slope along with a nice amount of marble would work for that situation? Thank you so much for sharing, your advice is some that cannot be bought.
Hi Matthew, I guess anything that works would be the best answer, thanks Mike
You are a treasure!
Thanks Max, Mike
great video mike..Ive had jobs of putting lipstick on a pig so I can relate.
Thanks Dave, I hear you, mike
Good job
Sir
Thanks Brandon, Mike
Live in western PA and am going to be repointing some sections of a brick chimney. Had planned to use type N mortar but now wonder if is should go type S or can i just add some Portland to my type N mix.
Hi Shawn, a lot depends on how hard the brick is, if it's not falling apart I might go with a s mortar if it's soft I would go with n. I can't say unless I was there to see it, thanks Mike
Why didn't you put weep holes at the base to allow any water behind the brick to drain?
Hi Tiger, if water got behind it it would have went right through the bock and gravel, so no need, thanks mike
Hi Mike, I love this series! Just wondering…On my house in Ontario the bottom 3-4 rows of red brick along the front 60’ of my house is busted up from water/ice damage. I’ve fixed the water issue, now I have to replace the bricks. What horizontal distance of the 3-4 rows of brick can I remove at one time without worrying about the wall above collapsing? Any advise would be greatly appreciated as I’ll be tackling this myself this year. Cheers!
Hi Will, I can not answer that question, sounds like a structure issue, I would ask some of the locals and get some opinions, I haven't come across anything like that, if I do I will make a video on it, thanks, Mike
@@MikeHaduck thanks for letting me know. I’ll find a local expert and hope he’s up to your standards. Fingers crossed you get that video made soon 😜
Learning a lot from watching your channel, Mike. Is there a reason why you don't use concrete bricks ... are they not durable in Pa?
Hi Ted, bricks are like a fashion type of thing it more what people want their house to look like, thanks Mike
Nice looking outcome on this job. However, the owner putting back the same style as the failed porch is hard to understand.
And wow, kneeling on stone with bare knees tells me you are a lot tougher than most guitar players :)
Paul
Hi Paul, I worked with that guy for years and he wants what he wants, but I gave him the alternatives, thanks Mike
Man, that wall was really crumbling. I see similar stuff over here in England as our weather aint that great. How many years did it take for that wall to get in that condition ?. Anyway, looked really good at the end...great stuff Mike.
Thanks Darren, Mike
What is that brick detail, upside down triangle brick work over your left shoulder ... under that bay window? That's a charming detail on this house.
Thanks Thor, yep it is a bow window, thanks Mike
Hey Mike I have a question, how long does the ready made mortar last in the pail before it hardens and can I ad water after it starts to harden to keep it going and again like always it’s a pleasure to watch your work. This skill is something I hope to learn and pass on as well
Hi Bronx, I leaned not to trust stuff laying around too long, I buy fresh, thanks, Mike
Love your work, Mike! Wondering if in Missouri (we are zone 7 just like in PA) you would recommend certain mix for a 6' vertical crack similar to this?
Hi Laura, I wouldn't think it matters for the likes , but you could always ask the guys at the cement store what the locals use, thanks Mike
@@MikeHaduck Thank you so much for the advice and for being such an awesome teacher!
Looks good but you should of toothed the corner by garage to tie it in to existing brick work instead of a straight joint
Hi Matt. Owner said no, he didn't care, thanks Mike
we ain't gettin' no trophies for this..lol
Thanks Sam, very true, Mike
Mike, why don't you need to wet brick, the way you would wet stone, or concrete, in order for the cement/mortar to mix?
Hi Matt, I have a video out called " should I wet it first? Mike haduck, very rarely when laying brick or block, It makes a mess, thanks Mike
@@MikeHaduck Excellent, thank you
Mike, just wondering why you didn't cut the halves out on the corner? I never have seen you with a 14" brick saw and understand if you don't want to invest in one at this stage in your career. However, if that owner wants to sell that house, a straight cold joint on the corner of that porch will really be an eye sore. Anyways, thanks for the video and the little trick (twisting) the wall tie...I gotta remember that one!
Hi Mikey, I suggested it but the owner said no, thanks Mike
@@MikeHaduck Oh well you offered atleast......Nice job!
Why didn't you tooth the corner? Won't it crack at that long stack joint?
Hi Beau, the owner didn't want it toothed out, you might get a expansion crack but nothing big enough to worrie about, thanks Mike
Mike would be interested in building brick columns for me for the front of my driveway or refer someone to me? I live in North Jersey. Wish you the best as always.
Thanks Maddog, I appreciate the offer but am overwhelmed with what I want now, than mike
Mike, was this from last year? Did you ever go to the Jacktown steam show and sale? There’s going to be one in a month or two
Hi Joe, yep last summer, no I don't think I am going ,thanks Mike
@@MikeHaduck Ok, I always look for you when I go, thinking you might go there.
Thanks Joe, Mike
Hey Mike, why did you use wall ties? You said they won't last 30 years? thanks
Hi yes, I didn't have much choice to keep the integrity of the wall, if it had a porch over it it would be 100 times better but I also tied in in with duro wall and I know the top cap stone will help a lot, thanks Mike
@@MikeHaduck thanks!
Hold it a second...Ihave been watching your videos were you said not to use the wall ties because they rot out, you also emphasize wetting everything first so the cement sticks...this video contradicts all the other suggestions and recommendations in other videos...I am very confused..never saw you wet the brick ....another thing...why can't you guys use a sealer to seal the brick if water filtration is so damaging.
Hi H, masonry is not black and white, when restoring a brick job like that you don't have a choice but to copy what was there, and I got a video out called " should I wet it first"? Mike haduck,, thanks mike
I could lay brick but it won't be anywhere near as good as your work.
Thanks Chris, Mike
I thought u were done doing jobs pf this size lol
Hi Gabe, friends and relatives, it never ends, lol, Mike
Why don’t you’s use engineering brick ? I live near a railway bridge that constantly has water running through it and in 40 year I’ve hardly seen them replaced a brick they repoint it every now and then, understand they’re more expensive, but surly that better than rebuilding.
Hi Sum, the owners are the ones that pick them out, usually for looks, but I agree, they make industrial brick which last longer but don't have the look. brick work as a whole is slowly disappearing in the USA, thanks , Mike