First Weeks

Here is a post which is a collection of some of the first projects completed during the first semester. Before this point i had never buttered a single brick, so these were the fist steps.

 Here you can see some of the first bricks I ever buttered. We were using Carotex, which you can reuse once it is wet. This class was in August and the thunderstorms washed away some of our Carotex by the time we returned the next week to start on the wall again.

 In this photo we have finished our first wall. The bricks on the bottom four courses were a different type so we had to learn about spacing issues. Those bricks are also white from the Carotex washing off in a thunderstorm. All in all I was happy how it turned out, It was the first wall I have ever built. After we took photos we tore it down and washed off all the Carotex mortar, so we could reuse the bricks next time.

In this photo I have started learning how to build and butter with block. It is a slightly different process then brick and you want your mortar to be thicker then regular brick mortar to support the increased weight of the block.

Today I learn how to build corners. Some of the others in class built corners last week and are now building with block. Me and 3 other classmates each have a corner on a projected square that is to rise 6 courses. We learn to "hog out" on the bottom course, or to add more mortar then usual to make up for the uneven surface where we are sent to build. Building corners especially the first course accuracy is very important, because any mistake you make will follow you up the wall. Here Is my first corner.

This week one other classmate and I are instructed to work on corners again. This time I felt more comfortable than the last time. We were able to do with only two people what had taken us 4 the week before, so we are making good progress. Each week it feels less awkward to butter brick, so I am able to move a little faster.