Blunderbuss Posted June 13, 2017 Report Share Posted June 13, 2017 My good lady has an eye on a greenhouse kit that sits on a dwarf wall. I'm OK ish at DIY and practical stuff, if I take my time, but I've never laid any bricks before. How easy is it for a complete beginner to get a good result on a small project like this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldypigeonpopper Posted June 13, 2017 Report Share Posted June 13, 2017 (edited) hello, pretty easy for the foundation concrete 10/12inch thick with width as you want 15inc? or if hard ground concrete blocks on side should take weight put on a bed of mortar, for brick laying you can buy a gadget that puts the right amount of mortar on each brick ( B and Q called the brick easy) then just face off with trowel, wait till nearly dry and use trowel handle end to smooth joints, mortar can be purchased ready mixed bags, concrete can work out square meter at builders merchant and get aggri/cement/ you dont say how big but i put my 10 x 8 ft on blocks as stated, oh and a bricky level, am sure there are U TUBEY VIDS, good luck and good growing Edited June 13, 2017 by oldypigeonpopper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest cookoff013 Posted June 13, 2017 Report Share Posted June 13, 2017 http://bricky.com/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnfromUK Posted June 13, 2017 Report Share Posted June 13, 2017 String, yards of it - in all directions! That's the secret. Seriously - use string lines to get everything straight and level - and keep checking its going vertical with a level. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spandit Posted June 13, 2017 Report Share Posted June 13, 2017 Remember it will look a bit gash until you point it afterwards which can cover a multitude of sins! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Me matt Posted June 13, 2017 Report Share Posted June 13, 2017 (edited) hello, pretty easy for the foundation concrete 10/12inch thick You trying to kill the fella? Seriously- mate of mine built a truck park in lakeside with a similar spec...... Edited June 13, 2017 by Me matt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Me matt Posted June 13, 2017 Report Share Posted June 13, 2017 Practice practice practice. It takes a fair while to develope trowel skills- and you've got to look at it for the next X ammonut of years. If in doubt get someone in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest stevo Posted June 13, 2017 Report Share Posted June 13, 2017 bricklaying ................ peice of cake mate , a monkey could do it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Mighty Prawn Posted June 13, 2017 Report Share Posted June 13, 2017 Following on from my door thread - have a go, you might surprise yourself!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ollieollie Posted June 13, 2017 Report Share Posted June 13, 2017 Where abouts in Shropshire are you? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blunderbuss Posted June 13, 2017 Author Report Share Posted June 13, 2017 (edited) Good tips all, cheers. A bit of Internet research, some you tube videos and a small practice wall before I start I think! Where abouts in Shropshire are you? 5 miles north of Ludlow Edited June 13, 2017 by Blunderbuss Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scotslad Posted June 13, 2017 Report Share Posted June 13, 2017 It probably depends on how tidy and precise u have to be. Not rocket science to build at a basic level if u have a bit of common sense, but to do a real tidy job or tricky bits (or sole problems if something goes wrong) does take more knowledge/skill. And as someone said earlier do u have to look at it all the time or is it hidden While it is not hard to build a few courses of bricks/blocks it might be harder getting them spot on and tidy to fit the greenhouse, just depend how precise u have to be for the grenhouse and if u have to look at it every day if u make a mess. Even getting something square is not always easy depending on the size. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonker Posted June 13, 2017 Report Share Posted June 13, 2017 (edited) Spend your time on the corners for level and plumb, then run the line and make the top ***** of the brick correspond to the line. If you brick touches the line too hard you will move it outwards and then the next brick is out as well and so on. If your only doing a course or two then no worries crack on, you wont go far enough wrong to worry about because your corners are good. Good luck, honestly anyone can build as it's all in a book somewhere. Trowel skill comes with practice it'll feel like a shovel to start. Don't know why they blanked that out it is the proper name for the edge of a brick a/r/r/i/s see if this works Edited June 13, 2017 by tonker Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldypigeonpopper Posted June 13, 2017 Report Share Posted June 13, 2017 You trying to kill the fella? Seriously- mate of mine built a truck park in lakeside with a similar spec...... hello, oh never thought of that ok stick to plan B and put bricks on to concrete blocks, save all that mixing it will save time for more shooting!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fortune Posted June 13, 2017 Report Share Posted June 13, 2017 In the summer of 1987 The wife built the brick and block walls for our garage. It survived the hurricane and is still there and upright 30 years later. She's a dab hand at painting and wallpapering as well. No, I don't hire her out on sub contract work. I need her to get my dinner sorted first. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blunderbuss Posted June 13, 2017 Author Report Share Posted June 13, 2017 In the summer of 1987 The wife built the brick and block walls for our garage. It survived the hurricane and is still there and upright 30 years later. She's a dab hand at painting and wallpapering as well. No, I don't hire her out on sub contract work. I need her to get my dinner sorted first. I'll buy you a Maccy D, and she can come and sort my wall? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fortune Posted June 13, 2017 Report Share Posted June 13, 2017 I'll buy you a Maccy D, and she can come and sort my wall? I might consider asking if that includes a ghurkin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vampire Posted June 13, 2017 Report Share Posted June 13, 2017 Have a go its only a green house,make sure its square 345 and level so the green house actually sits on the base. I was bricking on price work in second year of college,would not have been able to do a base with no experience,but that was before internet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chady Posted June 13, 2017 Report Share Posted June 13, 2017 If it goes wrong lean how to render! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twistedsanity Posted June 14, 2017 Report Share Posted June 14, 2017 I built a 3ft tall decorative brick wall when i was 16, I'm now 48 and the horror still haunts me to the extent I have never tried again, goodluck, and learn how to render Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blunderbuss Posted June 14, 2017 Author Report Share Posted June 14, 2017 If it goes wrong lean how to render! I built a 3ft tall decorative brick wall when i was 16, I'm now 48 and the horror still haunts me to the extent I have never tried again, goodluck, and learn how to render Ha ha! Good advice :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farcombehall Posted June 14, 2017 Report Share Posted June 14, 2017 I've been bricklaying for 45 years and would like a pound for every time someone said that looks easy, by the time you have brought everything and the time spent on it and if its wrong its all a waste just pay a local builder to do it!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blunderbuss Posted June 14, 2017 Author Report Share Posted June 14, 2017 I've been bricklaying for 45 years and would like a pound for every time someone said that looks easy, by the time you have brought everything and the time spent on it and if its wrong its all a waste just pay a local builder to do it!!I have never said it's easy. It looks difficult and I'm sure it is much, much harder than it looks. I would never knock a skilled tradesman of any type. I hear what you are saying and I suspect you're right. However, it's not about saving a few quid, I get a buzz out of trying new things and learning new skills. I have plenty of time, so if it takes me 10 times longer than a brickie would, it doesn't matter. I'm going to read up, watch a LOT of YouTube vids and build a practice wall before I start. And best of all, a kind PW member who is a proffesional brickie has offered to advise and help if necessary. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonker Posted June 14, 2017 Report Share Posted June 14, 2017 (edited) You'll find it an education . The only tip I will give you as most of what you're going to do will seem difficult at first (but isn't) and that is get your muck right, and you won't be fighting it all the time (too wet/too dry) oh!! and use admix or similar, not washing up liquid as too much of this will kill the cement in the muck and make it powdery. Edited June 14, 2017 by tonker Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Winston72 Posted June 14, 2017 Report Share Posted June 14, 2017 http://bricky.com/ this, I can fit boilers and rads all day to perfection, give me bricks and a trowel and i look like a pig with a screwdriver, this device works great, built my own 900mm high walls for a gazebo/bbq and it looks awesome Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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