That Tuesday I laid 800 bricks in 6 hours and blew my back out

Last summer I had a perfect run of weather and all my cuts were spot on for a retaining wall job in Cleveland. Started at 6am and by noon I had 800 bricks down with no breaks because the mortar was setting perfect. Thing is my back locked up at 2pm so bad I couldnt stand straight for two days and my foreman had to finish the last 200 bricks. Has anyone else had a killer production day turn into a recovery nightmare?

2 comments

2 Comments

veramiller2d ago

I read somewhere that bricklayers can put down up to 500 bricks in a day normally so 800 is pretty extreme... especially without any breaks. That's like working mach 3 speed while your body's trying to tell you to slow down. My cousin did stone masonry for years and he always said pushing through the perfect weather days is what wrecked his knees by age 45. Hope your back is doing better now but you probably already know that kind of pace is a gamble your body will make you pay for later.

the_henry2d ago

Stretch before you even pick up a trowel, not after you're already sore. I learned that the hard way after a week of 700 brick days left me bent over my truck hood trying to pop my lower back back into place. Also get yourself a good foam roller and spend 10 minutes on your hips every night. Those bricks don't care about your joints, they just keep stacking.