The Golden State: Where & How to Live, Secure, Visit, Enjoy and Thrive in California
Estimating Frame And Brick Houses
It is somewhat difficult to tell exactly how many bricks a man will lay in a day of nine hours, as conditions vary, and some workmen are much more expert than others in handling the bricks and taking up and spreading the mortar; but if well supplied with materials, and scaffolding properly adjusted ready to his hand, and a long wall to work at, and the bond ordinary, a good man will lay from 1400 to 1600 bricks, by making an extra effort. This will be at the rate of over three bricks a minute if the larger number of bricks are laid, and about two and five-eighths bricks per minute for the smaller number. To lay so many bricks a day, as is readily seen, a man must " hustle " from the time he commences work until the last minute of the day arrives, a task that usually uses a man up in a short time and renders him unfit for much service the next day. In an experience extending over 40 years I have found that the average bricklayer will not lay down in ordinary work more than two bricks per minute, or 120 bricks per hour, and to do this, even, everything must be favorable. If, however, there are many openings to finish around, or any extra facings in the wall, 100 bricks an hour will be pretty good speed. When a good finished street front is required, and the joints are to be regular and evenly struck, one brick a minute, or 60 per hour, may be considered fairly speedy work; but should there be numerous openings, belting courses, cornices and angles, then from 30 to 45 bricks an hour may be taken as good speed, according to the number of angles, belt courses, etc.
When walls are of great length, and rough work only is required, such as is generally employed on factories, warehouses, barns and similar buildings, a man may lay from 1400 to 1500 bricks in a day of nine hours, providing everything is' handy for him, but this will be rather the exception than the rule, and an estimate based on the smaller figure will be nearer the correct result than if the larger figure is employed.
Where three bricklayers are employed, one good laboring man will supply them with bricks and mortar, if these materials are not more than 20 or 25 feet from the building and he does not have to climb a ladder or mount a scaffold. When mortar has to be mixed and water carried an extra laborer will be necessary for every four bricklayers, besides the laborer who " tends " the three bricklayers, as stated before; and to this must be added another laborer for each story after the first one.
