Built EnvironmentISCO 7112
Bricklayer
A bricklayer is a person who builds walls and structures out of bricks and blocks, joining them with mortar.
Check yourself in a minute: bricklayer
Rate 5 of the 19 essential skills of this occupation (European ESCO data). No account needed.
lay bricks
snap chalk line
transport construction supplies
inspect construction supplies
secure working area
About bricklayer
Bricklaying rests on the bond and on the plumb. The bricklayer lays bricks to an established bond, the pattern by which joints are offset, because the load-bearing capacity of a wall depends on it rather than only its appearance. The bricklayer snaps straight lines with a chalk line, checks the level and plumb of every course and keeps joint thickness uniform, since an error in a lower course carries into those above. Where the bond requires it, they split and cut bricks.
The bricklayer mixes the mortar to a consistency suited to the brick and to the weather, applies enough of it to give the intended joint thickness, and then fills and finishes the joints with mortar or another specified material. Before laying, they inspect the construction materials, because a brick that is frozen or soaked behaves differently.
On site, the bricklayer transports materials, secures the work zone, sorts waste, follows construction health and safety procedures and works ergonomically.
Key Work Functions
Core areas of responsibility for a bricklayer.
1
Work site preparation and planning
- Interpret 2D and 3D construction plans to understand brick layout specifications
- Secure working area and follow health and safety procedures in construction
- Inspect construction supplies and sort waste from work area
- Transport construction supplies to work location and organize materials
2
Brick laying and masonry
- Lay bricks in established patterns using mortar as binding agent
- Mix construction grouts to proper consistency for bricklaying
- Snap chalk lines for alignment and check straightness of brick courses
- Split bricks when needed to fit design specifications
3
Quality and finishing work
- Check straightness and alignment of all brick work using measurement instruments
- Finish mortar joints with proper technique for weatherproofing and aesthetics
- Use measurement instruments to verify dimensions and tolerances
- Install construction profiles and ensure structural integrity
4
Safety and professionalism
- Use safety equipment in construction including harnesses and fall protection
- Follow safety procedures when working at heights on scaffolding
- Work ergonomically to prevent injury from repetitive motion and heavy lifting
- Discharge cement waste properly and maintain clean work area
European Skills Framework
Skills and knowledge areas required for this occupation based on European classification.
Essential (19)
lay brickslay bricksLay bricks in the specified pattern and apply a layer of mortar to create walls. Make sure every course of bricks is level and flush.work ergonomicallywork ergonomicallyApply ergonomy principles in the organisation of the workplace while manually handling equipment and materials.snap chalk linesnap chalk lineStretch a line covered in fine, non-staining chalk between two points and snap it against a surface to produce a straight line.transport construction suppliestransport construction suppliesBring construction materials, tools and equipment to the construction site and store them properly taking various aspects into account such as the workers' safety and protection from deterioration.inspect construction suppliesinspect construction suppliesCheck construction supplies for damage, moisture, loss or other problems before using the material.secure working areasecure working areaSecure the operation site fixing boundaries, restricting access, placing signs and taking other measures in order to guarantee public and staff safety.follow health and safety procedures in constructionfollow health and safety procedures in constructionApply the relevant health and safety procedures in construction in order to prevent accidents, pollution and other risks.install construction profilesinstall construction profilesInstall a variety of metal or plastic profiles used to attach materials to each other or to structural elements. Cut them to size if called for.interpret 3D plansinterpret 3D plansInterpret and understand plans and drawings in manufacturing processes which include representations in three dimensions.check straightness of brickcheck straightness of brickUse tools such as the level or the mason's line to check if the wall is straight and flush, and take action it isn't.mix construction groutsmix construction groutsMix construction materials with water and other materials based on the appropriate recipe. Mix thoroughly to prevent lumps. Avoid contamination, which will adversely affect the properties of the mixtu...use safety equipment in constructionuse safety equipment in constructionUse elements of protective clothing such as steel-tipped shoes, and gear such as protective goggles, in order to minimise risk of accidents in construction and to mitigate any injury if an accident do...finish mortar jointsfinish mortar jointsUse a trowel to apply extra mortar to joints to smoothen and finish them after the mortar has partially hardened. Make sure that the joints are full to prevent dampness and other outside influences fr...discharge cementdischarge cementDischarge the cement from the mixer into cans.interpret 2D plansinterpret 2D plansInterpret and understand plans and drawings in manufacturing processes which include representations in two dimensions.follow safety procedures when working at heightsfollow safety procedures when working at heightsTake necessary precautions and follow a set of measures that assess, prevent and tackle risks when working at a high distance from the ground. Prevent endangering people working under these structures...sort wastesort wasteManually or automatically sort waste by separating it into its different elements.split brickssplit bricksUse the appropriate tools to trim, split and shape bricks for use in walls. Use a mason's hammer for occasional shaping, and a hammer and chisel for larger quantities or when the split has to be espec...use measurement instrumentsuse measurement instrumentsUse different measurement instruments depending on the property to be measured. Utilise various instruments to measure length, area, volume, speed, energy, force, and others.
