Masonry, Stone and Brick Layers Considerations

Bricklayers and stonemasons work to create beautiful and lasting structures. Their work is similar in nature but varies by material. Bricklayers and stonemasons work to bring your design to life using mortar and stone or brick. If you have any structure that needs to be built around the house with brick or stone, a mason or bricklayer will surely be able to assist you.

Bricklayers - Bricklayers typically specialize in fireplaces, chimneys, floors, walls, and lining furnaces. Brick lying is a very specialized skill and can be very time consuming if you are without experience.

Bricklaying - When starting a project bricklayers create a lead or pyramid of bricks. This aids them in starting the brick design for a structure. Once the brick is ready to be laid the bricklayer lays down and spreads a layer of mortar. A brick is then laid down and tapped into place. This process is repeated until the structure is built. If a brick needs cutting, a hammer and chisel are typically used to create a tight fit. A jointing tool is used to clean out the excess mortar and create a nice finished look.

Stonemasons - Stonemasons are skilled in building stone walls and setting stone floors or exteriors using limestone, marble, or granite. Stonemasons often have heavy equipment used for lifting heavy stone. They usually number stones to fit a desired diagram of the project to ensure correctness.

Stone Setting - Once the mason's diagram is complete and stones are numbered, the stone is laid down. Once the design is set the mortar is applied. Crowbars and/or welded brackets may be used in order to keep larger stones in their desired setting. Just like bricklayers, stonemasons use a special hammer and chisel to shape the stone into the size needed. Once the mortar is smoothed to the wanted look and the mortar dries the project is finished. If this is an interior floor a sealant should be considered dependant on the floor function.

Bricklaying and masonry work are specialized trades that require a great amount of skill. If you have a bricklaying or stone masonry project in mind for your home you should consider contacting a professional contractor in your area.