How to Simplify Your Bricklaying Duties

Laying brick after brick can be tiresome work, especially when the hot months come around. With residential construction continuing to rise in popularity there is a growing demand for bricklayers.

But, making sure you can complete the bricklaying job easily and without detriment to the health of staff or the environment is important. Many bricklaying companies still follow outdated practices and use old technology on the job site. Using outdated methods and technology can not only be unsafe, but it will reduce productivity which waste time and money for your pocket.

So, it’s important when laying bricks that you’ve got the best tools to make the job as easy as possible. Find out more below…

Transporting Your Bricks

With modern technology allowing for more easy transportation, there is less need to be carrying bricks.

Moving bricks around a worksite can be back-breaking work. If you want to move bricks easier and safer, purchase yourself a mini conveyor belt or brick elevator. This will save you from having to move bricks around the site all day, and makes getting bricks up to the second store a breeze. This will save you money in both time and labour.

Get yourself a decent wheelbarrow or brick barrow. Not one of those flimsy ones from the DIY store – get one with a reinforced base and solid steel legs. Something that won’t buckle under a bit of pressure and will last you the long haul.

Safely moving materials on the job is important. Safe Work Australia states that the construction industry accounted for 11 per cent of all serious compensation claims from workers in Australia. Many of these incidents could have been avoided using safe tools.

What Tools Make Bricklaying Easier?

A professional bricklayer should have a complete tool kit to ensure they are getting the job done with ease. If a bricklayer’s kit is incomplete certain aspects of their job cannot be fulfilled, so it is important to make sure you have the right tools for the job.

Common bricklayers tools include a range of brick trowels, each fulfilling different purposes. You can get different sizes and types of brick trowels to suit different projects and make the job easier.

Some of these include:

• The London Gentleman or the Filthy Phil. The London’s sharp heel forces the mud to be loaded further forward on the trowel. This makes it more suited for buttering and spreading for bricks. The Philadelphia trowel has a flatter heel. That gives the bricklayer more room for mud and is great for saving time with bigger cement blocks.
• Your standard brick trowels come in different sizes with the most preferred option in Australia as the 12 inch size. But to prevent wrist fatigue and repetitive strain injury – it’s a good idea to try some different sizes to work out what is best for you.
• Most brick trowels available in Australia come with a standard shank height. This is the best for low brickwork. The shank height that is best for you is the one that keeps your wrist straight. Speciality masonry stores like us can help you source different heights to try.
• Pointing Trowel: These are the smallest trowels in a bricklayer’s kit. They are used for pointing work and other small jobs.
• Caulking Trowel: This trowel makes is very easy to be able to get into those hard to get places such as brick joints, with its long narrow head.

Use the above tools to help simplify your work and save time, costs and ensuring safety.

Find Out More at Canberra Diamond Blade

Did you know that Canberra Diamond Blade specialise in professional bricklaying tools. We have the tools and know-how to are always happy to help you out.

Did you enjoy this article? Check out some of our other great articles like:

– Rendering Internal Walls? Your Ultimate Guide

– What’s the Best Brick Trowel?

– Tips for Improving Your Brick Laying Technique

– How to choose a masonry drill bit for your project

– Which Wheelbarrow is Best for Mixing Cement?

Just give us a call on 02 6242 8996 and don’t forget we deliver Australia wide!