MASONRY TIPS FOR BEGINNERS (part 1) (MIke Haduck)
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 28 มิ.ย. 2024
- MIke Haduck shares his basic masonry techniques for beginners.. Starting with the use of cement with brick, stucco, stone, cleaning, use and comments. All my videos are my ways and ideas, I always suggest anyone doing any type of work to consult professional help.
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Nicely explained tips Mike, so glad to hear you tell people to wet the stonework first before adding any mortar.
This is a bit of a long one but passion is passion so I won't apologise.
The usual reason for wetting down is so that the background doesn't suck out the moisture from your mud because this will compromise the work at a later time and might crack, let the water in and fall off.
Doing any kind of stonework I prefer to use lime putty mortars because the dark grey looking mud of a strong cement mix is boring and unsightly I think. I like to slake (make) my own lime putty by buying in quicklime (aka, lump-lime) and when you add water(2:1) you will double the amount of lime putty produced.
A putty mix makes a lovely sticky mud into which, for special pointing mixes I also add crushed and sieved charcoal and chalk chips which makes the pointing work look so much better, it also looks like the very old pointing you see in the old buildings and walls around the south-west of England where I live.
I heard you recommend a 3:1 mix for cement which might be OK for engineering bricks but is too strong for soft sandstone or old clay bricks and for this softer stone I'd prefer to do a 5:1 with cement and by adding 4 sharp and 1 soft sand to your 1 cement this makes the mortar/mud even stickier.
Typical masons like to do a 6:1:1 mix which is 6 sand (plasterers or builders sand), 1 hydrated lime and 1 cement, the hydrated lime makes the mix sticky like adding a fine or soft sand (we call it plastering sand in the UK) as I mentioned before but just as you said, every builder seems to have their preferred mix ratio's don't they.
For the record, in my collection of different aggregates I have stone dust, sharp sand, play-pit sand, builders sand, and even a green sand but my top favourite sharp sand ever is called Bideford Grit.
This is dredged up from the sea in the Bristol channel near my home and is washed with water to remove the salt, the sand has bit's of sea shell and multiple grades of crushed stone and sea creatures, it has it all.
To see if you have the right and best sand go for a variety that has sharp angular bigger bits of stone in it, this is because at a microscopic level the angular bits bind better together than the rounded shaped stones in river sand. When you have found the desired sand, add some water to damp it and then ball it in your hands.
If it holds it's shape then this is really what you want. To make double sure, get a glass jar with a lid, half fill with water and put the sand into it. Shake it up and leave to stand for 24 hours.
There should be at least 5 different strata of aggregate which is your optimum grade of sharp sand.
Well done for reading to the end, I once worked for a man who had about 30 different types of sand in his yard where he slaked his own lime putty. He had 3 lime pits and would make up mixes of coarse stuff for special jobs.
When you use lime putty there is no shelf life like there is with cement which means there is less waste.
The same shelf life applies to hydraulic limes (the NHL's), paper bags of cement and gypsum plasters, which is about 4 to 5 months, this also depends how you keep it and the older it is the faster it dries.
With Lime putty I heard about some 500 year old lime pits found in Italy where the putty was still usable after all that time.
The Roman architect Vetruvius made what is known as Roman cement, this has no actual cement but was in fact volcanic ash, lime and seawater with added volcanic rocks. He made a special mix was put into wooden molds which were then submerged in seawater. Within about 10 years this produced 2 new minerals, aluminum tobormorite and Phillipsite the latter being a plate like structure that bent rather than shattered when put under stress.
This might explain why their sea harbours are stronger today than when they were first built.
So if you can, use lime instead of cement, it's better for the environment, uses less energy to make, it absorbs CO2 and gives you better acoustics inside a room and when you make too much mortar, you can put it in a tub with a lid and a thin cover of water, use it the next day, week, month or years later.
With cement, after it does it's first set you have to throw it away because it's gone fairly solid.
