Tools and Equipment
This tool provides a straight visual guide to keep brick courses level and aligned.
What is mason's line
This is the name given to the last brick laid in each course.
What is a closure brick?
This is the term for attaching a mason’s line to the ends of a wall or leads.
What is hanging the line?
Bricks should always be picked up this way so they are ready to be placed in the wall.
What is picking up the brick with the face out?
This common bond pattern is used when laying brick to the line.
What is running (stretcher) bond?
This device is commonly used to secure a mason’s line to a corner or lead at the end, usually made from wood.
What is a line block?
This process is used to establish brick arrangement and head joint spacing before mortar is used.
What is dry bonding?
This is why a mason’s line is preferred over a 4-foot level when building long walls.
What is that a 4-foot level cannot accurately span long walls?
This term describes repositioning the mason’s line to the next course of the lead after completing each course of brick.
What is raising the line?
This term describes moving the mason’s line up to the next course.
What is raising the line?
This item is placed on a mason’s line to prevent sagging on long walls.
What is a trig (or twig)?
This term describes brick that are placed too close to or touching the mason’s line.
What is crowding the line?
This must be checked before laying brick after a line is tightened on a corner pole.
What is checking the correct course height?
This is the proper spacing that must be maintained between the brick face and the mason’s line
What is 1/16 inch to 1/8 inch?
This is the recommended range for mortar joint thickness.
What is 1/4 inch to 1/2 inch?
This vertical guide allows brick to be laid without building traditional corners first.
What is a corner pole?
This condition occurs when the bottom of a brick extends past the face of the brick below it.
What is lipping?
This is one reason a mason would use a trig brick while laying brick to the line.
What is preventing line sagging or movement?
This technique aligns the bottom edge of a brick with the course below it.
What is facing the brick?
This is why bond patterns must be maintained when openings interrupt a brick course.
What is to maintain vertical alignment of head joints and proper bond?
This safety practice is required when stretching, working near, or removing a tensioned mason’s line.
What is wearing eye protection and using caution around tensioned lines?
This term refers to maintaining vertical alignment of head joints on alternating courses.
What is holding bond? Or staying true
This problem can occur if bricks crowd or push against the mason’s line.
What is the wall becoming crooked, out of plumb, or uneven?
These are the four operations performed each time a brick is laid to the line.
What are aligning the bond, facing the brick, aligning level, and aligning plumb? Height it followed by staying level with the line with the top edge of the brick
This explains how maintaining a plumb bond improves both wall strength and appearance.
What is even load distribution, increased strength, and improved appearance?