A bricklayer, which is often interchangeable with a brick mason, lays brick masonry, also referred to as brick construction. The terms are also used to describe personnel that uses large blocks of the earth to build blockwork and other forms of traditional masonry. Bricklayers can be seen at work on major public works such as skyscrapers and hospitals. In the United States, many dams and airports are constructed using this technique of bricklaying. Other places where bricklayers are commonly found include dry mining and quarries.
A typical workday for Bricklayers Perth includes long hours of hammering, sawing, and setting concrete. They may also build or repair fences, pillars, slabs for masonry units and install machinery to set up walls. Some may specialize in only one particular task, such as installing fire escapes or making sure that the walls of a building are level. Others are general contractors who will take on any job that is asked for.
The bricklayer’s job outlook for the construction industry is strong. While the number of job openings is up for general contractors, there are more openings for bricklayers. This is because bricklayers must learn the trade and work in an environment where the knowledge of the business is not as common as it is for other construction professionals. Many companies that hire general contractors do not require bricklayers. This makes the bricklayer’s career very attractive to those looking to work in the construction industry.
A career as a bricklayer is not only exciting but also rewarding. The skilled bricklayer makes an excellent salary. As a contractor, they can work in various arenas and earn a good salary based upon the work they perform. In addition, bricklayers can choose to be laid brick or clay tile and apply those same materials as a construction worker would. Laying clay tiles requires some different skills than laying bricks, so the bricklayers have to learn that trade.
If you want to break into the construction industry as a bricklayer, you will have to learn to apply mortar properly. The most basic level of mortar laying requires having a high school diploma or its equivalent. As long as you can understand the basic requirements, it is not difficult to become employed as bricklayers. With good education and a few years of experience laying bricks, you can make about $19 an hour, depending on the number of bricks you are placing.
Being a bricklayer, you can also work in other areas of the construction industry, depending on what kind of construction you are working on. For example, suppose you are working on a project that requires many diggings, like a sewer line replacement or an underground sewer line. In that case, you may have the opportunity for employment with a construction crew. Being a masonry contractor also gives you the chance to become a landscape architect or a landscaper. Working with power tools also opens up opportunities to other types of construction work, like those who do construction on buildings and structures. Power tools can allow you to make precise cuts into the masonry bricks you are laying without using a saw blade.
You can start by being a masonry laborer, helping to load and unload trucks with concrete blocks. This can lead to other opportunities as well, like being a supervisor of a concrete blocks company. A supervisor’s job is to direct and manage the crew that works on unloading and loading trucks with concrete blocks, and they must be able to get the job done within the time frame that the company is given. Being a bricklayer’s supervisor means that you are responsible for the loading and unloading trucks carrying concrete blocks. You must know all of the construction laws and labor regulations concerning handling concrete blocks in the state in which you live.
Becoming a bricklayer does take a certain amount of training, and it takes at least a year of apprenticeship before you can legally work as a bricklayer. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that there has been a steady decline in the number of bricklayers available for employment between 1990 and 2021. One of the reasons for this is that more people use cement to build their homes instead of brick. There are many more homes constructed with masonry than homes built with pre-fabricated interior wallboard or exterior walls. However, the demand for bricklayers is likely to increase once the general population begins to feel the downturn in the housing market.