All the best to my transatlantic cousins from us in the UK. xx
Hi Peter, Great information you just gave, here in north east Pennsylvania lime pits are pretty much extinct, some old timers talked of them but everything went to mortar and Portland, some old timers will add lime to Portland but that is about it, anything with lime joints fall apart so everybody adds Portland, you are right about hard cement and soft brick and stone but they even fall apart faster, it’s our weather, when I went to conwy castle I learned a lot of the old techniques, sharp sand here is called concrete sand, and cement is a overall general term for all types of cement, our mixes are two sand to one Portland or I will be back fixing the patios in a couple years, brick work and block usually 2 sand to 1 mortar or 1 s mortar, if not I will be back fixing it again, around here it is actually hard to buy lime you got to have special orders, I enjoyed my trips to UK, there are no better masons in the whole world, thanks for the great info, mike
Thanks for the feedback Mike. I keep forgetting about other folks climates. I even heard about some zillionaire who imported a load of UK lime mortar for his project.
Just like buying honey, with lime it's always best to get the stuff produced around you as it's better for the building. We have so many old kilns around my area, they remind me of the old hippy chillums. On LinkedIn I was chatting with lots of different conservationist builders and architects in different parts of the world and asked them what their lime mix ratio's were. You might like to watch a bunch of different TH-cam films from an interesting man:
th-cam.com/video/yyqzdzO56D4/w-d-xo.html
He goes around exposing builders who con folks into having bad/shite work done or looking at the existing bad work that had been done.
In my own case I have often found work done by dodgy builders from 100 plus years ago and in one 400 year old church the lime plasterers used used a different quality mortar on the inner area than the outer area! You would think that the mix would be consistent throughout so I can't figure why that was.
It's true what you said about the masons here although a few hundred years ago this country had lots of French and Italian craftsmen mostly working on the high end structures like the Rothschild manors.
I once worked for a firm where we had about 30 masons on the books.
I guess it was probably around 2005 that companies started restructuring all their trades and making many redundant. Nowadays I don't know any plasterers who are on the books anywhere, it's all self employment. Have a nice weekend and over here, it's actually hot for a change.
Thanks Peter, I watched the video and he knows what he is talking about, I will check him out more, good find. , thanks for your Imput, the UK had a lot to offer and teach the new guys, I appreciate it, mike
This is one of the best DIY videos I've seen. I appreciate someone who shows all the little techniques and doesn't make it overly complicated. Also, the video has cuts at the perfect spot. Normally I have to skip forward during the slow spots but I watched the whole video with great interest. Thanks a lot Mike!
+Matt Prue Thanks, I appreciate it. Mike
I agree, straight to the point without any bling-bling-bull. 👍
Agreed. Thx so much.❤
Hi Mike, I'm 78 and I love your "old school" teaching. I come back to your videos before doing any of my DIY masonry projects. Refreshes my OLD brain cells and confidence. I can't thank you enough for all the money you have saved me over the past few years working on my home and 4 plex apt bldg. Both with Stucco and sidewalks that are as old as me. It's great to know your teaching will be here for my children and grandchildren. I like to have a Miller's High Life and Toast you as I complete each job.
"Here's to Mike, Thank you ! "
Thanks David, I appreciate the kind words, it keeps me going on, thanks Mike
Thanks, Mike. Nice, simple, thorough and good for this beginner.
Mike, Thanks for taking the time to make these videos for all of us "Novices"! I really appreciate it.
I learn the fundamentals, thanks Mike. You took your time n you explain, always cleaning n watering.
Thanks for making this. Some great information in here, invaluable to those who want to try it themselves! Appreciated
thanks , hope it helps, mike
Thank you so much. You surely are helping many people across the country.
That rhythm of applying the mortars! You are an artist!
sdjnwhyNZ not really, but I appreciate it, thanks mike
Great video Mike, thank you for passing along the knowledge sir..
Great video, thank you used this and your other videos to repair my daughters porch,came out great thanks!! Now I have to fix my other daughters brick steps! Your videos are the best,down to earth easy to follow,the best! Thanks so much!!
Great, I am glad they help, thanks mike
I find the attention to detail very helpful. I don't work much with my hands, but I am planning a decorative stone fountain, and all these tips ( from all the Haduck videos) make me believe I can do it and have it finished without looking sloppy.
I have faith in you, do a little practice on something old first to get the feel and I am sure it will work out, thanks mike
that was amazing, so many great tips!
