What does a Bricklayer do

Yep, you guessed it – as a bricklayer you’ll work with clay bricks, concrete blocks and other types of building materials in mortar. Using these materials (and your great bricklaying skills) you‘ll construct and repair veneer and full brick construction, partitions, arches and other structures.

Bricklayer Skills

However, if you’re thinking all a bricklayer does is lay brick after brick – then think again! There’s more to being a bricklayer than meets the eye. In fact, a single bricklaying project calls upon a variety of skills. These include:
  • Reading and working from plans and specifications
  • Sealing foundations with damp-resistant materials
  • Spreading layers of mortar to serve as a base and binder for bricks in rows, designs or shapes; and spreading mortar between joints
  • Repairing and maintaining clay bricks, cement blocks / bricks and related structures
  • Operating brick-cutting machines
  • Erecting scaffolding (subject to licence requirements in some states).

How does Bricklayers work?

As a bricklayer you may work at heights and will generally work outdoors. On occasion you may have contact with the public and more often than not, you’ll be working as part of a team. You could be employed by bricklaying subcontractors and building and construction companies; or you might decide to be your own boss, and become a self-employed tradesperson. A qualification in bricklaying is one of only two construction trades that can go on to become a registered builder. Whatever form your employment takes, there’s a couple of inbuilt things that help make someone a really good bricklayer. Click What Makes A Good Bricklayer? to find out what they are.  Or contact ABBTF.