Bricklayers lay bricks, pre-cut stone and other types of building blocks in mortar to construct and repair walls, partitions, arches and other structures. A bricklayer also:
- Studies plans and specifications to determine materials required, dimensions and installation procedures.
- Erects scaffolding.
- Seals foundations with damp resistant materials and spreads layers of mortar to serve as base and binder for blocks, using trowels.
- Lays bricks in rows, designs and shapes, and spreads mortar between the joints.
- Embeds blocks in mortar and removes excess mortar.
- Checks vertical and horizontal alignment.
- Cuts, shapes, and polishes stones and bricks using machines and hand tools, and shapes bricks to fit irregular spaces.
- Repairs and maintains bricks, cement blocks and related structures.