
Houses &
Buildings

Bricklayer's
Assistant
Related Jobs
or Working with these Jobs
 
Bricklayers lay bricks, pre-cut stone and concrete
blocks to build and repair buildings, walls and paved areas. They do this by
consulting building plans, making measurements and binding bricks together
with mortar. Their work is an important part of the construction process, as
bricks often form the structural base of many buildings. Sometimes they do
ornamental work by laying shaped or coloured patterns in buildings,
archways, walls or floors.

Bricklayers
lay and bind building materials, such as bricks, structural tiles, concrete
blocks, and glass blocks with mortar and other substances to construct or
repair walls, partitions, arches, sewers, and other structures.
ANZSCO ID & Description:
331111: Lays bricks, pre-cut stone and other
types of building materials in mortar to construct and repair walls,
partitions, arches and other structures (registration or licensing may be
required).
Alternative names: Blocklayer
Specialisations: Arch Builder, Chimney Builder, Refractory
Bricklayer, Retort Setter (Bricklaying), Tuckpointer.
A small number of bricklayers may specialise in refractory work, where they
build and line kilns and industrial furnaces, or in the repair of brickwork
damaged by salt or damp.
Knowledge, skills and attributes
Bricklayers need:
-
a high level of physical fitness and stamina
-
to enjoy practical work
-
an ability to work to deadlines
-
the ability to work accurately, follow plans and
instructions
-
good hand-eye coordination
-
an ability to follow plans and instructions
-
to be comfortable working from heights
Duties and Tasks
Bricklayers may perform the following tasks:

- work from plans and specifications
- seal foundations with damp-resistant materials
- measuring the work area and setting out the first rows of bricks
(courses) and the damp course
- mixing mortar by hand or with a mechanical mixer
- laying the bricks on top of each other and applying the mortar with
a trowel
- shaping and trimming bricks using hammers, chisels and power tools
- checking that courses are straight using water or laser spirit
levels and plumb lines.
- build in door and window frames
- spread layers of mortar to serve as a base and binder for bricks,
remove excess mortar and check vertical and horizontal alignment
- use various tools and brick-cutting machines to cut and shape bricks
- construct arches and ornamental brickwork
- repair and maintain clay bricks, cement blocks/bricks and related
structures
- erect scaffolding (subject to licence requirements in some states).
On larger jobs, your work team would work on a particular section of a
building alongside other bricklaying teams. You may also be able to
specialise in stonemasonry work.
Working conditions
Bricklayers work outdoors on construction sites, or at locations that
require building or repair work. They work at heights on scaffolding, in
tight spaces and in different weather conditions. You would spend a lot of
your time outside in most weathers, and the work can be physically hard.
Your job may involve working at heights on scaffolding, and you would be
expected to use protective equipment, such as safety helmets and boots.
You would travel from site to site. Some jobs may involve overnight stays
away from home. You would usually need a valid drivers' licence.
Bricklayers normally work in teams and must be very accurate and safety
conscious. They may work on large-scale construction projects, such as schools or
hospitals, or on smaller housing projects.
Bricklayers work mainly for builders and may have some contact
with the public.
In
specialised work they may operate in tunnels and shafts.
Tools and technologies
Bricklayers use trowels, hammers, shovels, bolsters and spirit levels to
measure and lay bricks and other building materials. Mortar and concrete are
made up in buckets or mixers to keep them from setting.
Sometimes they also
use special machines to cut bricks into required shapes and sizes.
All
bricklayers must wear safety equipment such as hard hats, dust masks,
steel-capped boots, earmuffs, safety glasses and protective or high
visibility clothing.
Did You Know?
A bricklayer or mason is a craftsman who lays bricks to
construct brickwork. The term also refers 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 notable person who laid bricks (as a hobby) was Sir Winston
Churchill.
(Source:
Wikipedia)

Did You Know? Convict History
Only one person on the First Fleet was skilled at making bricks —
James Bloodsworth, a former London bricklayer who had been
transported for forgery. He was responsible for designing and
building many of Sydney’s first brick structures.
(Source:
Daily Telegraph)
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Houses &
Buildings
  
Assist bricklayers and stone
masons by performing duties such as supplying or holding materials or tools, and cleaning work
the area and equipment. Bricklayer's labourers assist
with preparation, positioning and distribution of materials and equipment.
They assist with general clean-up associated with laying bricks, stone,
concrete blocks and other building blocks to construct and repair walls,
foundations and other structures.

