What Makes A Good Bricklayer

Bricklaying appears to be as simple as placing bricks on top of each other or carefully putting a structure together as if you were playing.

00:05 14 November 2019

This is not true though, bricklaying may look like it is simple but there is more to it than meets the eye. Bricklayers possess several characteristics and principles that make them good at what they do. In the end there are a few things that make a huge difference when a bricklayer does what he does. They make it look easy but the truth is there is a lot more too it then just placing bricks on top of each other.

Proper Knowledge

One of the most important things for a bricklayer is the knowledge that he has on actually doing the task. This does not only mean with bricklaying but other construction and masonry related knowledge as well since there is a lot to keep in mind when laying bricks such as the which materials are right, what position the bricks are to be placed, the measurements and stability of what they are working on and much more. In depth knowledge is required to make sure they know what they are handling, what they are working on and how it will remain sturdy and upright and how to proceed with the job.

Actual Experience

Knowledge is good but add experience and you already have the great potential for a bricklayer since the knowledge alone is good but with experience acquired through practice and previous works, this improves the overall quality of the work they do. A person who has experience will learn from their mistakes, learn to improve and learn how to do their best which leads to greater results after a job is complete. A bricklayer who has started out with practice and made their way professionally to the point where their experience becomes a huge benefit to their performance usually ends up with the best results. Experienced bricklayer Mark Flynn from Brickit notes that in most jurisdictions there is minimal education and licencing requirements for bricklayers, so finding a bricklayer with experience is essential to ensure the quality of worksmanship.

Mental & Physical Fitness

You need to be able to think and work at the same time since you need your mind for calculating, measure and thinking to be able to work continuously if you aim to go brick by brick without error. This is important for you to make sure you avoid delays and that you won’t get interrupted during the job as this can end up delaying you even further as you might end up retracing your steps or redoing a certain step.

You need to have physical fitness and endurance as you will be handling equipment and the materials themselves which overtime will definitely begin to be felt sooner or later. Making sure that you are fit to do the job is important in order to be able to work from start to finish without needing to take prolonged breaks and mostly to avoid any unwanted injuries.

Precision

A bricklayer should know how the structure is to be built and should know the necessary steps when it comes to handling equipment, preparing and laying bricks as well as checking every now and then to make sure nothing is wrong. Accuracy is important to make sure the overall structure is sturdy and properly created as well as making sure that it looks easy on the eyes since not only do people want a structure properly made for them but they also want to make sure it looks nice. Being keen on detail and precise when working will ensure that the output satisfies the client.

Dedication

At times a bricklayer is given a simple job while other times they may be asked to do massive tasks. Saying yes instead of saying something is too hard to do will definitely make a good bricklayer because a good bricklayer can handle jobs regardless of difficulty as it is usually how they plan everything that makes it successful in the end. A hardworking and dedicated bricklayer gets things done no matter how big or how small, regardless of the time it takes they can provide a good result and a job well done.

Attitude

It is very important to have a good attitude which means talking to your client, showing up to work and clarifying things when needed is necessary at all times. The better your attitude, the easier you and your client will get along and the faster things can be accomplished. A client wants to be able to communicate properly with a bricklayer in order to clarify what they want built, how they want it built and of course additional details such as source of resources and most importantly the payment and terms.

Enjoyment

Instead of doing a job that you do not want, or being in a situation that is uncomfortable for you, being a bricklayer is something that you should enjoy. It can be a passion since building is not only work but a hobby as well and the more you enjoy your job, the better you can do when you work. Loving your job and enjoying what you do will avoid any negative feeling when working and can ensure good results once everything is finished.

Conclusion

A good bricklayer should be able to communicate well with the client, prepare everything needed, make the necessary arrangements and carry out the job without any unnecessary delay. To do this they need to have good character and need to be well prepared for the job as this takes a lot of effort and skill. A good bricklayer will possess all of the above and even more and most of the time, the outcome of their work will surprise you since their work is their art.