Brickmason / Blockmason

Lay and bind building materials, such as brick, structural tile, concrete block, cinder block, glass block, and terra-cotta block, with mortar and other substances, to construct or repair walls, partitions, arches, sewers, and other structures.

O*NET reports this occupation under titles such as: Block Layer; Block Mason; Blockmason; Brick and Block Mason; Brick Mason; Bricklayer; Mason; Masonry Installer; Tender

Tasks

• Measure distance from reference points and mark guidelines to lay out work, using plumb bobs and levels.
• Construct corners by fastening in plumb position a corner pole or building a corner pyramid of bricks, and filling in between the corners using a line from corner to corner to guide each course, or layer, of brick.
• Apply and smooth mortar or other mixture over work surface.
• Calculate angles and courses and determine vertical and horizontal alignment of courses.
• Break or cut bricks, tiles, or blocks to size, using trowel edge, hammer, or power saw.
• Interpret blueprints and drawings to determine specifications and to calculate the materials required.
• Remove excess mortar with trowels and hand tools, and finish mortar joints with jointing tools, for a sealed, uniform appearance.
• Fasten or fuse brick or other building material to structure with wire clamps, anchor holes, torch, or cement.
• Clean working surface to remove scale, dust, soot, or chips of brick and mortar, using broom, wire brush, or scraper.
• Examine brickwork or structure to determine need for repair.
• Mix specified amounts of sand, clay, dirt, or mortar powder with water to form refractory mixtures.
• Remove burned or damaged brick or mortar, using sledgehammer, crowbar, chipping gun, or chisel.

Knowledge

• Building and Construction
• Mathematics
• English Language
• Production and Processing
• Design
• Public Safety and Security
• Administration and Management
• Mechanical

Skills

• Critical Thinking
• Active Listening
• Speaking
• Monitoring

Abilities

• Trunk Strength
• Extent Flexibility
• Arm-Hand Steadiness
• Manual Dexterity
• Static Strength
• Near Vision
• Visualization
• Multilimb Coordination
• Dynamic Strength
• Information Ordering
• Finger Dexterity
• Problem Sensitivity
• Gross Body Equilibrium
• Oral Comprehension
• Written Comprehension
• Oral Expression
• Deductive Reasoning
• Inductive Reasoning
• Category Flexibility
• Selective Attention
• Control Precision
• Stamina
• Gross Body Coordination
• Far Vision