ANZSCO ID: 881111
Alternative names: Bricklayer Helper (Labourer),
Brickie's Labourer,
Knowledge, skills and attributes
-
Learning to read
technical plans and drawings
-
Attention to detail
-
Compliance with safety procedures
-
Good communication skills
-
Ability to work in all weather
-
Ability to work in cramped spaces and at heights
-
Flexibility to work with different crews
-
Physically fit
-
Knowledge of building materials and practices

(Source:
The Guardian)
Duties and Tasks
-
Erect and dismantle scaffolding or other
installation structures.
-
Clean installations surfaces, equipment tools,
work sites, and storage areas, using water,
chemical solutions, oxygen lanses, or polishing machines.
-
Cut materials to specified sizes for
installation, using power saws or other tools.
-
Supply materials to masons for installation.
-
Mortar is mixed on site
using a mixer (includes shovelling sand into the mixer, cement/mortar
mix is added from 20kg bags along with water and other additives)
-
Mix mortar, plaster, and grout, according to
standard formulas either manually or by using
machines and distributing mortar and cement mixes for
use
-
Mortar mix is transported in
buckets weighing up to 25kg and/or by wheelbarrow around the site as
required
-
Provide assistance in the preparation,
installation, repair, and/or rebuilding of
brick, or stone surfaces.
-
Moving and handling
large volumes of materials on site, and the use of a forklift, pallet
jacks, wheelbarrows and specially shaped 'block barrows'
-
Remove damaged brick, or mortar, and clean and
prepare surfaces, using pliers, hammers,
chisels, drills, wire brushes, and metal wire anchors.
-
Apply caulk, sealants, or other agents to
installed surfaces.
-
Apply grout between joints of bricks or tiles,
using grouting trowels.
-
Remove excess grout and residue, using grouting
trowels - excess mortar is removed using a hand
trowel or scraper - props may be used to temporarily support the
structures and are positioned and fastened between wall and floor
structures, and may include the use of bracing along the walls
-
Manually loading and
unloading bricks and blocks to and from pallets
-
Bricks, stone and
blocks are cut to size and shaped using a chisel hammer or brick/block
cutting machine
-
Temporary work
platforms and scaffolding is assembled and disassembled
-
Load and unload construction materials, arrange
and store materials, machines, tools, and
equipment.
-
Transport materials, tools or machines to job
sites.
Working conditions
Bricklayer's labourers work
both indoors and outdoors, therefore access may require the climbing of
stairs, ladders and scaffolding and negotiation of uneven surfaces.
Time times involve early start and finish times.
Tools and technologies
Bricklayer's assistants use a
range of tools including cement mixers, wheelbarrows, pliers, hammers,
chisels, drills, wire brushes and metal wire anchors.
Personal protective equipment
includes:
-
gloves
-
hard hat
-
mask
-
visibility vest
-
trousers
-
safety boots
-
ear muffs/plugs
-
safety glasses
-
sunscreen.
Education and training/entrance requirements
To become a qualified bricklayer, you have to complete an apprenticeship
in bricklaying or bricklaying (housing). The apprenticeships usually
take between 24 and 48 months to complete. You
usually work as a Bricklayer's Assistant during this time.
Related
Jobs or Working with these Jobs
Materials sourced from
Jobs & Skills WA [Bricklayer;
]
WebArchive Only -
CareerHQ [Bricklayer;
]
WebArchive Only -
Careers Online [Bricklayer;
]
Manitoba Start [Bricklayer
Helper Labourer; ]
Work Safe Qld [Bricklayer's
Labourer; ]
WorkPac [Labourer Jobs;]
Your Career [Bricklayer;
]
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