Preparing To Lay Brick, Block, or Stone

Anything that you build from a barbecue pit to a skyscraper, must have a blueprint.  For small projects like a brick mailbox or barbecue pit, you can get books at Home Depot or Lowe’s or the library that have blueprints for what your gonna build.  Nearly all areas of the country where you build or add on anything to an existing building, must have a building permit before you begin construction.  Also in a lot of areas if you build anything without a permit, you can get fined both you as a contractor and the homeowner or business owner of the property.  Once the above is done, then it is up to the owner to pick the color of brick, block or the kind of stone that will be used for the project.  If your building something for something you own, then you get to pick what to use.  Don’t forget the permits, or do you feel lucky?

If the architect picks the wrong materials, it is his liability.  His and the city’s fault, because they approved the plans, and it falls back on them.  All the above information is true even if you’re putting a fireplace in your own house: you need to check with the city building permit office, and make sure they approve it, in case your house burns down.

The architect and his people are responsible for testing the soil, saying how deep, what kind of fill, how much compaction and with what material is to be used. The architect is not gonna lay the brick, so don’t you go and design the earthwork, foundation, or pick the color of the rooms! You lay the brick, block, or stone, according to the plans, and do not skimp.

Any questions, Call Charlie!