I just laid 1,200 bricks in a single shift and my brain is fried

It was a big commercial job in Tacoma, and the foreman needed a long, straight wall done fast. I started at 6 AM, mixed my own mud, and just kept my head down. By 4 PM, I counted the courses and did the math. I've never hit a number like that before, and my arms feel like lead. Anyone else ever push past what they thought was their limit on a wall?

3 comments

3 Comments

nathan_moore122mo ago

You ever stop to think maybe the foreman was pushing for speed over quality? That's a crazy number for one day, and I've seen walls built that fast start to bow after a few months. It's cool to hit a personal record, but a wall that isn't right will just cause headaches later. Gotta find a balance or you'll pay for it.

chen.jade1mo ago

Wait, did you actually check your plumb and level at the end of the day? Tbh, I've been in that same spot where you're just locked in and the numbers look good, but you gotta stop and check your lines every few courses. A wall that long at that speed, the mortar might be a little wet or your joints could be off by a fraction, and that adds up fast over 1,200 bricks. I'd rather take a few extra minutes to keep everything tight than have the foreman call me back to tear out a section in six months. Ngl, hitting that number feels great, but a wall that's still standing straight a year from now is the real win.

the_reese2mo ago

Honestly, that pace sounds like a great way to wreck your body for next week. Speed is one thing, but a wall that long done that fast has to have some issues with plumb and level. Seen too many guys chase a number and then have to tear it out later.