Home

Bricklayer

Do you want to become a Bricklayer? Here is some information to help point you in the right direction:

Job Description - Print Page

Bricklayers build the interior and exterior walls of buildings. They also repair existing walls and refurbish old buildings. Building a wall is a skilled job and involves:

• cutting bricks using hammers, chisels or portable power tools
• laying the bricks in courses (horizontal layers)
• spreading mortar with trowels
• checking that the wall is straight and level using lines and spirit levels.

In a typical day, they may lay several hundred bricks. All bricklayers need to be able to follow detailed plans and drawings showing how a building is to be constructed.

The usual working week is 39 hours, Monday to Friday. Overtime at weekends or in the evening is common. Self-employed bricklayers often work longer hours.

Bricklayers usually work on building sites, in all weathers, as well as in noisy, dusty, dirty or wet areas. A lot of building work takes place at high levels. They wear safety helmets and boots, and may wear gloves, goggles or ear defenders.

Bricklayers may earn between £16,000 and £25,000 a year.

Bricklayers need:

• to be fit, healthy and have a head for heights
• practical ability, especially hand skills
• careful, methodical and accurate planning skills
• to be interested in working with their hands, doing a practical job.

Bricklayers may work for building firms, local authorities, contractors abroad or private householders. There are 145,500 bricklayers in the UK, and numbers have increased in recent years.

There are no set entry requirements, but GCSEs/S grades in maths, English and technology subjects are useful. Vocational qualifications in construction are available in some schools and colleges. Apprenticeships are the usual route in. It is possible to train as a bricklayer at any age.

Training usually involves a combination of on-the-job experience and attendance at a college or a training centre. There are Apprenticeship Schemes lasting three or four years. NVQs in Trowel Occupations are available at Levels 1 to 3, and in Scotland there is an SVQ in Construction: Bricklaying at Level 3.

Some bricklayers progress to technician level and then to construction management. Many site managers at large building sites are qualified and experienced bricklayers. There are opportunities to specialise in areas such as restoration and conservation. Many bricklayers are self-employed.

More Useful Resources - Bricklayer:

Do you know of a useful and relevant website that would be helpful to our users? Tell us about it by emailing