How To Lay Block Fast and Easy! 

Such a gorgeous book - each shed is unique and inspiring, and I love all the tiny details Kotite features to help readers imagine how to create their own She Sheds ru-vid.comUgkxe9yi0sulKgsp0VJJCIrLWWkvVqcU7LFR . The feature on Dinah's Rustic Retreat is like something from a fairy tale. It's really inspiring to see how creative all these ordinary people are in making beautiful and useful spaces on a modest scale.

we've been using that system in the Caribbean for decades, am happy to know they are finally coming up to speed

Been a blocklayer for over 40 years. We use story poles on buildings with 6 corners or less. We do a lot of custom homes with dozens of corners, It is really time consuming to set up twenty sets of story poles. Plus all the steel. We are all fast and accurate building leads, so we make great time with our levels.Some one with limited experience would do well with the story pole method. This is a great system for rectangular basements and simple one story buildings. You explained it well.

50 years of masonry, use story poles in the 70,s I love masonry wish I could teach. Good job men!

I am a have 3 years experience as a carpenter, I have gained so much knowledge from you, u & your crew our TRUE MASTERS! Thank you kindly, MEXICO soon to be living & retiring permanently in SPAIN ! Blessings

Spent several years working with steel and was around many block layers, amazing how fast the good ones can go.

I'm a labor at a masonry company but I'm usually so busy I really can't pay attention to the little details I need to move up guys like me really appreciate these types of videos thanks.

Excellent explanation. Thank you. I was so impressed with how accurate his trowel movements were. NICE!

I think this is a great video and great idea for those who don't have a decade or more of block laying experience. It's a reliable and repeatable process with the whole thing being tied to the science and precision of the laser. Setup may be a little (maybe a lot) slower but once done someone who doesn't do this every day can move quickly. I'm going to use this on my build next year. Thanks for sharing it.

It's great to look back at these older vids and see just how far you've come as far as making your videos. Thank you for the instruction and entertainment!

Doing it like this 50yrs ago. And similar setups were used long before me. But there are so many "tricks" to make life easy. Always amused me how many "skilled" men won't and don't use them.

It's fascinating to watch masons do their magic. You make it look easy but anyone who has been around block construction knows it is a real skill!

Outstanding results using a story pole . That's what I was taught it was called .good job young man

Like the way you took the time to set up a proper profile and level.

TX3 for sharing masterful instructions...... never get hurt or hurt the project making it more expensive than hiring reputable cost effective professionals with seasoned tight muscles to do it comfortably faster and easier.

Very good!! I've been worried about not having mine leveled in the next month. This restored my faith. Im subscribing. Your steps are attainable to do for any skill levels.

I'm in the middle of building a 10 ft high block wall garage (38'x40') using this method. I couldn't imagine doing it by setting up each corner and trying to do it that way. Thank you so much for this video. Saving me every day!

Thank you. I am not a professional so this gives me confidence!

gee and i thought i was the only one still using this method, i learnt it from an old dude when i was younger , its an awesome method :) great to see others are using it

THANK YOU.......I LEARN SOMETHING EVERY TIME I WATCH YOUR VIDEOS.......I AM A CUSTOM HOME BUILDER.......55 YEARS

The guys who've done it for nn yrs don't understand the rest of us who are not in the business ARE interested in the techniques. I want to know how many have reached out as you have to help teach the next generation or those who are just plain interested in how to do things the right way.

Amazing video. Very professional. Never seen anything like it. Industrial and professional contractors instead of the home DIYer. But this can be done with precision and wisdom at home. Very intelligent and well thought-out....ingenious technique. Thanks so much for sharing !!

Great for people who don't lay block for a living. Was taught by an old professional a few decades back who did not need to use story poles, and he could lay down over 800 on a shift with someone mixing mud. Me, I was lucky to get a dozen in a half day until he showed me. Outstanding video.

I never knew exactly how that was done and you were able to explain this Art in a well constructed video in less than 10 minutes! Thank You Sir!

hello thank you very much Perkins Builder Brothers, thanks for making block laying easier for us and we really do appreciate your teaching. Am from Africa country called the Gambia, am studying construction technician at Gambia Technical Training Institute (GTTI). we will always keep on learning from your teachings

The algorithm brought me here. Good stuff! Now back to the new ADU!

Its funny how you guys look far more confident and relaxed in your recent videos than in the older videos. No smile, no jokes either. keep up the good work. Cheers!

1/32 " is nothing short of amazing, that is real craftsmanship!

About to build my first block wall. This was very helpful, Thank you

Remarkable! If I was 50 years young and had another life, I would subscribe. Great teaching.

This video is excellent the amount of detail and ease of understanding is better than most and you explain it while you show it close up where a lot of people explain it and point in the direction of something that have already done which I find confusing I learn by doing so this video is very simple thank you

You guys are freaking awesome, your willingness to share your techniques make it possible for those with some skills to approach these tasks with confidence. I am breaking ground in Eastern Tennessee this year and building on a slope and using the walk out basement design. Thank you again....

