This is precisely the way we were taught by our dad in the early 70s'! Thanks for the memories; oh, we never got paid either. We were free labor! As pops would say: I clothed you, fed you, provided a house over your head, and you have these skills for the rest of your life for free! Now get to WORK! LOL, Who else out there heard the same crap? : ) Even better is that my youngest son is teaching my grandchildren the same way. I taught him the same way! Now get to work, grandkids!
I can tell that this remarkable man loves his work. I wished that I had a dad like him when I was growing up. God bless you, and keep up the great work!!
This is probably the best video out there on how to learn how to do a cinderblock wall. I'm working on my own wall right now and referring to this video again when I need to see how something is done! I love how he has little no no excitement about anything. It shows he knows exactly how to do every step of the process!
It's called a "be hole" cause unless you fix it, it will always BE there. True story. I've been laying 8 inch block all week at school. This video was good to watch to reenforce good practice. Thank you.
I think you have just taught an old dog new tricks. I am 80 yrs old you are a very good teacher also the fastest trowel I have seen and such good control. thank you & God bless!
Wisdom with lasting results passed down for generations. Great video watching a professional grandmaster at work with many years of experience. Amazing to watch. The best of the best.
Hi Steve Kelly, this is certainly the VERY BEST basic brick or blocklaying video I have seen ever. Informative, ALL the basic things explained and delivered in a completely down to earth, matter of fact manner that DOESN'T make the mistake of every other video I've watched on this or many other subjects - that of failing to explain those basics, fully and patiently. Not assuming that the viewer "must know how to do this or that". Like the very wall you built, the bottom or first level REALLY IS the most important because every one or thing that follows SHOULD be correct. Thank you so much!
Thank you Steve. I am a leaner by vision ( once I see it ,I got it) and a fast leaner ,so it is important for me to learn things done the right way the first go around. I gotta say you are a very good teacher and you made it easy for me to learn.
I want to thank you, We need more like you, in my trade I’m always happy to teach workers what I know Knowing that with my experience I can help them provide for they’re families with years to come
Thank you Steve I would like to express my gratitude for sharing your experience. I really got a positive result from your educational course in the field of my construction snake.
Loved the video! Wish you would have demonstrated how to tie all that rebar together. Assuming you wire tie the bar, and fill vertical cells with concrete.
Great job teaching the very basics of block laying. Our school district no longer has shop class, auto mechanics, drafting or electronics courses. I have been a general contractor since 1972. I started out as a masonry contractor. These days I can no longer high hire help right out of high school. Kids today really do not have skills with tools or the trades. I have resorted to hiring retirees willing to work a few days per week. At least they show up and are willing to give me a day’s honest labor. Bugaiski Construction, Michigan
Steve, thank you so much! You're an EXCELLENT teacher! My wife and I got a good laugh at your comment, "before you know it, you'll be as good as me.' I told my wife, "yes, in about 30 years.' Again, thank you!
Best video I've seen. I've never laid a block in my life before, tired of rouge builders ripping me off and the constant delays so I'm going to try do it myself by following this clear and easy video. Instructions not followed causes destruction so I'm going to follow Steve's instructions and it should workout fine. Thanks Steve
You lay blocks like my father used to do when he was alive 43 years ago with your eyes closed. I tried 100 times. I couldn’t get the hang of it. So I was stuck mixing the mortar and bringing the blocks over. The mortar would be too thin an slide down the block or too thick to spread also troweling the edge of the blocks are not as easy as it looks. The only difference was that we used 3 hole blocks. It is definitely an art. Some people can do it so easily but for others it’s hard. I was an easy learner. A builder and master electrician by trade. Also was great at mechanical work restoring old cars. Thanks for your excellent video that reminds me of my dad 43 years ago…
Mr. Kelly thank you! Your tone was clear and your voice commands attention. You demonstration was clear, methodical and simple.. You even had a bit of humour.. If you aren't a teacher, I sure hope you consider the need for your texture in the classroom/ field setting of construct education. Looking forward to watch steal fixing!
