the fine art of brickwork - semi circular arch 

Just listening to him at work is so soothing! The hammering, the trowel, other tools being scraped, knocked, tapping, various birds songs, sounds in the distance, his footsteps, I'm sure I could hear a cockerel somewhere around there, The sound of the feedback of the wind on the microphone ... All of it just over 20 minutes of soothing bliss, that simply finished too quickly! If I could audio loop it to play it over and over again ... I would! 😆💞

I did my C&G Brickwork course in 1988 where we never practiced any tech drawing luckily I did it at school which helped.I love the way you mark everything out dry - which was frowned upon in my day, believe it or not you were supposed to do it all in your head - I made so many mistakes, and was called so many names I dont really know how I stuck at it.

This guy makes it look so simple I feel I could do it.... I just know I couldn't, those little ideas that just simplify it, doing the dry run in the sand then transferring the joints to the arch mind blown!!!

What a bricklayer master. Well done.

You are a man with few words. Well done.

Rob, Your work simply amazes me. You really represent true artisanship in our field of masonry. Always a pleasure to see your videos. Post up some more! I'd really like to see what else you're working on. Keep it up!

Wow, you make it look so simple. What a skill!

Joy to watch a craftsman at work....thanks for posting the video

From one bricklayer to another you sir are top drawer. Pleasure to watch your videos. 👌

Excellent work Rob! I'm a Level 3 Bricklayer at college about to start something like this for my final bricklaying practical assignment. Mines on a curve with a buttress pier

Cares about his work👍. Thanks mate I am only 16 and this will help me with my projects

Excellent craftsmanship. Cheers.

Hi rob I have been watching you're videos for about a year now and I think you're work is brilliant

Fantastic Work - Looks Beautiful. I Wouldn't Have The Patience ( OR SKILL ) To Do That.

Beauty, nice work, thanks for the detailed video.

Haha your the first brickie i see building an arch and wearing a gold watch,thats confidence Rob,love the videos by the way

"you are awesome"! and it shows, in just how methodical you are , in measuring and getting it all to come together,,, you really did a great job! thanks alot! oh and i wont be leaving my morter out in the sunlight,, i'm glad i caught your tip on that, cuz i'm bout to be starting my project tomorrow,, take care༄

this man is a very accurate builder, what would be ideal is if you could get him to talk while he is building this arch and add a completely new dimension of audio to this video!

Really nice work and very good to see how the arch is made and the setting out of the profile. Hopefully some people still teach these skills to younger people . Well done Rob

Great job. I am working on a house right now and there isn't much space for bricks, but my next project will include brick work. I will look for one. Thanks a lot.

Helpful Video Rob. Thanks much.

Class work as always.. liked the bit with the bricks in the sand.. from and Irish bricklayer

truly skilled,glad i actually get to see how this amazing technique is done,thank you sir!

Thank you for making these inspiring videos.

No yakking....just working. Good job!👍

Been bricklaying for a few years now. About to build my first arch like this tomorrow.

Great to see someone taking such care and pride in their work! Sadly, uncommon these days. Beautiful job, Thank you.

Songer , aqui no Brasil nos temos argamassa industrial, mas nos fazemos a massa como desejamos por conta do custo, o beneficio é bom, por termos materiais em abundancia, uma pergunta, temos que usar só a argamassa industrial?

Brilliant video! I’ve been interested in learning this technique for a really long time. Two questions. 1. What were the little metal brackets in the vertical legs of the opening, and how are they installed? 2. How was the reusable arch center constructed? Steel drywall track?

Again excellent work! I would like to become as handy as you are....

Thank you. This is a wonderful job you have demonstrated. Just loved it!

Grate job mate 👌🏼

Hi, nice work Just a question, after how long do you remove the wooden arch support? the mortar was fully dry, or not totally to get a good stabilization?

this was just a day rate, I charge between £120-£150/day. so the arch itself was a day, the blockwork was 2 days, and the dentil work and tiles was another day and a half. All in all it cost about £450

fantastic job well done

Muito bom amigo, parabéns pelo belo trabalho!

Simply beautiful.

Am happy with the bricklayers who have put the videos on RU-vid. People are learning more from there videos. I like watching these videos. From Zambia.

Rob, great video.. on an arch for a porch, would you simply tie in the brick , insulation and blocks all the way round the arch ? Cheers

Hi, and thanks for commenting. The point made regarding if the bricks are upside down or not. I agree all bricks must be laid frog up to ensure the next bed joint completely fills the frog to give a full bond, strength and a wall without pockets for moisture to collect. So brickwork in every location must be laid this way. (with the exception of creepers) With brick-on-edge, soldier courses and over arches applying the perp joints should always ensure the frog is filled then the brick is laid.

