About Stone Masons
Stone, brick and block masons work in one of the oldest professions in civilization. The most famous of their work includes the rice terraces in the Philippines, the Pyramids and Sphinx in Egypt, Stonehenge in the United Kingdom, and the Roman Ruins. Stone masonry may precede recorded history, as evidence by the discovery of the underwater Yonaguni ruins surrounding Yonaguni and its neighboring islands. Stonemasons played a role in building the United States, as evidenced by their work in Washington D.C. People becoming stone, brick and block masons continue a tradition that humanity has carried for thousands of years.
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What Stone Masons Do
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Stonemasons construct streets, roads, homes, bridges, megaliths, and other objects made out of stone, bricks and blocks. Brick and block masons either build, or repair, structures made out of bricks and blocks. Examples of these structures include walls, floors and chimneys. Refractory masons specialize in building stone structures intended to hold high temperatures. This includes furnaces, incinerators and oil refineries. Stonemasons put stone walls together; they also lay stone floors. Some of the materials they work with include granite, marble, limestone, marble and man-made stones.
On the Job Training
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Beginning stonemasons receive on the job training, working as tenders, laborers or helpers. They move materials around the workplace, take down or build scaffolds, and mix and spread mortar. Experienced stonemasons teach them how to put the mortar together, how to place the stone, brick or block in their places. Beginner stonemasons learn basic touch-up and restoration. The experienced stonemasons gradually mature the new stonemasons into full fledged stonemasons. Training usually ranges from 2 to 4 years.
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Apprenticeships
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Beginning stone, block and brick masons can apply for apprenticeships after 3 years of on-the-job training. Once accepted into an apprenticeship program, they have to go through at least 144 hours of formal classroom training. They learn mason-related mathematics, mason-related sketching, reading blueprints and layout works. These are just some of the formal trainings required. If a high school student wants to be a stonemason, he should take classes dealing with mechanical drawing, industrial shop and mathematics.
Working Conditions
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Stonemasons work outside most of the time. Prior to the 20th century, they had to get as much work done as possible before winter. Thanks to modern technology, they can expand work into parts of the year that prohibited ancient stonemasons from working. This hands-on job requires a lot of heavy lifting, standing, bending and kneeling. These conditions could lead to injuries if done improperly. For example, back injuries could result from not lifting a stone block correctly. Since stonemasons work from scaffolding, they have to watch for falls. Stonemasons working near these scaffolding, or adjacent to stonemasons working above them, must be careful with falling equipment. Stonemasons working for employers generally do 40-hour weeks, with overtime if necessary. Earnings depend on the market, and on how long weather conditions allow stonemasons to work.
Stonemason Career Success
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People desiring to be stonemasons must have good work ethics, be physically strong and be dependable. They must be keen on applying mathematical concepts such as measuring, managing volume, putting the right proportions into a mix and utilizing plane geometry in relation to the construction project. A stonemason who "puts his shoulders to the grinder" and applies himself can climb into supervisory and management positions. After management, he could become a building inspector. With enough drive, talent and motive, he could branch off and run his own businesses.
Job Outlook
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A stonemason's job is recession proof. During the Great Depression, President Roosevelt launched the "Works Progress Administration" program. This program kept many stonemasons employed. Even during a recession, people are going to be building homes and buildings. Governments are going to spend money to repair roads and bridges. As populations grow, and as an increasing amount of stone-, brick- and block-based infrastructure age, the demand for stone, brick and block masons will increase.
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