Bricklaying is a physically demanding profession. It requires a high level of skill and precision. One wrong move and the whole wall could come crashing down.
Through intense study and analysis, Gilbreth eliminated all unnecessary movements and substituted fast motions for slow ones. His methods also furnished a perfect illustration of harmonious cooperation.
The Art of Laying Bricks
Bricklayers must know how to make a structure that is both strong and aesthetically pleasing. They must know how to prepare the site and plan the layout of a project using stakes, strings and a tape measure. They must also know how to use a level and a bricklayer’s hammer to ensure that the top of the wall is smooth and even.
Bricks are a costly material and the construction of a brick wall requires careful attention to detail at every step. If one part of the process is overlooked it can throw off the entire project. This is why it is so important to hire a professional bricklayer with extensive experience.
Gilbreth emphasized a number of different elements that helped him develop his bricklaying system to such an incredible degree of efficiency. The first was to train his bricklayers into first-class men. The second was to establish rigid rules for each movement the bricklayer made. The third was to help the bricklayers to cooperate with each other by doing their own work correctly and quickly. And the fourth was to ensure that the men who prepared the materials, adjusted the scaffolding and prepared mortar assisted the bricklayers by doing their jobs well.
These are simple concepts that should be common sense for anyone who works with brick. However, it’s amazing how many people in the workforce don’t know these basics. Some of these workers have Bachelor’s degrees from major universities and claim to be able to lay a brick.
The Science of Strength
Bricklayers use a variety of tools to complete their work. This includes hand construction tools like bolsters and trowels, as well as power construction tools like mixers and drills. These tools help them to mix mortar and to lay bricks more quickly and effectively. However, bricklayers also need to know how to properly construct walls that are strong and durable. One of the ways they can do this is by using wavy bricks. These bricks are able to resist the bending forces that would otherwise cause them to crack by spreading out the energy.
Bricklaying is a laborious job, and in the past very little progress was made in improving the methods used or the speed at which they were carried out. Mr. Gilbreth, however, has brought the speed of this work to an unprecedented high level through four elements which constitute the essence of scientific management.
First, through intense analysis and study he has dispensed with movements which the bricklayers of the past believed to be necessary, but which careful experiment on his part has shown to be useless. For example, instead of taping each brick after it is placed on its bed of mortar several times with the end of his trowel, he has devised a way of tempering the mortar so that it can be easily bedded to the correct depth without tapping it. This saves the labor of stooping down for each and every brick, and it also saves time that would be lost in deciding which edge and which end of each brick to place on the outside of the wall.
The Art of Making a Wall Look Good
Bricklayers work hard for a living. But their job is more than a physical one: it’s also an art. They build structures that not only look good, they stand the test of time. That’s why masons, like Terry Daniel from Wentzville, Missouri, take such pride in their work. They want to make sure their walls are perfect — even a crooked brick can cost them points in the annual regional Spec Mix Bricklayer 500 competition.
The key to a beautiful brick wall is the skill of the mason who builds it, which is based on an intimate knowledge of how the building’s design will look when finished. The mason also has to understand how the individual bricks will fit together and blend in with the others on the structure, and he must carefully plan each step to avoid mistakes.
In order to bring his men up to first-class speed, Gilbreth developed an intense study of each movement required of a bricklayer and eliminated the unnecessary ones. He improved the mortar box and brick pile, and designed adjustable scaffolds for each bricklayer by which he saved the laborer from stooping down to the level of his feet and then straightening up again every time a new brick was laid on a section of the wall.
The fourth element in Gilbreth’s system was the harmonious cooperation of management and labor. The management worked almost side by side with the men all day long, helping, encouraging, and smoothing the way for them, instead of standing by on the sidelines, throwing on the workmen practically their entire responsibility as to methods, implements, and speed.
The Science of Making a Wall Last
Bricklayers must mesh art with science to build a wall that lasts. This means a wall that is strong enough to withstand the forces of nature, including man. In addition to careful selection of the proper materials and precise application of mortar, this requires knowledge of masonry techniques that take years to learn and perfect.
The most important tool a bricklayer can have is the right mortar mix. Without the correct consistency, it is impossible to bond the bricks together. Mortar that is too dry will crumble, while mortar that is too wet will sink.
Another important step in making a brickwork structure durable is weeding out bad bricks. A skilled bricklayer will inspect each brick and reject any that have significant structural flaws. A bad brick can cause the entire wall to deteriorate over time.
Throughout the process of bricklaying, bricklayers must also regularly check the walls with a spirit level. This allows them to ensure the walls are straight and even. It is also important to use the right tools for the job. This includes a pointed trowel, a bolster chisel and a club hammer. A tape measure is also essential for measuring and ensuring the proper brick dimensions are used.
Gilbreth worked tirelessly to develop the science of bricklaying. He reduced the number of movements required to lay a brick from eighteen to five or less, and eliminated some movements altogether. He also developed simple apparatus, such as adjustable scaffolds and packets for holding the bricks, to increase both speed and efficiency.