Very Nice brother. I love it

Well done top Brickie

very nice job.but does it make sense to be setting up profiles and still be left in a position were you have to use the level on every brick to my mind useing profiles should eliminate the need to use the level apart from the odd check to make sure the profiles are still plumb etc.if you had set up maybe 2 more profiles on either side of the ope you would have covered all points and you could have left your level down apart from the odd check

Rob Songer- Great work, are these soft red bricks? Do you remember the Aldeburgh Handmade Red Bricks -What mortar mix would you recomend for use with these? Im thinking a 1:1:6 as Im reparing a brick arch which I think was built with a 1:4 mortar and as a result bit too strong and has caused delamination of the brick face\skin Its basically two pillars with 2 course of bricks in header bond above. I was inspecting the pointing and testing the integrity and discovered 3 bricks on the top can be lifted off and only the weight is holding it up. What would I need to do regards supporting the structure whilst bricks are rebedded.

Hello Rob. Could you please make a video about classic english flat jack arch, I have been trying to find a video tutorial about it for a long time, but unsuccessful. Thank you!

Job well Done!

Качественная подготовка предполагает качественный результат! Роб - Мастер!

What was the marking of the parallel line for ? at 16 27 sec in

brilliant video mate

Hi rob what are your learning packages and how do you watch them

hi..thanks for posting these helpful videos..i wonder if you could help me? im trying to build an arch former for a curved wall and have confused myself as to how to cut the plywood accurately..its only an opening for a bbq 500mm wide at springing point. i cant find best way to get correct size voissors. ?

Just doing a semi arch ,did you put plastic on the former so as to make it easy to drop it out of way when arch is done ????. Same method just didn't put any plastic on the former .I allowed 2mm tolerance on the former for ease of getting it down . Nice job like your work neat and tidy ,like myself .

Ohhh seen what you done wedges ,silly me ,I'll do that tomorrow great idea .

Great video. Thanks

Very good!!!

looks interesting . Im a little unsure why you would bother to check for plumb ...... or even level really for that matter . If you consider that you have set up the two yellow levels on the wall . I reckon it would be superflus to constantly check

thank you again for your comment.

Hi Rob, In regards to segmented arches is it a rule that requires an ODD number of Voussoirs bricks be used, positioning the Key brick in the middle/centre of the arch? Or can an EVEN number of bricks be used, making a joint in the middle/centre with an equal number of bricks each side?

Hi rob do you level from back to front on each brick or just do it by eye

Hi Rob. Iam a retired Bricklayer and i have been watching your videos for quite some time now. I think you are a very kind man to share your skills for people today. I was wondering what your 'learning pack' actually is? Thanks very much.

Great Video Rob, one quick question. How long after you completed the arch did you remove the arch form? Reason I'm asking is the clean up and grouting of the voids. Thanks

Good job, pal

Sooper sirr

How is your form built for the arch, it's covered with something and can't figure it out!???

Hi! How long did you wait until you take the form out?

molto bravo.. complimenti

Nice job

good job

Great job sir! Do you think that would work over a span of 17 foot space for brick going the short way?

thanks Rob.. i will try that way. Much appreciated.

Muito bom.

Hi Rob do u do any videos on how to mark a arch out please

······其实，砖瓦厂都可以设计烧制一些《锥形平头砖》；专门供给拱门，窗，小型桥梁所用！

Rob, QUALITY 👍

Excellent work ,a running commentary would enhance the videos

Nice video. I'm subbing.

Any tips to make it stronger ?

Can anyone show me someone who tops this guy on RU-vid I doubt it!!

Artistry

geweldig

butter key brick both sides then lay it trying to push the joint in later is a weak joint but great work

Excelente 👉

can anyone explain me please why is he laying bricks on on the top of another? Is it right to do so?

wow

how did you design the centre piece? that info would be much help

Not bad worked 47 years as a bricklayer loved every minute couldnt wait to get to work unfortunately had a stroke lost ballance and strength was very fit miss job terribly

List tool for semi circular arch

And yes bricks in the sand was great.

Years ago I wanted to do something similar but to remove wood mold around the arch collapsed. The result: five stitches in my ear. Where were you then to have helped? Hahahaha

How much did you get paid for doing work like that

👍

Super

from roman empire, arco a tutto sesto. amazing if we think to all the years passed. III century

Good work :-)

keep up the good work :-)

You ever used a Keystone in the middle!

Did anyone else notice the smiling face in the wooden board standing against the wall?

he shudve used a striker at the end

snail's speed...

by gum that shovels seen some action