This video was straightforward, informational, and extremely helpful. Thank you for sharing your knowledge!
Thanks Charyssa, mike
I watched a bunch of your videos today, and am feeling a lot more confident about an upcoming project. Thank you for taking the time to mentor people in your trade. Be blessed - Brian
thanks Brian, God bless, mike
Thank you for taking time to teach us, and passing on your knowledge!
Thanks, Mike
Mike, Thank you so much for taking the time to show us beginners how to get started. I have seen a lot of video's of guys with attitude but you show none of that and its so refreshing..
thanks for the kind remarks, mike
Hi Mike,
I just wanted to thank you for taking your time to make this video. It is very informative and helpful. We are lucky to have people like you who are willing to share their professional expertise.
Wish you the best
and kindest regards,
Sonny from Washington State
Sanjin Milak thanks Sonny, I am just passing along what I picked up with the older guys from times past. thanks mike
I am a beginner and have been watching some of your segments. Your knowledge and steps on how to work with cement and patching makes me feel a lot better about a small project I'm doing at home. Thanks a lot !!!
great, I hope it helps, thanks mike
A younger Mike! I love you brother. Ya remind me of my uncle who taught me everything from riding a bike to building cabinets.
Thanks Buzz, mike
Excellent! I think I'm in love with masonry. I can't wait to get started!
Thanks Lesa, mike
LOL. So how did that end up going for you sweetheart?
This man loves his work he works through the day. And he passes on his knowledge to others in his spare time. Great video as always Mike I’m learning from a craftsman.
Thanks for the kind words, Mike
Thanks Mike, always a pleasure to learn new stuff from experts.......now for some practising!!
I still experement, anything that works, thanks mike
Your videos are my favorites out of the many I watched about masonry. It’s very reassuring seeing how you just get in there and do it and explain it in normal language. I have little to no experience and was able to use your methods including the old school ‘bonding cement’ to rebuild a patio wall with granite? stones a few years ago. The hillside here in L.A. shifts a lot, and I expected my work to crack pretty quick, but it’s still rock-solid, and looks perfect for the job I was trying to do. I really appreciate you taking the time to make videos and share your knowledge, thank you!!
Thanks Tony, I appreciate hearing that , especially from California, mike
THANK YOU! That is by far the best video I have seen for beginners and appreciate you sharing your techniques!
Thanks Alia, Mike
Thanks for sharing your knowledge. Your sincerity is evident.
Thanks DrumBass, I appreciate the kind words thanks Mike
Thank you Mike Haduck.
Be blessed
+Charles Martin I appreciate it. again be blessed also Mike
Mike you’re the man; your style of work and your knowledge about it reminds me so much my father in law back in Cuba.
Thanks Dario, I appreciate it, mike
TY, very informative. I haven't mixed mud for 35 years, I have to repoint a stone foundation. You have been a big help.
I was the 1K liked.
thanks, I feel I am on the right track with these comments , I appreciate it. mike
Getting ready to build a decorative well out of stones, this was very helpful..thanks!!
thanks Don, I appreciate it. mike
Probably one of the best instructional videos I've seen on here. Awesome job Sir!👍
Thanks Michael, I appreciate it, Mike
brother, this video is perfect! your demo answered all the questions I could have had and more. Thank you very much
thanks, glad it helped, mike
Thanks for the clear and fully detailed advice and step by step video.Great for newbies.
+mike colle thanks, I hope it helps, mike
THIS WAS FABULOUS and exactly what I was looking for. Thank you.
thanks Atowel, I appreciate it. mike
Great Info Mike; Thanks for your Time!!!
I just want to take a minute. I know this particular video and comment thread is older, but I want to give some incite into why I think Mike’ style of instruction is so valuable in case my comments could help someone else in their teaching or to just help us understand how we learn trades. See, I’m fifty and I can still remember making a series of cement stepping stones with my pap, who was from Pennsylvania incidentally, and he always taught me in the same manner that Mike teaches on these videos. Craftsmanship as we called it then - not artisan or “maker” whatever that’s supposed to mean was about common sense, grown and built from observation, trying, taking little risks, growing your knowledge, passing down and laterally and acquiring technical skills without being overly “technical” if that makes any sense. There’s another part of craftsmanship that works the line of contradiction that on one hand takes pride enough to say that there’s a right and wrong way to do everything and, on the other hand, is flexible and generous enough to accept that there might be many right ways at times. In other words, you start. You try to pay attention. You get inside of it so that it’s fun for you. Then you relax. Now the real observing and learning can start. Then you start to pass along and teach. And NOW the real learning can actually start. That’s what we called trades or craftsmanship. Thanks Mike.
