Required training
– Bricklayers undergo a formal apprenticeship that combines on-the-job training and classroom instruction.
– Apprenticeships are offered by unions and many employers.
– To become an apprentice, one must be at least 16 years old and have graduated from high school.
– Masons must attend trade school and/or serve apprenticeships to learn about construction materials, thermal insulation, and occupational health and safety.
– Online sites claiming quick certification are not as comprehensive as trade or technical schools.
In fiction and popular culture
– Author John Fante often featured bricklayers and stonemasons in his novels and short stories, drawing from his own family background.
– Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn’s novel ‘One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich’ portrays the protagonist as a bricklayer in a Gulag prison.
– The British children’s TV series ‘Look and Read’ included a character called Bill the Brickie, who used bricks to teach about morphemes.
– In an interview, Cristiano Ronaldo’s mother mentioned that he would have become a bricklayer if he hadn’t pursued a career in football.
Related professions
– Brick hod, a tool used by bricklayers to carry bricks.
– Stonemasonry, a related profession that involves working with stones.
Construction industry
– Construction, the broader field encompassing bricklaying and other building activities.
– Guild, an organization that represents and supports bricklayers and other tradespeople.
Additional resources
– Richard T. Kreh’s book ‘Masonry Skills’ provides comprehensive information on the subject.
– The Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary offers a definition and pronunciation guide for the term ‘bricklayer.’
– Fred Glueckstein’s article ‘Churchill as Bricklayer’ explores Winston Churchill’s hobby of bricklaying.
– ‘Banksman training’ by John Peter is a relevant resource for occupational health and safety in bricklaying.
– The interview with Dolores Aveiro on Sporting Clube de Portugal’s TV channel provides insights into Cristiano Ronaldo’s background and interests. Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bricklayer
A bricklayer, which is related to but different from a mason, is a craftsperson and tradesperson who lays bricks to construct brickwork. The terms also refer to personnel who use blocks to construct blockwork walls and other forms of masonry. In British and Australian English, a bricklayer is colloquially known as a "brickie". A stone mason is one who lays any combination of stones, cinder blocks, and bricks in construction of building walls and other works. Bricklaying is a part of masonry.
 Bricklayer apprentice practising at Kuben Vocational Arena | |
| Occupation | |
|---|---|
| Synonyms | Builder, construction worker |
| Pronunciation |
|
Occupation type | Craftsperson |
Activity sectors | Construction |
| Description | |
Education required | Apprenticeship |
Fields of employment | Civil engineering |
Bricklaying may also be enjoyed as a hobby. For example, the former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill did bricklaying as a hobby.
Bricklayers occasionally enter competitions where both speed and accuracy are judged. The largest is the "Spec-Mix Bricklayer 500" held annually in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.
