Bricklayers

Nature of work

Bricklayers build and repair walls, floors, fireplaces, and walkways with bricks, blocks and stones. Restoration stone masons build and repair structures using stone.

Bricklayers work for construction companies, landscaping companies, bricklaying or masonry contractors or they may be self-employed. Apprentices are included in this group.

Job duties

Bricklayers:

• Read sketches and blueprints to calculate materials required.
• Cut and trim bricks and concrete blocks using hand and power tools.
• Prepare and lay bricks, concrete blocks, stone, structural tiles, and similar materials to build or repair walls, foundations, and other structures.
• Ensure each layer is level from corner to corner.
• Spread mortar over base or previous layer, spread more mortar on one end of each brick to be laid, and lay the bricks into position.
• Remove excess mortar after the masonry material is in position.
• Lay bricks or other masonry units to build chimneys, fireplaces and smokestacks.
• Line or reline furnaces, kilns, boilers, and similar installations using refractory or acid-resistant bricks, refractory concretes, plastic refractories, and other materials.
• Lay bricks, stone, or similar materials to provide veneer facing to walls or other surfaces.
• Build and install prefabricated masonry units.
• Lay bricks or other masonry units to build patios, garden walls and other decorative installations.
• May restore, clean or paint existing masonry structures.

Sample job titles

• brick and stone mason
• brick setter
• bricklayer
• brickmason
• chimney repair stonemason
• concrete block setter
• restoration stonemason
• stonemason

Skills

• Physical strength and stamina.
• Manual dexterity and a good sense of balance.
• An eye for colour, line and proportion.
• The ability to use proper lifting techniques to work with heavy tools and materials.
• The ability to work with precision.
• Coordinated and comfortable working at heights.
• The ability to follow instructions.
• The ability to work as a team.
• Imagination and creativity are assets.

Job requirements

• Array
• Array

Other considerations

• Setting: outdoors, often on scaffolding, and in confined spaces. They sometimes use protective enclosures and portable heaters in poor weather.
• Work hours: 40-hour week. Overtime may be required.
• Physically demanding and requires handling items that weigh up to 25 kilograms.
• Some travel may be required to get to work sites.
• Apprentices usually earn a percentage of the journeyperson (fully qualified) rate. This percentage increases as each level of the apprenticeship program is completed.
• Jobs in the construction industry are affected by seasonal changes and economic conditions. Work may be on a project basis. Workers should be prepared for periods of unemployment.
• Experience bricklayers may move into supervisor positions or related fields like estimator, inspector or construction manager. They may also become contractors.
• Everyone has fair access to participate and succeed in the apprenticeship system. Everyone who develops the necessary skills and abilities should be able to succeed in the trades and trade qualification system. Work environments in the province support women and equity-seeking communities.

Regulations

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