Thanks David, I appreciate the kind words, mike
Mike, You are my Cement Hero! I considered myself a prettygood DIY'er but after my last cement project I looked for help and found your videos and you have officially saved my ass! Your narrative sharing your skills is AWESOME, you are a very solid patient Teacher/Coach. Thanks Coach!
Jerry Ferdun I appreciate it, I am just passing along what the old timers taught me, thanks mike
I’m glad I found this. I can do most jobs but have zero hands on experience with masonry other than what I’ve ‘seen’ when managing on job sites. This really helps break it down and gives some great tips to get started right, on my home project. Thanks for the video. It was really good. It also showed me that it’s going to take me some time to do what I’m doing if I want to do it right 👍
Thanks Chuck, Mike
Really helpful thank you. The practice suggestion and the clean water makes lots of sense.
Thanks Jonathan, mike
Excellent introductory video. Thank you for putting it up here.
David Carpenter thanks, I hope it helps, mike
Thank you so much Mike. I have an ugly cinder block wall that I wanted to repair and your video has given me some great basic techniques.
thanks, check out my videos on repairing foundations, It might help, thanks mike
Sure do appreciate you, your knowledge, and your willingness to help others learn the trade.
thanks Mandy, mike
Greatly appreciate your time creating these videos. Thank you
Thanks Nicholas, Mike
Very good video, well spoken, appreciate the time Mike took to make this beginners/starters video. It was helpful for me a DYI'er that is taking on a brick repair job at home
+Steve Grilli thanks, I hope it helps, mike
I am fairly handy and take on most small repairs around the house but know nothing about masonry. I needed to do a parging (new word in my vocabulary thanks to you) repair and didn’t have any idea of how to do it. This video including the old school bonding is just what I needed. I’ll buy my Mason Mix today and get ready to practice on a small area. Thank You
Thanks J D, I am sure you will do well, Mike
Absolutely wonderful information. Thank you so much! I will practice, practice, practice before taking on my project. You are a great teacher!
Thanks Jon, Mike
Thank you so much for your videos. You are a wonderful teacher!
thanks Christine, I appreciate it. mike
Just wanted to say Thank You! I am going to be doing a few small projects to practice and then taking on some larger ones for myself and family and your video was straight to the point, and incredibly helpful to someone who is ignorant to the basics.
thanks, I hope it helps, a little at a time and like playing guitar it comes together, thanks mike
You’re very generous to share your knowledge like this - you put in a lot of work to make quality videos like this.
Thanks David, mike
That's a fact. Now days probably always. Ppl thought if they taught, you took there job. Seriously. Thank you Man
Your videos really helped me on my first masonry repair. Accept the concrete I put down, I used the concrete mix, not the morter, to make my bonding agent. Hope it bonds. I had to repair the concrete pad my garage is sitting on. Tomorrow I will pull the forms, and set the new cinder block. The corner block was cracked, and the exterior 8 inches of the pad. Hopeing for the best.
I really appreciate your details! I am trying to repair an old retaining wall and now I feel confident to do the job
Thanks Minda, I have a whole playlist on retaining wall installation, that might help, thanks Mike
This is just the kind of video people need for an introduction to get an idea of what their new skills should look like; simple and practical, no theoretical stuff that only applies in the classroom. Great work.
Thanks Manly, mike
Thanks for taking the time to explain the difference in mortar, Portland, etc my dad was a plasterer and he was a great old school journeymen, and I learned a lot from him...but we did not talk much about the differences in materials....now I'm in his shoes...abs/pops🤓
thanks Andrew, the old timers knew their suff, thanks mike
Thanks Mike. My dad did all this kind of work but he was NOT a teacher. Now I am old and enjoying doing these kinds of projects and find your vids very informative. I appreciate the easy encouraging manner in which you present your techniques. They work for me in northern Minnesota.