Thank You Steve, that was an awesome video. I have never laid block before. The tool break down was something else. The technique was fabulous. This video was well explained, thank you sharing your experience with us. We really appreciate you Sir.
Thank you so much for showing the heretofore unknown-by-me secret of how to spread a uniform bead of mortar along the block edge. I had previously watched dozens of videos but never saw it demonstrated so clearly! This will save me a lot of time.
Far out ... this is amazing ... the amount of cement you mix, how wet you should get it, measuring it up, the amount you put on your trowel, how you square things away ... it seems so simple ... how I manage to turn it into a cluster f**k is something I haven't worked out yet but this is a great how-to training video
I Always Try & Get My Info From Someone That Explains Things Nice And Simple, Yet Knows What They're Doing, You Surely Fit That Criteria Sir. I'm About To Build My 1st Stepped Wall For A Flower Bed, I'll Try & Post Pics When I'm Done. Thank You Kevin
Alot of the work was cut off at the bottom which leads me to believe the camera person was not a mason. Or it could be my monitor display was not set to properly view the entire video top to bottom. That aside, the video is very informative. Steve makes it look effortless which is the sign of a true craftsman.
I have done lots of concrete work, I love ICF's but I am block curious. This looks like a nice system. I love seeing how you use your trowel. You are obviously well practiced with masonry work!
Now that's the way my Grandpa layed block. I used to help by carrying the blocks. I want to put up a retaining wall and I hope I can do as good as you. Thanks for the lesson.
How do you know how much mortar to but on bottom and between blocks? Wondering how you got the last block to fit so perfectly at the end of the course row. I know, practice. But is there a trick to this?
I'm obviously no pro but figured Id chime in from all the other videos Ive watched: you're laying an inch of mortar on top and bottom when placing and planning on 3/8" of a mortar gap between blocks. This is the extra you factor in when measuring the walls width for the corners
The ability to build a nice wall that will be around for generations to come is an amazing ability. I was robbed of learning this sort of info from my grandfather. He designed and built the great seal of North Carolina in front of their state house in Raleigh in Terrazzo as well as the elephant house in our national zoo. Watching a true artisan perform his craft is a humbling experience no matter what level of craftsmanship. After all, drawing a perfect circle has won at least one art contest.
Great tutorial video! Perhaps you can provide a little guidelines or rule of thumb on how much horizontal rebars to use for different wall height, it is every other block or ever 2 blocks and how much concrete to fill the blocks with?
Excellent.. only thing I see to improve is use cement mixer. My dad always wanted to wheelbarrow mix his own I know I still have the wheelbarrow.. this is such a craft to know.
This gentleman checking the plumb : -Yep, nice! (gently taps the block)... perfect! Me checking the plumb : -What the hell is going on?!! (furiously tap the block)... Are you kidding me??!!! (furiously tap the block again) 😂 Such a great video.Thanks from France !
Thanks for doing it right your a credit to the trade.as my father told me son it’s as easy to do it right as to do it wrong,know how to use your tools it will be easier.take care of them they make you money ,Your Workman ship will be the difference between u and the next man and keep your job site clean for safety it doesn’t take that much time I’m 60 years old good memories now.Thanks very professional.
Putting aside the masonry part, the camera work and explanations are very well done regardless of the topic. That with the masonry content made a wonderful video. Even though I have watched a number of very good videos I learned a bunch on your video. Thank you.
When I was a kid, around 13-14, in the summers, I tended for my cousins and uncle. They were all union Masons. I could tend for two of em pretty easily. But when there were three, I was hoppin' ! My job was setting them up with block, mixing mud and loading the hocks or boards and striking the block ! We set all of our corners / leads the first day, an easy one ! The next couple of days we ran hard ! 700-1000 block a day was the norm ! We used the older wooden string blocks on the outside of the corners. Those little metal thingies weren't around yet !
