Hello Hello Hello...

raisethelinepig

Hello. I'm an apprentice bricklayer and work for a big commercial outfit that does alot of block work. I would like to start learning to do some architectural brickwork. Can anyone reference some good reading materials for this and such. I very interested in all aspects of masonry and looking for some good books to reference and get me started doing some different projects. Most books get up to arches corbeling and the such, than no more. I live in bucks county, Pennsylvania and want to get into doing some side work next summer. Meanwhile trying to acquire some different skill than just laying block and running bond commercial brick. Any help is appreciated. thank you

Tscarborough

If I were you, the first thing I would do is head out into the countryside or city and look for old buildings, brick and stone. Study them and photograph them, paying attention to specific details, not pictures of the buildings themselves.

You can pick up on details, then research the way it was built, but you will understand it much better when you have put your hands on the actual masonry.

When you see something trick, do the layout in your mind, as well as try and reason why it was done that way. Many decorative features actually have sound structural or weatherprrofing logic behind them.

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It ain't Rocket Science unless you are building rockets.

raisethelinepig

thank you very much

Tscarborough

Here is my masonry shelf.

http://www.librarything.com/catalog....gh&tag=Masonry

From it, I would recommend:

How to specify and use masonry mortar

Recommended practices for concrete block

Building block walls : a basic guide for students in masonry vocational training

and, if you are a real sucker for punishment:

Building Code Requirements for Masonry Structures

All are available, but look for used ones. New, they are not cheap.

Good luck!

edit-link fixed

__________________
It ain't Rocket Science unless you are building rockets.

raisethelinepig

thank you very much again for you time in answering my question. great link with some of your books...bookmarked. I also found a great book though older called Brickwork 1, 2, 3 by W.G. Nash. Seems to have alot of the more ornate and architectural minded tidbits i was looking for. If only i could find someone that wants to show me how to make domes now that would be awesome...thanks again have a very merry Christmas.

artisanstone

no one can show you cause they don't know. unless you travel to Iran or something. you can, however, teach yourself. i've built several small domes of brick and one groin vault. i would have made them of stone, but i figured brick would be easier to learn with. google "catalan vaults" and "gaustavino". In spain, masons build large domes by working with a string tied to their left hand. this keeps all the brick radiating from one center. also, they don't use forms with this method. refractory masons that build furnaces, etc. also build vaults and domes every day. hope this helps, learn whatever you want, masonry forever!

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Bill Baddorf
Bill@artisanstoneworks.net
www.artisanstoneworks.net
www.stonefoundation.org

lukachuki

great link... I would like to see other peoples libraries as I'm always looking for good books having to do with our trade.

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Less with the jaw more with the paw!

masonking02

im a commercial / residential bricklayer over the years i have been working in the trades i found that in order to master the skills of detailed brickwork is too find work on the weekend with a residential contractor you can usaully gain plenty experiance in fancy brickwork when building a venner in upscale developments. good luck

laybrick

I spent over 20 years with a list of different companies, commercial & residential. I've had the privlage of working for or with several old gentleman who did this work in thier own country. Hungarion, German, polish, Italian, croation all still doing it into thier 70's. I tried to compile all of the best tips and info into my own head and utililize them. Don't get all your info from a young speed racer who throws 15 hundred crooked brick in a straight run and thinks he's God of all bricklayers, but couldn't think structurally no less build a straight corner. To me, there are line layers, and there are masons. You can usually tell the difference. learn from the masons

custom patios

hey there, im from chester county. i specialize in all types of masonry apps. a great book to get is "architectural graphic standards".
steveo