Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. 220 Section 4 Techniques One of the first brick operations to occur is organiz- ing the site for brick laying. This can be for practicing, such as in an educational setting where brick are laid in a masonry shop or at an outside location. The other type of preparation is to organize the construction site in advance of the work beginning. The foreman or supervisor clears areas near the project so mortar stands and mortar boards can be erected close to the locations where brick are to be laid. Cubes of brick are positioned “spotted” at different locations around the site to reduce repositioning in the future and decrease time to stock or restock the masons with brick. See Figure 12-1. A mortar mixer is positioned in an area that is easily accessible and centrally located. There may be other devices or equipment located at the job- site, such as masonry saws and a construction trailer. Usually, large quantities of brick are delivered to a construction site on a tractor-trailer. Brick are deliv- ered stacked as a cube. The number of brick in a cube varies depending on the size and shape selected. A brick cube usually has plastic bands that hold the indi- vidual brick together in a uniform cube. Depending on the manufacturer, some brick bands may be made of metal. Brick cubes are usually unloaded from delivery trucks using a construction forklift. This same fork- lift can be used to spot brick cubes at appropriate loca- tions for easy access around the construction site. See Figure 12-2. 12.1.2 Spreading Mortar Spreading mortar is part of all masonry construction. With practice, you will be able to determine just how much mortar to use for a given joint. Placing the unit is easier if the right amount of mortar has been laid down. Select a trowel that is best for the job being per- formed and that “feels good” to you. If a trowel is too small, effort is wasted in needless movements. If it is too large, you will tire easily. You may want to begin with a standard mason’s trowel, about 10″ long. Trade Tip A mason should know the different parts of the tools they are working with, especially the trowel, which is the most used tool. Figure 12-3 identifies parts of a trowel. Author’s image taken at Job Corps, Denison, IA Figure 12-1. This brick cube is attached to a wooden pallet to aid in moving the cube and to keep the brick clean when the jobsite is muddy. The cube is wrapped in a plastic covering to protect the brick and keep them dry from inclement weather. Miljan Zivkovic/Shutterstock.com Figure 12-2. A construction forklift is used to move brick cubes and other materials around the construction site. Toe Shank Handle Cap Ferrule Heel Marshalltown Company Figure 12-3. The different parts of a masonry trowel are identified.