Do it yourselfers/ brick guys?

[crazyjoedevola]

Wanting to redo my front steps/entry area on my house and would like to go brick. Something similar to the picture below. Brick stairs/brick landing and a brick walkway to the street. My question is...Is this something that i could tackle my self. I've done some home improvement work and am familiar with what it would take to do this but have never worked with brick laying. I feel like the pathway would be easy, the steps have me worried. What say ye?

[waterfowlwidowmaker]

Call a brick Mason....

A good brick mason has a skill set that takes years to learn the right way. Since this is the front of your house I wouldnt advise you to go N*gger it up and make your house look crappy. The walkway wouldn't be tough but the stairs could get tricky if you don't know what your doing. Plus, mixig brick mortar would be somewhat of a challenge if you've never done it. You need a consistant mix throughout the project.

I'm a general contractor and I can tell you that my favorite sub to watch is a skilled brick mason. They can flat out do some work in a hurry.

[eSJay]

you are worried for good reason. hire a brick mason to do the steps! masonry is a developed skill trade that you don't just come out of the woomb knowing how to do. i wouldn't want to begin learning the trade on a focal point of my house.

[MudHog]

I'll third the already said statement of hiring a mason to do the steps. On the walkway, if your planning to do paver brick and sand, then you can do that yourself. If you want to do brick and mortar, then get the mason to do that as well. Shop around and remember that cheapest isn't always the best.

[LostBoy]

I am not a mason but I do a lot of small masonry projects. If you are looking at anything the size of what the picture is I would hire a mason and make sure they are a good one. I say this because you are dealing with the front of your house and EVERYONE will be able to see if the job looks bad. Not everyone who lays brick is a true mason and you need an experienced mason to do a good job on laying pavers in a mortar bed for the pathway as there is no string to follow just feel and a level to check. Also a good brick layer needs at least 2-3 helpers to keep him stocked with mortar and bricks. If you want to save money then form and pour the concrete footing for the stairs and base for the pathway, it don't have to be pretty, and the Mason you chose can give you the dimensions of the footing for the stairs.