The head mason always builds the corners, those under him fill in between, and the newbies… well, they keep mixing mortar and now work on completing the backside of the stonework.

Of course the newbies, those who this is there first experience laying stone, will get to lay a couple front and center stones (the head mason will trim them up a bit when the newbie is not around).

I always enjoy watching those newbies in the years to come go back to those stones and point out which ones they laid.

Originally posted 2015-06-05 13:48:12.

Here’s a great photo if you want to see the process of building a solid stone foundation that will pass today’s building code.

The least inexpensive person on the crew, aka… “newbie”, is in charge of mixing mortar and delivering it to the masons, and, digging the stone out of the pile so that it is easily found by the masons, and, laying the first course of stone (as seen in this photo). That first course will be buried with back-fill once finish grading has been done, so it’s a great way to learn the skill.

Notice that I have poured the footers nearly to the top of the excavated trenches making it over a foot thick rather than the standard four inches. Concrete is expensive, but it’s cheaper than stone and the labor needed to lay it.

Originally posted 2015-06-04 21:56:48.

Masons never put out the effort to make the backsides of their chimney’s attractive. lol I have never seen the hidden side of a chimney to be as nice as the front. One day I’m going to be surprised… maybe.

Originally posted 2015-05-22 15:27:18.