Thanks paul, I appreciate it, Mike
Thanks Mike--I wish I had seen this before I made a mess of some of my brickwork! But now I'll watch your other videos before my cinder block repair.
Thanks Oliver, Mike
even tho you filmed this with a pillow ..... i've watched it again ... the message is still there. this is exactly the message you always say. thanks again MIKE! make some more music
Thanks Thor, mike
This video is amazing. I'm repairing my garage foundation wall before a new pad is poured.tomorrow morning, i am going to practice this video before i start putting blocks back!!
Thanks again, Mike
Thank you for this video Mike. I learned a lot and getting more confident to try things.
Thanks Bill, Mike
Thanks Mike. Even after years it's very helpful. 👍🏼
Thanks Rob, Mike
You, sir, are truly a class act! When I was a Journeyman painter, I always enjoyed learning the "old school" tricks of the trade. Thank you for passing on your "old school" tricks of your trade!
I appreciate that, thanks mike
How did you learn your skills?
Just go to Mike's TH-cam page and you'll find your answer under the About tab.
I had a flight instructor who flew fighter planes in WW2. I asked him about
"tricks of the trade". He told me "never mind the tricks of the trade, learn the trade". What Mike calls "tricks" is actually the skills of the trade at a masters level.
Mike thank you for sharing your knowledge it is much appreciated. your awesome buddy
thanks, I appreciate the comment. mike
Thanks Mike - you're vids really help the home owner who wants to fix things around the house,
thanks for the comment. mike
Very informative video Thank you for sharing your knowledge, I appreciate it.
I have learn I lot with Mike I am so glad he is able to teach us how to do the work.
Thanks, mike
I like your style of teaching, well done, thanks for sharing your knowledge!
Thanks Michael I appreciate it, Mike
I wish I could upvote this video a hundred times. Thanks Mike.
thanks, I appreciate it. Mike
I was thinking the same thing. I'm about to start a little project for my mom: This video helped me a lot! Thanks Mike Haduck.
Thank you, mike
Well now! This is the vid I needed to see!! Thanks.....this answers all my questions! Thank you. I appreciate it!!
thanks Eric, I appreciate it , mike
Another great job, Mike
Thanks Man! Your video helped me out. And, Mike, you did a good job with your explanations as well.
Thanks Paul, Mike
thanks Brother, as a Master Carpenter I have picked up a lot of what you have taught here, myself over the years, and I have found that you have repointed all of my empty joints nicely....Good Work Amigo....you are now my go to guide and refresher
Thanks Glenn, I am sure If I hung around you I would learn a lot also, thanks mike
Great video! Thank you for taking the time to share your knowledge.
Thanks stro, I appreciate it, Mike
Thanks Mike, this is exactly what I needed to get me back on track. Yes, last weekend my wife and I committed the cardinal sin! We just jumped in and started repairing our block wall. The old school adhesion advice will help so much going forward... IF last week's course doesn't fall over :-)
thanks, glad the video helped. mike
😊😊😊😊😊
Thanks for sharing your obvious experience and commitment to your craft. Good info giving me confidence for my stone landscape border
Thanks Kevin, Mike
Thank you so much for these beginers videos. Now that I've bought a home there are a few spots that need some fixing. Time to go practice.
Thanks , take your time, do some experimenting, it will happen, mike
your videos are the best my uncle was a contractor and in summer months as a kid i worked for him and we would average over 500 blocks a day its been a while since ive done that type of work your videos has inspired to start a project thanks
+levi ridge thanks , I hope they help, I am just passing along what I learned from the old timers. mike
Mike, I absolutely love the Portland. I've been mixing the 2 pts sand to 1 part Portland. Sets like marble. OK, I exaggerated but you get the picture. My neighbor comes down and helps out occasionally and she was impressed. I was mixing it & she decided to help mix & was surprised at the strength. She's tough so she wasn't kidding. We were moving (by hand) 1950's railroad ties across my property. If she says it's tough stuff, it's tough stuff. After more than 50 yrs the ties had families of termites living in them. What a sight to behold. Not used to that. Didn't see any termites in the city. Love watching your videos over because you explain so much I forget 75% of what you're teaching. So, I must watch again. Thanks for everything, Skook gets an education when they visit me and then I have to name drop where I got the info. Always mention your name.
