I’m not a mason, but is that a desired finish on the brickwork or they didn’t even try to clean up the face of the brick after laying it?
Yes it's a desired finish. The brick isn't "dirty" from a lack of clean work. It's intentionally given a lime wash to simulate the more "used brick" and consistent appearance. I re-posted a pic from way earlier on this thread below.
My father WAS a brick mason back in the day when structures were still built from brick instead of cast concrete or block. In those days there was a difference between brick masons and block masons. Brick masons were supposedly more like finish carpenters - small details mattered more because they were a final finish for both interior and exterior where with block they were frequently painted or covered with other materials.
That's a common finish for brick work. There's all kinds, from very formal, complex pointing, to extremely rustic finishes. Same deal for bricks. All depends on your taste and wallet.
^^Yes, true.
Kay, my father always claimed the plural of brick is "brick" not bricks. He'd correct me if I ever said it. His work was quite impressive. I labored for him on weekends from about age 12 or so. He was in his late 30's, early 40's just a few years from a major heart attack he shouldn't have survived and he could still out work me 10x over.
Of course everyone smoked in those days and of course in the 1950's and 60's he ate an old fashioned Mexican diet with food made with lard. He was getting into his FOURTH pack of cigarettes a day when he had the heart attack at age 45. No clog busting drugs, bypasses, nothing existed in 1970 when it happened.
Here are two pilasters that had to be replaced. You can see they're clean brick right after being built. Then they were washed to match the finish on all the rest of the house.
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