Brick Mason Job Description, Duties, and Responsibilities

By | August 23, 2023
Brick Mason Job Description
Brick masons need to know how to read and interpret construction plans and blueprints to be able to deliver excellent work.

This post provides detailed information on the brick mason job description, to help you learn the duties, tasks, and responsibilities they commonly perform.

What Does a Brick Mason Do?

Brick masons are masonry workers who use prefabricated building materials such as concrete blocks, terracotta blocks, and structural tiles in building or repairing walls, buildings, walkways, and other structural surfaces made out of bricks.

The brick mason job description entails laying and binding bricks to construct or repair building structures.

In performing their duties, brick masons read and interpret construction plans and blueprint to determine the specifications for a building project.

They lay out a structure by marking out and measuring distances with the aid of stakes, rules, levels, and other measuring tools.

They also break or cut bricks to desired sizes using hammer or powersaw.

Masons mix specific proportions of sand, cement, and water to form mortar or materials respectively used in fusing blocks and erecting structures.

They use trowels in scooping and spreading mortar on brick, tile or block surfaces.

More tips on Brick Mason Job Description

The brick mason role also involves laying and aligning bricks on mortar bed according to set building plans.

Usually, brick masons clean and polish block surface using broom or wire brush to remove foreign matter such as dust and scale.

They inspect brickwork to identify and fix faults in construction.

They also apply refractory substances on finished brick structures to protect against heat degradation.

In fulfilling their work description, brick masons build corners with the aid of corner poles or corner pyramid.

They use caulking materials to correct expanding or contracting mortar joints.

They may also install high-heat materials such as refractory tiles and fire bricks in furnaces, boilers, cupolas and ladles.

As part of their responsibilities, masons use sledgehammer or crowbar to remove damaged or burnt bricks.

They replace defective bricks and conduct repairs to refurbish walls, chimneys, floors or walkways.

They also abide by set health and safety regulations to ensure a risk-free work condition.

Setting up scaffolding or other platform used in climbing tall structures for masonry operations is also part of brick mason description.

To work in this career requires having several years of training as a brick mason apprentice.

The qualities you will need for success on the job include physical strength, math skill, and physical dexterity.

Brick Mason Job Description Example/Template

Here is an example of the brick mason job description, consisting of their major tasks, duties, and responsibilities:

  • Lay out foundations and patterns using measuring tools such as straightedges and rules
  • Verify the vertical and horizontal elevation of a structure using levels and plumb bob
  • Mix specific amount of sand, cement, lime, and water to form mortar or refractory mixture
  • Spread mortar on slabs and surfaces to fuse bricks, tiles or blocks together
  • Use hammer, powersaw or edge of trowels to break or cut blocks to desired sizes
  • Conduct repairs on walls, partitions, and fireplaces to remove defective blocks and replace with solid ones
  • Use trowels and other hand tools to remove or apply mortar over work surface
  • Carry out estimates to determine the cost and quantity of materials required for a masonry project
  • Utilize jointing tools in sealing mortar joints to achieve an even surface
  • Use scrapers, wire brushes or broom to clean and polish the surface of finished brickwork
  • Install high-temperature tiles in boilers, cupolas, and furnaces
  • Seal expanding or contracting joints with caulking materials
  • Remove damaged bricks with the aid of chipping gun, sledgehammer, or crowbar
  • Build corner pyramids or fasten corner poles in plumb position to construct corners
  • Spray refractory material on finished brick structures to protect against heat degradation
  • Conduct inspection of brick structures to determine the need for repair.

Brick Mason Job Description for Resume

If you have worked before as a brick mason or are presently working in that role and are preparing a new resume, you can create a compelling professional or work experience section for your resume by applying the duties and responsibilities highlighted in the brick mason job description example above.

With a good professional experience section in your resume, you will be able to let the recruiter know that you have been successful performing the duties of a brick mason, which can be a deciding factor for them in hiring you.

This is more so if the new job requires someone with some brick masonry work experience.

Requirements – Skills, Abilities, and Knowledge – for Brick Mason Job

If you are seeking the job of a brick mason, here are major requirements you may be asked to fulfill by most employers to be considered for the role:

  • Education and Training: To become a brick mason, you require minimum of a high school diploma and about 3-4 years of apprenticeship in masonry. You can also opt for training in technical schools that offer 1-year program in basic masonry. To gain experience, journey masons work under established brick masons following completion of an apprenticeship program
  • Physical Strength: Brick masons are able to lift, move, and work with heavy tools and materials such as cement bags and blocks
  • Math Skill: They are well versed in taking measurements and laying out projects according to set plans
  • Physical Dexterity: They are skilled in using hand/power tools to lay, align, and set bricks to form a structure
  • Pre-employment tests: To get hired or admitted to an apprenticeship program for this job, you may be expected to take and pass an assessment test. Discover job assessment test you may have to pass to get into this career, and how to top competitors in the test.

Conclusion

Do you need a work description for the brick mason position in your company?

If you do, then you can apply the sample description for the job given in this post in making one.

The detailed job description you can design for the role using information from this post can help you attract the best candidates for the position if you are hiring.

The information in this post is also useful to individuals looking to become a mason; they will have a greater knowledge of what the role entails.