How to Become a Bricklayer

Bricklaying is a highly skilled trade used in construction for thousands of years. Bricklayers construct, build and repair buildings and other structures, such as foundations, walls,or even decorative masonry work. A bricklayer will be required to work mainly outside on construction sites, in various environments and in changing weather conditions. As there are countless safety hazards that need to be overcome on a daily basis, this trade will need to maintain their own safety, as well as the safety of the area and the people around them.

Bricklayers lay bricks, concrete blocks, stone and other similar materials to construct or repair walls, arches, chimneys, fireplaces and other structures in accordance with blueprints and specifications. You could be installing firebrick in commercial and industrial furnaces and incinerators. You could also be working with acid tile and acid brick in pulp mills. This trade skill may be employed by construction companies as contractors, or they may be self-employed.

Ask yourself…

• Are you creative?
• Do you have an eye for line, colour and proportion?
• Do you like working with your hands?
• Are you physically fit?
• Could you work with precision tools?

Duties

As a bricklayer, your duties may include the following:

• Laying bricks, stone or similar materials to build residential/commercial chimneys and fireplaces, patios, walls or walkways
• Laying firebricks to line industrial chimneys and smokestacks
• Cutting and trimming bricks using hand and power tools
• Lining or relining furnaces and boilers using acid-resistant bricks
• Restoring, cleaning or painting existing brick structures
• Reading and interpreting sketches and blueprints

Work Conditions

The standard work week for this trade is 40 hours (8 hours a day, 5 days a week). As with many careers in construction, there are peak periods that will require you to work overtime. The number of additional hours you work each week depends on the construction sector and region you work in and will vary from one job to the next.

As a bricklayer, you will usually work outdoors, often on scaffolding. They sometimes use protective enclosures and portable heaters in adverse weather conditions. Your work will be physically demanding and you may be required to travel to various work sites. On many jobs you will work closely with other construction professionals as part of a team.

As with all careers in the construction industry, safety is the top priority. Bricklayers are trained to work safely and wear special equipment to protect against injury.