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Owned by Marco
Built into mason is a community for beginners,DIYers,and futur masons, Led by a 3rd generation mason. real job-site knowledge. no shortcuts.
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21 contributions to Built into Mason
17h ā¢Ā
Real job site content ā you guys want more of this?
Just posted a quick video of me filling in empty joints on site š Trying to keep it real and show how it actually gets done, not just the āperfectā stuff. Let me know ā do you want more videos like this from real jobs?Or is there something specific you want to see?
20h ā¢Ā
Hello everyone
Happy to join this group and share experiences related to construction industry. I would like to invite everyone to try this new IA tool:https://rescoestimates.com/ It is a tool to make estimates very quickly because its features and simplicity, it will help to save time and money in your business day to day. Looking forward for your feedback. Thank you Kind regards
1 like ā¢ 18h
Welcome š¤ always good to have more people from the field in here. Tool looks interesting ā anything that actually saves time on estimates is worth checking out. Iāll take a look and see how it compares to what weāre using now.
8d ā¢Ā
Stucco in rainy climates
Iām new to masonry and stucco work and could use some advice. Weāre planning to resurface part of our house. Removing the existing stucco/plaster render, then reāplastering and finishing it with a stone veneer. My concern is the weather. It has been raining on and off, and Iām worried about exposing the wall to rain and moisture once the old stucco is removed. I expect the demo to take a day or two. However, if a storm rolls in durning that time it could easily be two weeks before we have clear skies. And my understanding is that I need dry weather to apply the stucco, waterproofing and veneer. which I believe will take a week or more when accounding for drying times. Is a little rain ok? Since the stone veneer is going to cover the plaster doesn't matter if it gets wet? Iād appreciate any tips from someone with more experience on what to expect in rainy climates
0 likes ā¢ 4d
@Michael Ahern Hey man ā good thing you stopped, that actually changes the whole approach. That type of wall (hollow brick + lime mortar) is meant to breathe, not be sealed like concrete. If you go over it with cement or a waterproof membrane, youāll trap moisture and it can make the mold problem worse over time. I wouldnāt try to remove all the lime or force a cement system on it. What Iād do instead: - Keep the wall breathable (lime-based if you touch it) - Focus on the outside: solid French drain, proper slope, water directed away Think more water management than waterproofing the wall itself. For the stone veneer ā I wouldnāt install it directly on that wall with cement. Too risky long term unless itās on its own support. If youāve got pics of what you opened up, send them ā I can guide you exactly where to stop š
0 likes ā¢ 18h
@Michael Ahern Yeah youāre on the right track, but I wouldnāt rely too much on the vinegar test ā most older mortars will bubble a bit if thereās any lime in it. The cracking after removing that skirt is what stands out to me. That tells me it was probably doing more than just shedding water, so Iād slow down there. With hollow brick especially, I wouldnāt lock it in with a full cement parge or waterproof system. If thereās any moisture getting in, youāll just trap it and make things worse. Youāre right about the skirt too ā those can trap water if theyāre not done properly, so removing it helping the mold makes sense. If it was me, Iād focus more on drainage and keeping the wall able to breathe instead of trying to fully waterproof it right now.
7d ā¢Ā
From Structure to Stone š§±
This is where real masonry starts.Clean base, proper setup, everything lined up before the finish. Most people only see the final result ā but this stage is what makes or breaks the job. If your base isnāt right, nothing on top will last. Inside Built Into Mason, I break down exactly how to do this step the right way š
12d ā¢Ā
š§± Cold weather masonry ā letās talk about it š
Can you lay brick in cold weatherā¦ or should you not be doing it at all? āļø And if you DO work in the cold ā what do you think is actually required to do it properly? Heated water? Tents? Additives? Or just experience? Iāve seen all kinds of ways on jobsitesā¦ some good, some questionable š
Curious what you guys think š
0 likes ā¢ 7d
Youāre absolutely right š Cold weather masonry is tricky for exactly that reason ā moisture can get trapped and freezing temps mess with the curing process. And yeah, using hot water can speed things up but it can also affect how the mix reacts and sets long-term if not done properly. The only proper way to lay brick in minus temperatures is to fully control the environment ā tarps, hoarding, and heating the enclosed area so the materials and wall stay above freezing during install and curing. Otherwise, youāre just setting yourself up for weak joints, cracking, or long-term issues.
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@marco-caza-7927
full time mason, 3rd generation bricklayer.sharing real job site knowledge. author and casual wow player.
Active 16h ago
Joined Jan 8, 2026