Optional (29) — show
apply restoration techniquesapply restoration techniquesSelect and apply appropriate restoration techniques in order to achieve the required restoration goals. This encompasses preventive measures, remedial measures, restoration processes and management pr...use squaring poleuse squaring poleUse a squaring pole, a telescopic measurement pole that allows for checking the length of the diagonals of an inset area of a structure. If the diagonals are of equal length, the inset is straight.reinforce concretereinforce concreteReinforce concrete by inserting reinforcing steel members.apply finish to concreteapply finish to concreteFinish concrete using a variety of techniques like polishing and acid staining.operate masonry power sawoperate masonry power sawUse a masonry power saw to cut bricks to the right size and shape. Operate a table saw or hand-held saw.monitor stock levelmonitor stock levelEvaluate how much stock is used and determine what should be ordered.pour concretepour concretePour concrete into a form from a mixer truck chute, hopper or hose. Pour the correct amount to balance efficiency with the risk of the concrete not setting completely.work in a construction teamwork in a construction teamWork as part of a team in a construction project. Communicate efficiently, sharing information with team members and reporting to supervisors. Follow instructions and adapt to changes in a flexible ma...maintain equipmentmaintain equipmentRegularly inspect and perform all required activities to maintain the equipment in functional order prior or after its use.maintain work area cleanlinessmaintain work area cleanlinessKeep the working area and equipment clean and orderly.inspect supplied concreteinspect supplied concreteCheck the quantity and quality of delivered concrete. Make sure that the concrete will withstand any expected pressures.mix concretemix concreteUse compact concrete mixers or various ad-hoc containers such as wheelbarrows to mix concrete. Prepare the correct quantities of cement, water, aggregate and optional added ingredients, and mix the in...calculate needs for construction suppliescalculate needs for construction suppliesTake measurements on site and estimate the amount of materials required for the construction or restoration project.document survey operationsdocument survey operationsComplete and file all required administrative, operational and technical documents related to a survey operation.remove concrete formsremove concrete formsRemove concrete forms after the concrete has cured fully. Recuperate materials if possible, cleaning it and taking the right steps to store it for later reuse.install insulation materialinstall insulation materialPlace insulation material, often shaped into rolls, in order to insulate a structure from thermical or acoustic influences and to prevent fire. Attach the material using face staples, inset staples, o...estimate restoration costsestimate restoration costsEstimate the cost implications of restoring and replacing products or parts.install falseworkinstall falseworkRead technical documentation and drawings, and assemble the pipes and beams to build the temporary structure that will support arched or spanning structures during construction.build scaffoldingbuild scaffoldingAssemble temporary scaffolding structures for construction, maintenance or event-related purposes. Set vertical standards on the base plate of the scaffolding structure. Ensure the scaffolding structu...keep personal administrationkeep personal administrationFile and organise personal administration documents comprehensively.order construction suppliesorder construction suppliesOrder required materials for the construction project, taking care to purchase the most suitable material for a good price.process incoming construction suppliesprocess incoming construction suppliesReceive incoming construction supplies, handle the transaction and enter the supplies into any internal administration system.place concrete formsplace concrete formsSet up forms out of wood, plywood, various plastics, or other suitable materials to form concrete into supportive columns or walls. Place sheathing delineating the shape of the planned structure and u...operate surveying instrumentsoperate surveying instrumentsOperate and adjust measuring instruments such as theodolites and prisms, and other electronic distance-measuring tools.screed concretescreed concreteSmooth the surface of freshly poured concrete using a screed.keep records of work progresskeep records of work progressMaintain records of the progress of the work including time, defects, malfunctions, etc.set up temporary construction site infrastructureset up temporary construction site infrastructureSet up a variety of temporary infrastructure used on building sites. Put up fences and signs. Set up any construction trailers and make sure that these are connected to electricity lines and water sup...rig loadsrig loadsSafely attach loads to different types of hooks and attachments, taking into account the weight of the load, the power available to move it, static and dynamic tolerances of all instruments and materi...apply proofing membranesapply proofing membranesApply specialised membranes to prevent penetration of a structure by dampness or water. Securely seal any perforation to preserve the damp-proof or waterproof properties of the membrane. Make sure any...
Related Occupations
Occupations that need many of the same essential skills, so the move between them is shortest.
carpenter11 shared essential skillsconstruction painter10 shared essential skillsinsulation worker10 shared essential skillsbathroom fitter9 shared essential skillskitchen unit installer9 shared essential skillsplate glass installer9 shared essential skillsplumber9 shared essential skillsstaircase installer9 shared essential skills
Frequently asked questions
What does a bricklayer do?
Bricklayers assemble brick walls and structures by skilfully laying the bricks in an established pattern, using a binding agent like cement to bond the bricks together. They then fill the joints with mortar or other suitable materials.
What skills does a bricklayer need?
A bricklayer needs 19 essential skills, including lay bricks, work ergonomically, snap chalk line, transport construction supplies, inspect construction supplies.
Will AI replace bricklayer jobs?
The AI disruption score for bricklayer is 23/100 (low risk). Skills most exposed to automation: monitor stock level, keep personal administration, keep records of work progress. Most resilient: use safety equipment in construction, finish mortar joints, reinforce concrete.
AI Replacement Risk
23/ 100
Low Risk
Low riskHigh risk
Quick Facts
What are you missing to work as bricklayer?
The free skill gap analysis compares your skills with what this occupation requires and shows where to start.
Check your gaps