Quality layout and technique. Very nice work. Your layout time on the front end is time very well spent. 👍🏼

Great system. Thank you. I’m doing a porch for myself later this year. (Spring)

Can't find anyone to lay my basement walls but with my limited experience was afraid to tackle it myself. I had this same idea and lo and behold your video was exactly what I was looking for. Thank you!

Good morning from Auckland, New Zealand ...great clip!!!

It is good to learn diferant methods to work.it went slow however it was all leval and accurate..good job fellas keep up the good work..

Great video. I plan to build a small 1600 ft cabin on piers this spring it's always helpful to have information from someone who knows.

Thank you. It is obvious, that if the narrator / job-foreman were not filming and acting and directing, that he and his crew would be totally focused on the task of laying bricks. I see the critics in other subjects forget that aspect of these kind of videos.

thank you for taking the time to teach those whom others can't be bothered with...great video

I don’t care about the professionals but I have never lay a brick 🧱 in my life but by watching this video I’m gonna go build me a home.

I LOVE THAT INTRO hahaha! thought I've seen them all and YT just put this in my feed. This was about to be the best construction video game ever. You have a very creative mind Erik!!!

Very nice idea. I will be doing my foundation next week and I needed that advice. Thank you

Well done Perkins - B&B, Great video, Ive done block n brick work over the years and was taught to lay out your bottom course "dry", after that, your corners, and if there level n plumb, the rest of the walls will be too. You did a fine job too. I also was taught, that a lot of people do the same job different ways, but "we" all get the job done on site. I also have been taught to encourage one another and help them out when needed. Way To Go Perkins, Job well done sir. U.S.M.C.

I really enjoyed that.very informative.and clearly explained.well done.exellent job.

Very nicely done fellows...the best examples of professional work!!!

I'm a tender in southern California. Enjoyed you're video, always up for learning new tricks to the trade

One of the few trades I never quite got proficient at but I really appreciate framing on some quality block foundation/stem walls. Cool tip.

Awesome, many thanks for sharing your skill and experience :). ( from Australia)

Very good very informative video, I'm a landscaper over here in England. Thanks for posting it!

Good video. I like open ended w/ tappered ends, a.k.a."speed block"- No buttering ends while laying. Goes quicker and actually produces a much stronger wall because concrete readily flows among/thru the courses w/o the "dams" that the closed end blocks have.. I've built in some areas that even suppliers have never seen them.

Excellent! Being in the trades my whole life, I always looked for the " keys to the kingdom " as in tricks of the trade... Thanks to you, at 62'... I am adding these tips to my " Redneck Repertoire " !!! Appreciate the leg up young man, KUDO'S. Seth

awesome videos man. been hooked learning home building. its a dream of mine to build my own house. 28 years old. almost a journeyman electrician. was in the grocery retail business before i decided there was not enough money in it for me. love working with my hands and building things. thanks so much for teaching this stuff. appreciate how you cover all climates. i live in wisconsin and obviously we have pretty harsh winters some years. freezing thawing freezing thawing. kinda addicted to your channel sir. kudos

Wow thanks a lot for sharing your thoughts your knowledge your experience to public wish you good luck

good stuff! if your footing isn't level make sure you start your bottom row off your high point you will have a hard time if your row comes up on a high spot in the footing.

The corner leveling is a great idea! Never seen that technique before

Good thinking will do that for myself level Street and Plum good job

Thanks for sharing your expertise, awesome idea !! Swiped it,

I just to say thank you for this video. I picked up some things I was not sure of.

Fifty years ago, when things seemed simpler, I set up for and served five masons, block and brick. One Italian, one German, one Irishman, one African American and a Russian. They drove me like a mule. I loved it. BTW, I'm American.

Hey mate from Australia here,this video help me a lot thank you.keep the good job👍👍👍

Excellenty. The best plum, well balanced and squared staring point for lay out block I have ever seen. You guys are in the genius category.

That's great my legendary 💯👍 Some day I will be like you I'm done studying Ur legend when it comes to building

As a civil engineer,the video is lit for those with no skill. Good job

Gr8 video m8 ... Thanks for sharing just built extension on my house wished I used ur idea !!

Yes in Holland too piece of plywood 4 by 6 inch on foundation than toenail wooden profile 3*3 inch on top of IT with duplexnails to brace we use 2*1 inch also duplexnails

Thanks for this useful video, please keep us posted with more interesting videos like this one

That was awesome! 🎉 Thank you for sharing. God bless you..

good job guys, I am mason too, with only 20 years of experience, I love lay block and brick.

Greetings from the Emerald Isle of Ireland, a fellow Bricklayer, never used DM, you guys know your stuff, great job,👍👍👍

The profiles make for an quick and easier, great watch for a retired BRICKIE builder. 👍

Is that a woodpecker I hear tapping ? AMATEURS

Excellent tutorial. Minimizes error in plumb and level of the walls. Of course i would get resistance from the older masons who like to take their time building corners and then fill in the line. There was only one story pole on my jobs which had all the courses as well as sill and lintel heights marked clearly for the cornermen to follow. They would pass it from corner to corner verifying their heights. I was a union contractor and i believe we were not allowed to speed up the job using fixed corner poles. I worked in NYC and never tried to use freestanding poles on an open site. Sometimes we would have veneer jobs where i could attach a straightedge vertically and run line blocks off them. I feel the work quality is the priority and you must do all you can to achieve this.

