Looking for block laying advice...

[thisoldcrackhouse]

I've decided that the big project for the summer will be to build a pergola next to my garage. The whole affair is held up by five 2'x2' masonry pillars, of which I've decided to try building the hidden (sub-grade) portion. The exposed brickwork will be left to an experienced bricklayer who I've hired for a few projects in the past. Any words of advice on the block installation? I've got tons of experience in carpentry, electrical, etc. but masonry is one of those things I've not had the opportunity to try yet. Each pier will be four courses of 8"x16"x8" corner/sash block. Thanks.

 

[kbs2244]

You want to put professional work on top of a DIY foundation?
I cannot recommend that.
Pour you own footers if you like.
Many masons don’t like to do concrete work.
But block goes fast, let him do it.

 

[boiler7904]

By the time you buy all of the materials and tools, you'll be within a few bucks of what a mason would charge to supply and lay up as few blocks as you're talking. To me it wouldn't be worth my time for the savings. Also think you might get some resistance from a pro mason in regards to setting on your DIY foundation - probably won't have a warranty offered on his work.

 

[BPJOOP93]

^^^^^^^^^
what he said x2

 

[brownbagg]

hell with them, take your time, enjoy it, just remember no block work is perfect, lay to plump and to the line, dont worry about level, cant be done. dont us nothing but a four foot level. its not rocket science

 

[thisoldcrackhouse]

I wasn't really looking for the money savings but the experience. I still think I'm going to give it a go, if it's totally jacked up I'll rip it out and have him do it for me. Worst-case I'm out eighty cement block ($100) and several bags of Quickrete ($40). As far as tools go I'm set, figure it's a good way to use the trowels and jointer my dad handed down to me that he built his first house with in '49 (did all the block and brick by himself, house is still looking great).

 

[Milton Shaw]

Make sure you get all the footings level and the same height as each other. I have seen masons have to cut blocks the length of the wall to correct for height issues. Mix the mortar mix so it is fairy stiff. Level a section off on your work board, cut strips of mortar mix out place on footing where the webs of the block would be. Level and square cut the excess off with the trowel. Repeat, repeat. You should be able to search for videos on DIY channel of HGTV and see how its done.

 

[thisoldcrackhouse]

Well, I took a stab at it and here are the results. All 5 columns fall within 1/8 of an inch of each other vertically and the centers are spot-on. I built a couple of test columns in my garage on a piece of plywood before committing to building the actual piers. I did this to try out the techniques I saw on some YouTube videos and read in a couple of books. I'm leaving the brickwork (13 courses on each block pier) to the mason that did my garage.

 

[east_tn_emc]

Your block-work looks first-rate! Everything looks square and plumb (as best one can tell from a picture )

I did a knee-wall for my shop that was two rows of blocks and then a solid cap-block. I had never worked with mortar before. I read up, like you, on the internet and started working. It went pretty quick and I found that, while I was very slow, I really enjoyed it and it turned out solid and looked great!

 

[Joe Reed]

Why not lay the bricks yourself as well?