Vent: Had to tear down a whole wall because I skipped the string line

I've been laying brick for about 12 years now and thought I could eyeball a long run last Tuesday on a garage build in Akron. Got about 10 feet in and noticed my courses were starting to drift off by almost half an inch. I tried to fake it with extra mortar on the next few rows but that just made it worse. Finally admitted I had to pull down everything I laid and start over. I grabbed my line blocks and strung a tight line this time and the rest of the wall came out dead flat in half the time. Why do I keep thinking I'm too good for the basics? Anyone else get humbled by a simple mistake like this?

2 comments

2 Comments

dakota78729d ago

Why do we always gotta learn the hard way when the basics are there for a reason? I've been in the trades long enough to know better but still catch myself skipping steps thinking I can save time. Nothing humbles you faster than ripping out good work you rushed through.

morgan.joseph29d ago

Yeah I mean the thing is skipping steps can sometimes work for a while so it tricks you into thinking you're being smart about it. But then that one time it doesn't work it costs way more time than you ever saved. It's like the basics are boring but they're boring for a reason I guess.