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Brickmasons and Blockmasons Occupation Detailed Description

Brickmasons and Blockmasons career

General Job Description and Education/Training Levels for Brickmasons and Blockmasons

The main tasks and work activities of Brickmasons and Blockmasons are to install masonry materials, mark reference points on construction materials, measure materials or objects for installation or assembly, plan layout of construction, installation, or repairs. In general, for the Brickmasons and Blockmasons, coordination, critical Thinking, time Management, quality Control Analysis and other 5 skills are required.
Brickmasons and Blockmasons Job Description
EducationThese occupations usually require a high school diploma.
Related ExperienceSome previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is usually needed. For example, a teller would benefit from experience working directly with the public.
Job TrainingEmployees in these occupations need anywhere from a few months to one year of working with experienced employees. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
ExampleThese occupations often involve using your knowledge and skills to help others. Examples include orderlies, counter and rental clerks, customer service representatives, security guards, upholsterers, and tellers.
The following chart shows the education/training levels for Brickmasons and Blockmasons jobs. 70.42% of Brickmasons and Blockmasons have High School Diploma (or the equivalent) and 0.0099999999999936% of Brickmasons and Blockmasons have Bachelor's Degree and Above.
Less than a High School Diploma
13.48%
High School Diploma (or the equivalent)
70.42%
Post-Secondary Certificate
0.00%
Some College Courses
13.38%
Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)
2.71%
Bachelor's Degree and Above
0.01%

Tasks and Work Activities of Brickmasons and Blockmasons

  • 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.
  • Measure distance from reference points and mark guidelines to lay out work, using plumb bobs and levels.
  • Calculate angles and courses and determine vertical and horizontal alignment of courses.
  • Fasten or fuse brick or other building material to structure with wire clamps, anchor holes, torch, or cement.
  • Break or cut bricks, tiles, or blocks to size, using trowel edge, hammer, or power saw.
  • Remove excess mortar with trowels and hand tools, and finish mortar joints with jointing tools, for a sealed, uniform appearance.
  • Interpret blueprints and drawings to determine specifications and to calculate the materials required.
  • Apply and smooth mortar or other mixture over work surface.
  • Mix specified amounts of sand, clay, dirt, or mortar powder with water to form refractory mixtures.
  • Examine brickwork or structure to determine need for repair.
  • Clean working surface to remove scale, dust, soot, or chips of brick and mortar, using broom, wire brush, or scraper.
  • Lay and align bricks, blocks, or tiles to build or repair structures or high temperature equipment, such as cupola, kilns, ovens, or furnaces.
  • Remove burned or damaged brick or mortar, using sledgehammer, crowbar, chipping gun, or chisel.
  • Spray or spread refractory material over brickwork to protect against deterioration.
  • Handling and Moving ObjectsUsing hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
  • Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or MaterialInspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
  • Getting InformationObserving, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
  • Monitor Processes, Materials, or SurroundingsMonitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
  • Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or SubordinatesProviding information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
  • Identifying Objects, Actions, and EventsIdentifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
  • Scheduling Work and ActivitiesScheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
  • Performing General Physical ActivitiesPerforming physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.
  • Coordinating the Work and Activities of OthersGetting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.
  • Making Decisions and Solving ProblemsAnalyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
  • Install masonry materials.
  • Mark reference points on construction materials.
  • Measure materials or objects for installation or assembly.
  • Plan layout of construction, installation, or repairs.
  • Cut tile, stone, or other masonry materials.
  • Apply mortar.
  • Remove excess materials from finished construction projects.
  • Estimate materials requirements for projects.
  • Review blueprints or specifications to determine work requirements.
  • Mix substances or compounds needed for work activities.
  • Inspect work sites to determine condition or necessary repairs.
  • Clean surfaces in preparation for work activities.
  • Align masonry materials.
  • Remove worn, damaged or outdated materials from work areas.
  • Apply sealants or other protective coatings.

Skills and Abilities for Brickmasons and Blockmasons

  • CoordinationAdjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
  • Critical ThinkingUsing logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
  • Time ManagementManaging one's own time and the time of others.
  • Quality Control AnalysisConducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
  • Operation MonitoringWatching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
  • MonitoringMonitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
  • SpeakingTalking to others to convey information effectively.
  • Active ListeningGiving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
  • Trunk StrengthThe ability to use your abdominal and lower back muscles to support part of the body repeatedly or continuously over time without 'giving out' or fatiguing.
  • Extent FlexibilityThe ability to bend, stretch, twist, or reach with your body, arms, and/or legs.
  • Static StrengthThe ability to exert maximum muscle force to lift, push, pull, or carry objects.
  • Near VisionThe ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
  • Manual DexterityThe ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
  • Arm-Hand SteadinessThe ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
  • VisualizationThe ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.
  • Dynamic StrengthThe ability to exert muscle force repeatedly or continuously over time. This involves muscular endurance and resistance to muscle fatigue.
  • Multilimb CoordinationThe ability to coordinate two or more limbs (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while sitting, standing, or lying down. It does not involve performing the activities while the whole body is in motion.
  • Information OrderingThe ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
  • Finger DexterityThe ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.
  • Problem SensitivityThe ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
  • Gross Body EquilibriumThe ability to keep or regain your body balance or stay upright when in an unstable position.
  • StaminaThe ability to exert yourself physically over long periods of time without getting winded or out of breath.
  • Category FlexibilityThe ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
  • Inductive ReasoningThe ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
  • Deductive ReasoningThe ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
  • Control PrecisionThe ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
  • Oral ExpressionThe ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
  • Far VisionThe ability to see details at a distance.
  • Trowelse.g. Adhesive trowels
  • Adjustable widemouth plierse.g. Adjustable widemouth pliers
  • Adjustable wrenchese.g. Adjustable wrenches
  • Air compressorse.g. Air compressors
  • Angle grindere.g. Angle grinders
  • Blocks or pulleyse.g. Block and tackle equipment
  • Bolt cutterse.g. Bolt cutters
  • Manlift or personnel lifte.g. Bosun chairs
  • Shoring equipmente.g. Bracing equipment
  • Cold chiselse.g. Brick bolsters
  • Stonemason hammere.g. Brick hammers
  • Trowelse.g. Brick jointers
  • Cold chiselse.g. Brick sets
  • Rulerse.g. Brick spacing rulers
  • Tongse.g. Brick tongs
  • Hammerse.g. Bush hammers
  • C clampse.g. C clamps
  • Hammerse.g. Carpenters' hammers
  • Caulking gunse.g. Caulking guns
  • Plaster or mortar mixerse.g. Cement mixers
  • Building and ConstructionKnowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.
  • MathematicsKnowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
  • English LanguageKnowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
  • Public Safety and SecurityKnowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
  • Production and ProcessingKnowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
  • DesignKnowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
  • Administration and ManagementKnowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
  • MechanicalKnowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.