Fantastic job. I wish more builders took that little bit of prep time to make the job perfect. #subscribed

I will probably never do anything like this myself but being a new homeowner it's always good to know how things are done. It's like buying a new tool. You may not need it at that very moment but when you do. Wait a minute I have one of those. Always enjoy learning and great presentation.

I ve seen the Mexican guys lay blocks like Legos. I've never seen this contraption!!! And they do make it fast and easy .

I’m building a raised patio… I have miles to go and questions unanswered. You have no idea how much I appreciate finding this video. This helps me tremendously with the concerns I had… So I truly thank you for the content you put out and for explaining each step thoroughly and clearly. You guys are amazing! " DIY wouldn’t be easily conquered without you guys. Thank you for making my day. Thank you for being my teacher. : ) Halle

First time I saw your video. Very nice. You earned another subscriber.

That was soooo helpful. Corner poles ive never tried. Mine were a mess. Thx so much. You guys kick.

I’m presently laying up a basement using this technique. Instead of metal tubing, I’m using 4x4s but they work well to run the mason lines. Thanks for the idea.

What a beautiful location! I love when I get to do a job with a beautiful view.

Nice technique! Good to see people working smarter rather than harder.

Cool video guy straight to the point .I'm going start a block wall today .

OUTSTANDING.... MUCH RESPECT..THANK YOU FOR SHARING THIS INFORMATION

Thank you for the tip, appreciated.

As someone who’s just laid my first two 20x6’ walls, a couple things to mention for other first timers (that are probably too obvious to mention from the pros): (1) Stack your blocks were you plan to use them. Moving blocks around will wear you out really quick. (2) Mortar consistency is everything. To thick won’t stick. To thin will squash out of place. Mortar sets up and becomes thicker after the reaction starts, so give it a good ten minutes after first mixing it up before adding more water. (3) Just rent a mixer. Mixing in a wheel barrow quickly becomes the second most tiring part (after moving blocks that you didn’t setup where you were working). (4) Wet the blocks. We did it on a super hot day, and used a garden hose spray head to keep the blocks moist. Mortar doesn’t stick to dry blocks, like at all. We thought the whole thing was going to be a futile mess until we figured this out. (5) The trowel technique for spreading mortar isn’t nearly as difficult as it looks. You can figure it out. (6) Cutting blocks is super gross, wear a mask if you use a cutoff masonary wheel, or (speaking from experience) you’ll literally be coughing up dust for a few hours afterward. Those are just the things I didn’t catch from any of the videos, and wish I knew before my project! Good luck 🤞

From Algeria thanks you big Man for your help .Learning and great presentation .Cool video

God bless you and your team for your teachings

I have been a stone mason for over 35 years. I love this I'm just wondering about the practicality. I'm relatively a quick block layer, I guess I'll give it a try and see how it works. You never stop learning. Thanks men

Great job! My son and I are building two houses on 20 acres we bought a few years ago. Building a homestead/farm for our two families. Doing almost everything ourselves. This looks like a great option should we decide to go with block crawl space walls. Only 4 feet high but we have zero block experience.

You guys make it look so easy. Thanks for the video

Well i have some news for you. Back in the 60s, the mason contractor we used was using manufactured aluminum poles just like that. But the vast majority of professional masons did not, and still dont, at least for laying block. When the corner poles got a bit old and slightly damaged, our mason stopped using them as well. As for level, most builders attempt to get the footing as close as they can to being level. But for various reasons they can sometimes vary a bit. Most masons will have a transit level or a lazer level to check the footing before they start laying block. That will tell them how to adjust the mortar joints on the corners as they are laying the block. Same as you are doing by marking the poles for the various coarses of block. Also by the time they have gotten up to what will be the scaffold height, the wall will as a rule be level all way around. My father was a bricklayer by trade. He was born in 1906, and became an apprentis bricklayer as a teen ager. That was long before what were called cinder block were even created. His opinion of the corner poles was that they were created for masons that really werent masons. Same as many of the other building products being used today. Need i elaborate on that?

In the Netherlands we bild all our houses this way. the last 500 years.. What an invitation you did.

Profiles is what they are called in Ireland been using them for thirty years, aluminium profiles we use👍🇮🇪

You are so professional brother 🎉

Wow ! Finally someone answered my question

Lot of commenters botching this takes too much time: never enough time to do it right but plenty of time to do it twice huh? How much time do you think it takes to chase a poorly laid block wall through the entire build when the wall is out? If you want to do fast shitty work then go work on tract shacks in Cali with the border brothers. Glad to see some fellas taking their time to do the best job they can and making sure the result is a high quality one.

I did a lot of solid construction in brickwork the same way...save mega hours and is extremely accurate!

El Canelo with Perfect English explaining how to Lay Block n_n Dude!!.. If you go to any Mexican Restaurant, am sure you'll get some free meals, them mexicans love their Canelo...

Brilliant, you make it look so easy!