Working Life
- Learning and developing new practical craft-related skills, knowledge and competence
- Working with and learning from experienced craftspersons
- Working with technical drawings and diagrams
- Seeing a job through from start to finish
- Comply with Health and Safety requirements
- Working mainly outdoors
- Using tools or machinery
- Being accurate with numbers in estimating measuring and arithmetic
- Accuracy and attention to detail
- Being well organised and careful with practical tasks
- Working at heights
- Lifting or carrying heavy items
- Taking responsibility for own learning, including the allocation of study time
- Working on construction site
- Being physically active
- Stretching, bending and kneeling
- Working in cramped and awkward spaces
- Passing all your phase exams (theory, practicals skills demonstration)
- Earning as you learn
Qualities -
As a Brick and Stonelayer you will need to be physically active and to be able to work with your hands.
An awareness of health and safety and good housekeeping is essential as well as attention to detail.
The Brick and Stonelayer must have the ability to:
- Plan and organise
- Communicate effectively
- Solve problems
- Work independently and as part of a team
- Show a positive attitude
- Recognise the need for good customer relations
- Demonstrate good work practices including time keeping, tidiness, responsibility, quality awareness and safety awareness
Skills
Brick and Stonelayers require many skills including:
- Working with a variety of specialised hand and power tools.
- Working with mortar to bond and point.
- The ability to work to specifications and adapt to surroundings to produce plumb and level walls.
- The ability to read plans and drawings to find out how the structure is to be built and take account of where corners need to be or where openings must be left for doors and windows.
- Attention to detail and accuracy – the Brick and Stonelayer has to make sure that the structure is accurate and meets design requirements.
Core Skills
Building
- Brick walls
- Solid concrete block walls
- Cavity walls in brick and block
- Cellular block walls
- Door and window openings
- Piers
- Soldier courses
- Chimney breasts and stacks
- Timber frame construction
Setting
- Capping and copings
- Lintels and sills
- Laying damp proof courses
- Producing joint finishes
- Identifying various types of scaffolding
- Maintaining safe scaffolding practices
Specialist Skills
- Arch construction
- Stonelaying
- Installing and building drainage and sewerage layouts
- Setting kerbstones
- Laying paving slabs
- Floor and wall tiling
- Decorative brickwork
- Prefabricated brick/concrete panelling construction
- System built chimney
Common Skills
- Calculations: costing projects and estimating materials
- Measuring and setting-out
- Transferring levels
- Plumbing, ranging and levelling using spirit level
- Use and care of tools
- Knowledge of building materials
Health and safety is an important aspect of the job, so a Brick and Stonelayer need to wear protective footwear, a safety helmet and, occasionally, safety glasses and hand protection.
Interests - Bricklayer / Stonelaying
This occupation is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests:
Realist
Realists are usually interested in 'things' - such as buildings, mechanics, equipment, tools, electronics etc. Their primary focus is dealing with these - as in building, fixing, operating or designing them. Involvement in these areas leads to high manual skills, or a fine aptitude for practical design - as found in the various forms of engineering.
Realists like to find practical solutions to problems using tools, technology and skilled work. Realists usually prefer to be active in their work environment, often do most of their work alone, and enjoy taking decisive action with a minimum amount of discussion and paperwork.
Administrative
Administrative people are interested in work that offers security and a sense of being part of a larger process. They may be at their most productive under supervisors who give clear guidelines and while performing routine tasks in a methodical and reliable way.
They tend to enjoy clerical and most forms of office work, where they perform essential administrative duties. They often form the backbone of large and small organisations alike. They may enjoy being in charge of office filing systems, and using computers and other office equipment to keep things running smoothly. They usually like routine work hours and prefer comfortable indoor workplaces.
Investigative
The Investigative person will usually find a particular area of science to be of interest. They are inclined toward intellectual and analytical activities and enjoy observation and theory. They may prefer thought to action, and enjoy the challenge of solving problems with sophiscticated technology. These types prefer mentally stimulating environments and often pay close attention to developments in their chosen field.
Entry / Progression - Bricklayer / Stonelaying
Pay & Salary - Bricklayer / Stonelaying
* The lower figures typically reflect starting salaries. Higher salaries are awarded to those with greater experience and responsibility. Positions in Dublin sometimes command higher salaries.
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