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An old timer's advice on laying brick still sticks with me

I was working on a retaining wall job in Toledo about 3 years ago, and this older guy named Frank walked up to watch. He said nothing for 10 minutes, just stood there sipping coffee. Then he pointed at my joints and said 'you're rushing your line, kid. Let the mortar breathe.' That was it, he turned and left. I remember being a little annoyed because I'd been doing this for 6 years already. But later I noticed my rows were actually straighter when I slowed down and checked my levels after every 3 bricks instead of 5. I still think about that one tip every time I start feeling rushed on a job. Has anyone else had someone give them a simple piece of advice that actually changed how they work?
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the_luna
the_luna12d ago
I mean it's just brick laying, not neurosurgery. People love to act like random advice is life changing when it's usually common sense.
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nora10
nora1012d ago
Let the mortar breathe. Never thought about giving materials their own time like that.
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