Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Chapter 12 Laying Brick 225 Move the saw back to its original position before removing the pieces. Some masonry saws have a foot pedal to move the saw and blade up and down during the cutting process and a table that slides back and forth. Practice using the saw table and foot pedal prior to actually cutting brick. See Figure 12-12. 12.1.7 Leveling and Plumbing Brick To level brick, place a level horizontally on the top sur- face of the brick or bricks. Then look at the glass vial in the level to determine if the internal bubble is exactly in the middle between the two indicator lines. If the bub- ble is exactly in the middle, the surface being measured for angle is level. If the bubble is not centered, lightly tap on the high end of the brick or bricks to move them down into the mortar. Continue to tap the bricks until the bubble is exactly in the middle of the two lines. Turn the level 90° to check if the brick is level side to side. If the brick is not level, tap the brick (not the level). Once the brick is level side to side, check the bricks along their length to ensure they have remained level. Plumbing is the process of determining if the side and end of a brick or bricks are vertically plumb. If the top surface of the brick is level end to end and level Safety Note When using a masonry saw, a face shield should also be worn to protect from flying chips. Ear protection is also required. If sawing wet, wear rubber gloves to protect your hands. When dry sawing, always use a respirator because brick may contain silica, which is a severe health hazard. side to side, the bricks should be very close to being plumb. Set the level vertically and place it on the side of the brick. Check the vertical vial to see if the bub- ble is in the middle. Tap lightly on the brick to adjust the side. Check the end of the brick the same way and make adjustments. Lay the level horizontally across the surface of the brick or bricks again to recheck them to ensure that they have stayed level. Multiple Brick Leveling and Plumbing When leveling multiple bricks, ensure that all are flush across the top and flush with the level when it is laid on top of the brick. If one or more bricks are not flush with others, make adjustments until all are flush, the level rests on all brick uniformly, and the vial indicates lev- elness. When plumbing multiple courses, ensure that all bricks are again flush with the level and that no one brick sticks out beyond another. Make adjustments to correct bricks that are protruding and to ensure that the brick as a unit is plumb. 12.1.8 Using Mason’s Line Any straight wall longer than the plumb rule (4′) is usually laid to a line. A line is a guide that helps brick- layers build a straight, level, and plumb wall. Mason’s line is a light, strong cord that can be stretched taut with little or no sag. Pull the line to the same degree of tautness for each course. This is necessary so all bed joints are uniform and parallel. A lead is usually built first at each corner to establish proper height and provide a place to attach a mason’s line. See Figure 12-13. The height of each course is deter- mined by a mason’s rule or a corner pole with height marks on it. On long walls, it is impossible to eliminate sagging in the line. The proper course height should be checked with a corner pole to ensure accuracy. Avoid laying brick too close to the line. Stay a line width away so you do not risk moving the line, thereby destroy- ing its usefulness as a reference. After laying the brick, ensure that it does not touch the line. If the brick is touch- ing the line, the straightness of the wall will be affected. 12.2 Related Tasks The tasks discussed in this section may or may not be performed by masons. These tasks include locating the building line, erecting batter boards, and using a cor- ner pole and gauge stick. Trade Tip Laying brick too close to the line is known as “crowding the line.” Author’s image taken at Job Corps, Denison, IA Figure 12-12. Masonry student has marked the brick to the correct length prior to starting the electric masonry saw. The student is wearing appropriate PPE: rubber gloves, safety glasses, and hi-vis vest.