Thanks Dolores, it sounds like your having fun and getting a lot of satisfaction out of it, very positive, keep going. Mike
Thank you SO much for this info.
thanks, I hope it helps, mike
Great video. Really demystifies the subject. Great demonstration.
Thanks Scott, Mike
Wow, that was VERY helpful- time for us to go practice! Thank you!!
Thanks Jamie, Mike
Your are wonderful teacher! I'v been learning a lot form you!!!! THANKS
Thanks, Mike
Thanks Mike, i like your style of teaching/instruction, as always great video!
Thanks Len, Mike
Very informative video. Like the way Mike shows and explains how to go about doing the job correctly. And how to buy the proper types of materials, what to buy and what not to buy where to buy and where not to buy materials. From what I saw and heard Mike do he does some excellent work. Wish he was in my area of Wisconsin, cause I would definitely Hire him!
Hi Alan, thanks for the kind words, Mike
Really wish I’d watched this before I made my brick fire pit. Didn’t know I needed to wet the bricks; now my mortar is separating. Thank you for sharing your knowledge!
Hi Sk, usually firepits heat up and cool down causing the cracks, I did a video on firepits, thanks mike
Great Mike. Thanks for all the info.
thanks, mike
Love your instructional video
you give a very modest and humble presentation
Thank you for sharing your knowledge and experience !
Thanks Charles, mike
Damn straight to the point.. sharing knowledge. THANKS 👍
Thanks Daniel, Mike
Great video. Thank you for posting it. Very helpful.
Thanks Peter, Mike
Thanks for the help Mike.
thanks Minnesota, I appreciate it .. mike
Thx Mike I need to repair a part of an old rock staircase this was very helpful. Greatly appreciated for your wisdom 🙂
Thanks, Mike
I learned more useful real world information that will help me throughout life in this video than I did through all of high school great vid mike 👍
Thanks Monkey Boy, mike
This really looks so doggone awesome when it's showin' off someone's Hascienda.
thanks Tommie, Mike
Mike this is a very nice example and practical approach. If I were learning to do masonry/cement work I'd want to learn from a guy like you!
thanks rob, I appreciate it. mike
My father was a bricklayer; this brings back memories of watching him at work when I was a girl, especially the way you slap that cement around when you mixed it.
Thanks Ariel, Mike
Thank you from a 28 yr old from NJ.
Thanks DV, Mike
masonry is a skill i’ve wanted to explore so thank you for this video (and the rest of them as well) 🤙🏼
Thanks P, Mike
I've watched many of his vid, he's very thorough when explaining. If followed...the project will come out perfect. I learned from his video, how to fix cracks on foundation. Bought a house with a defect, searched for input and voila. Here I'm again. Learning, always learning. #tlcmyhomesweethome
Thanks Angela, Mike
Mike, Thanks so much. I learned a lot.
Thanks joe, mike
Thanks Mike, i like your style, great videos thanks for posting
thanks, mike
Mike - I have used your Videos for 6 YEARS to help me Re-model my house and now, my Son's house. Tile, Porch Repair, Walkway Repair ... one Successful project after another! YOU - are My HERO !!! ... and I LOVE your Music. Can't Thank You enough ... you've saved me $ Thousands $ ... and given me the COURAGE to tackle jobs that Contractors have turned down. Wm Brown, CRNA Retired.
thanks BIll, I appreciate that, makes me feel good about passing it along and making my videos, thanks again, mike
mike your great my friend , thanks I have alittle exsperents laboring years ago .. but now doing some home repair like your ways . I was abaker did a lot of mixing buddy.
thank you. mike
Thanks Mate, you made my day! I love it.
thanks Bill, I am glad if it helps, mike
Oh no, those 80 lb cement bags have been sitting in my garage for over a month. I better run out and put plastic bags on them if it's not too late. I wish I had seen this the day I purchased those bags. Thanks so much, Mike, you make it look easy.
Thanks Luis, Mike