Hey there, y’all! Today, we’re gonna talk ’bout layin’ bricks. You know, them red things folks use to build stuff? Yeah, them. It ain’t rocket science, I tell ya. Even this ol’ lady can do it, so you can too!
First off, what you gonna need? Well, you need them bricks, of course. And some sticky stuff called mortar. It’s like mud, but it holds things together real good. You’ll also need a trowel – that’s a flat kinda shovel thingy – and maybe a bucket or two. Don’t forget a hammer, ’cause sometimes them bricks need a little convincin’. And gloves, unless you wanna get your hands all messed up.
Now, there’s different ways to lay bricks, but I’m gonna tell you the easy way. The way I learned it, no fancy stuff. You see, some folks, they talk about “adhesive” and “modified mortar” and all that. Sounds like a bunch of hooey to me. Just get yourself some regular mortar and you’ll be fine.
- Step one: Get that mortar ready. You gotta mix it up with water, not too wet, not too dry. Just right, like makin’ biscuits. It should be kinda like thick oatmeal, you know? You don’t want it runny, or them bricks gonna slide all over the place.
- Step two: Spread that mortar. Take your trowel and slap some of that mortar down where you want your brick to go. Make it a good thick layer, but not too thick. Just enough to hold the brick steady. Some folks say you gotta make a “trench” in the mortar, but I just slap it on there. Works just fine.
- Step three: Stick that brick down. Take your brick and plop it right on top of that mortar. Push it down a little, wiggle it around a bit, make sure it’s sittin’ right. You want it level, you know? Not crooked like a dog’s hind leg. And keep them bricks close together, but not too close. Gotta leave a little space for more mortar.
Keep doin’ that, brick after brick. It’s like a puzzle, kinda. You gotta fit them bricks together so they make a wall, or a path, or whatever you’re buildin’. And don’t forget to wet them bricks a little before you lay ’em. Just a splash of water, not soakin’ wet. Why? Well, some smart folks say if you don’t wet ’em, they suck all the water out of the mortar and then the mortar gets all crumbly. I dunno about all that, but I always wet my bricks and they seem to stay put.
Now, some folks talk about “thin brick.” That’s just fancy talk for bricks that ain’t as thick. You lay ’em the same way, just takes more of ’em to make a wall. And some folks talk about “step-by-step instructions” and “complex tasks.” Pshaw! It ain’t that hard. Just spread the mortar, stick the brick, and keep on goin’. That’s all there is to it.
After you lay a few bricks, you might need to clean up a bit. That mortar can get messy, you know? Just take your trowel and scrape off any extra mortar that squeezed out from between the bricks. And if you get some mortar on your bricks, wipe it off with a damp sponge before it dries. Makes things look a whole lot neater.
And that’s pretty much it. Lay in’ bricks ain’t hard work, just takes a little patience and a little elbow grease. You keep at it, and you’ll have yourself a nice brick somethin’ or other in no time. Just remember, don’t rush it, take your time and do it right. Remember measure twice cut once, if you don’t measure you gonna have a crooked wall and no one wants a crooked wall.
One more thing, them bricks they soak up water, see? If you just lay em down dry they gonna suck all the water right outta the mortar. Then the mortar ain’t gonna be strong and your wall gonna be weak and fall right down. So before you go laying them bricks you gotta wet em down good. Just dunk em in a bucket of water or hose em down. That way they don’t suck up all the water and your wall stays strong.
Now go on and get yourself some bricks and get to work. Don’t be scared. It ain’t nothin’ but a bunch of rocks and mud, and even this ol’ lady can handle that. You can too! And if you mess up, who cares? Just knock ’em down and start over. That’s the nice thing about bricks, you can always do it over.
And remember, if you get tired, just take a break. No need to rush. Layin’ bricks ain’t a race. Just take your time, do it right, and you’ll be proud of what you built. Even if it ain’t perfect, it’s yours. And that’s all that matters.
