Just realized I been doing brick ties wrong for years

Talked to an old mason named Pete at the supply yard last Tuesday. He saw me loading up and asked what size ties I was using. I told him and he just shook his head. Said I been using the wrong ones for cavity walls this whole time. Showed me a different style and explained why. Felt kinda dumb but at least I know now. Anyone else ever get that moment where some old timer just sets you straight on something basic?

3 comments

3 Comments

umamartin1mo ago

Read an article in Fine Homebuilding a while back about proper wall tie spacing and it mentioned how many masons get the corrugated ties wrong for wider cavities. The old guy at the supply yard probably saved you a bunch of headaches with moisture and wall strength down the road. Good on you for listening to Pete and making the switch.

miamitchell1mo ago

That bit about the old guy at the supply yard saving you headaches really hits home. It's funny how we often just grab whatever's cheapest or easiest without thinking about the long term. I've noticed this pattern with everything from house projects to buying tools or even picking out appliances. People will buy the cheapest thing and then complain when it breaks in two years, but they could have just listened to someone with experience and spent a little more up front. That kind of short term thinking is why so many houses end up with rot and mold problems down the line. It's like we're all in too much of a hurry to stop and ask the old timer for his two cents.

xena_fox391mo ago

God yeah, that old timer wisdom is gold. I had a similar thing with mortar mix a few years back. Some guy named Frank at the same supply yard told me I was using too much lime in my blend for the local climate. He was right, and my walls stopped having that crumbly issue I always cursed at. Really makes you wonder how much time we waste learning stuff the hard way when someone like Pete or Frank just saw it all before. @miamitchell you're spot on about the hurry part, we're all guilty of just grabbing and going without asking.