Tommy Walsh Meets Mr Bricky

DIY Legend Tommy Walsh test driving the Bricky at the recent Somerset building show. Check out http://bricky.com for more information. Tips Calculate your wall dimensions to full or half sized bricks/blocks. This avoids unnecessary cutting. The natural colour of mortar can look quite bland. It\'s common for brick walls in particular to add some mortar dye in the mix to enhances the appearance. (I prefer black but use just half the recommended amount, this leaves a grey joint as opposed to black). Ensure bricks are not dried out. Spray them with water if necessary but leave to surface dry before placement. (Dried out bricks absorb the moisture from the mortar, this then forces the mortar to set too quickly and prevent it gaining full strength.) Lay out brick heaps and spot boards every 2 meters apart to have mortar and bricks under your nose at all times. Keep your tools reasonably clean as you work and clean well at the end of each day a rag to hand is quite useful. Do not point your joints until the mortar has started to set. (1-4 hours after placement). The half hour before lunch and end of the day is when a bricklayer comes back to point up their work. A round nose gauging trowel (as supplied) works best when building with your bricky. Use the light durable skin tight rubber brick laying gloves as the mortar may pierce your skin especially if your working for prolonged periods. Laying brick/blocks is physical work but instead of crying from the pain think of what you'll achieve and how fit your getting in the process beats spending time/money in the gym. Visit our website www.bricky.com frequently to keep up-to-date with the latest innovative building tools.