Blockmasons, stonemasons, and brickmasons create beautiful and durable structures and surfaces. These workers have to perform tasks at fences, buildings, walkways, roads, and wall using concrete blocks, bricks, and natural stones.
Job Prospect
The work differs in complexity from laying simple masonry walkways to installing an ornate outer surface of a building. Workers break or cut the materials used to create walls, floors, and other structures. These workers have to use a variety of tools and own perceptions to ensure that the structure meets the prescribed standards. Once they are done with stone, bricks, and blocks, these workers clean the finished products using a variety of cleaning tools.
Blockmasons and brickmasons are called bricklayers. They build and repair floors, walls, fireplaces, chimneys, partitions, and other structures using precast masonry panels, concrete block, brick, and other masonry materials. Some of the brickmasons may specialize in installing firebrick linings in industrial furnaces.
When building a structure, brickmasons have to apply two methods, corner pole or corner lead. Applying the corner lead method, brickmasons begin by constructing pyramid of bricks at every corner, which is called lead. Once corner leads are completed, less experienced workers fill in the wall between the corners using a line one corner to another.
Building corner leads cost much; therefore, some brickmasons use corner poles that are called masonry guides. The corner poles enable to build an entire wall at the same time. Brickmasons fasten the corner poles in a plumb position and determine the wall line. This line acts as guide for each course of brick. Consequently, brickmasons spread a bed of mortar with a trowel and position the brick on the mortar bed. They then tap and press the brick into appropriate place.
Brickmasons follow blueprints specification to cut bricks with a chisel and hammer or saw them to fit around doors, windows, and other openings. These workers finish mortar joins using jointing tools for a neat and sealed a uniform appearance. Generally, brickmasons use lintels or steel support at door and window openings. Sometimes, they build brick arches that reinforce and support the beauty of the brickwork.
Brickmasons who specialized in installing firebrick are known as refractory masons. They majored in refractory tile in furnaces, high-temperature boilers, ladles, cupolas, and soaking pits in industrial establishments. Some of these workers are hired in steel mills. In steel mills, molten materials flow on refractory beds from furnaces to rolling machines. These workers are also employed at incinerators, glass furnaces, oil refineries, and other establishments requiring high temperatures during the manufacturing process.
Stonemasons build stone walls and set stone floors and exteriors. They work with two kinds of stone, limestone & artificial stone and natural cut stone. The limestone or artificial stone is made from marble chips, concrete and other masonry materials. On the contrary, the natural cut stone includes granite and marble. Generally, stonemasons work on non-residential structures such as hotels, houses of worship, and office buildings. Sometime, they also work on residential projects. These workers have to carry out following responsibilities.
Responsibilities
Work Environment
Blockmasons, stonemasons, and brickmasons work outdoors. Earlier the work used to get slowed down in the winter months. Today, the emergence of new materials and processes has made these masons to work in a variety of weather conditions. Masons have to kneel, bend, and stand for long periods and have to carry heavy materials.
Some hazards comprises of falls from scaffolds and injuries from tools. However, these hazards can be avoided or minimized when safety practices are followed and proper safety equipments are used.
Educational Qualification
Most Blockmasons, brickmasons, and stonemasons learn their trade through on-the-job training. Some workers learn this trade from experienced workers. Many others receive training from industry-based programs and in vocational education schools in the country. Some complete an apprenticeship, which provides thorough understanding of the work.