How Does a Brick Layer Spend a Workday?

Job Description

Bricklayers are also called brick masons or block masons. They work with brick, concrete and stone materials. Bricklayers build walkways, chimneys, the exterior of buildings, walls, flooring and more. Working as a bricklayer requires mathematical skills to determine materials needed, a knowledge of structural design and strength and stamina. Some bricklayers work for construction companies, and others are self-employed.

Before a bricklayer starts a building project, he talks with the construction company that he is working for (if he works for a construction company) or to the customer about the prospective project. Once the bricklayer has an understanding of what the customer wants built, he can evaluate the building area to see if the project is feasible. If he cannot build the project according to the customer's wishes, he discuses options with her. Once the final details of the project design is agreed upon, a price quote is given. The bricklayer quotes a price based on projected material costs and projected hours of labor the project will require. An estimated time for completion of the project is also given to the customer.

Before a bricklayer can start building, he has to make building plans. Structural integrity is considered when making building plans to ensure that the finished project will be structurally sound. A bricklayer may also assist the customer in obtaining a building permit if one is needed.

Once the plans are made, the bricklayer buys the needed building supplies. Depending on the size of the project, the bricklayer may pick up the building supplies in his truck and transport them to the building site, or he may have them delivered if the project requires a large number of materials. For large building projects, a bricklayer may hire assistants to help with manual labor. Sometimes, bricklayers have regular assistants they call on to help them with large projects. Some bricklayers hire different day laborers whenever they are in need of help.

Bricklayers usually start work on a project early in the morning and continue working until the end of daylight, with a lunch break in the middle of the day. Bricklayers work from 5 to 7 days a week on a project until it is completed. If the project is outdoors, work may stop during rainy weather and resume when rain stops. When working on projects, a bricklayer works long hours without many, if any, days off. But he often has days or weeks off when between projects.