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. They are employed by construction companies and bricklaying contractors or they may be self-employed.
Main duties Bricklayers perform some or all of the following duties:
Read sketches and blueprints to calculate materials required
Cut and trim bricks and concrete blocks to specification using hand and power tools
Prepare and lay bricks, concrete blocks, stone, structural tiles and similar materials to construct or repair walls, foundations and other structures in residential, industrial and commercial construction
Lay bricks or other masonry units to build residential or commercial chimneys and fireplaces
Lay radial bricks to build masonry shells of industrial chimneys
Lay or install firebricks to line industrial chimneys and smokestacks
Line or reline furnaces, kilns, boilers and similar installations using refractory or acidresistant bricks, refractory concretes, plastic refractories and other materials
Lay bricks, stone or similar materials to provide veneer facing to walls or other surfaces
Construct and install prefabricated masonry units
Lay bricks or other masonry units to build patios, garden walls and other decorative installations
May restore, clean or paint existing masonry structures.
Employment requirements
Completion of secondary school is usually required.
Completion of a three- to four-year apprenticeship program or
A combination of over four years of work experience in the trade and some high school, college or industry courses in bricklaying is usually required to be eligible for trade certification.
Trade certification for bricklayers is compulsory in Nova Scotia , New Brunswick and Quebec and available, but voluntary, in all other provinces and the Yukon .
Trade certification for stonemasons is available, but voluntary, in Newfoundland .
Interprovincial trade certification (Red Seal) is also available to qualified bricklayers.
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. They are employed by construction companies and bricklaying contractors or they may be self-employed.
