Beginner Bricklaying Course

Lesson 1 • Reading Masonry Plans and Specs

Teaches interpretation of construction drawings, schedules, and written specifications. Students extract dimensions, material callouts, and bond patterns from documents.

Lesson 2 • Overview of the Masonry Trade

Covers the history, scope, and career paths within masonry. Establishes context for why material knowledge and technique precision matter throughout the course.

Lesson 3 • Masonry Tools and Equipment

Introduces hand tools, power tools, and layout equipment used daily on masonry jobs. Familiarity with tools prepares students for safe, efficient hands-on practice.

Lesson 4 • Brick, Block, and Stone Types

Identifies the primary masonry units used in construction and their properties. Students distinguish materials by strength, porosity, and appropriate application.

Lesson 1 • Hazard Identification on Site

Trains students to recognise physical, chemical, and environmental hazards common to masonry sites. Early hazard recognition prevents accidents before work begins.

Lesson 2 • Site Layout and Organisation

Covers material staging, waste management, and traffic flow planning on a masonry site. An organised site improves productivity and reduces trip and fall hazards.

Lesson 3 • Scaffolding and Elevated Work Safety

Explains scaffold types, load limits, and safe erection procedures for masonry tasks. Elevated work is a leading cause of injury, making this knowledge critical.

Lesson 4 • Personal Protective Equipment

Covers required PPE for masonry work, including respiratory, eye, and hand protection. Proper PPE selection reduces injury risk from dust, silica, and sharp materials.

Lesson 1 • Applying Head Joints and Butter Technique

Covers buttering the ends of masonry units to form vertical head joints. Full head joints are essential for structural integrity and weather resistance.

Lesson 2 • Mortar Consistency and Retempering

Explains how to test mortar slump, adjust water content, and safely retemper stiffened mortar. Proper consistency prevents weak joints and bond failure.

Lesson 3 • Mortar Joint Finishing and Tooling

Introduces joint finishing tools and timing for striking mortar joints. Properly tooled joints compress mortar for better weather resistance and appearance.

Lesson 4 • Spreading Mortar with a Trowel

Builds trowel handling skills for spreading full mortar beds on flat surfaces. Uniform bed thickness is the foundation of level, plumb masonry courses.

Lesson 1 • Common Brick Bond Patterns

Introduces running, common, Flemish, and stack bond patterns and their structural implications. Bond pattern selection affects both wall strength and visual appearance.

Lesson 2 • Running Courses Between Leads

Covers stretching a mason's line between leads and filling in courses accurately. Line tension and height directly control the straightness of each course.

Lesson 3 • Cutting Brick with Hand and Power Tools

Teaches scoring, splitting, and wet-saw cutting techniques for accurate brick cuts. Precise cuts are required at corners, openings, and pattern transitions.

Lesson 4 • Setting Up a Dry Bond Layout

Teaches dry-laying brick without mortar to plan spacing, cuts, and bond patterns before committing. Dry layout prevents costly errors and material waste.

Lesson 5 • Quality Checks During Brick Laying

Establishes a routine of checking plumb, level, and alignment at every course. Catching errors early prevents structural and aesthetic problems in finished walls.

Lesson 1 • Control Joints in CMU Construction

Teaches the purpose, location, and construction of control joints to manage shrinkage cracking. Correct joint placement preserves wall integrity and appearance over time.

Lesson 2 • Grouting CMU Cells

Covers low-lift and high-lift grouting methods, consolidation, and reconsolidation procedures. Properly consolidated grout fills voids and activates the reinforcement system.

Lesson 3 • CMU Sizes, Shapes, and Grades

Covers standard CMU dimensions, specialty shapes, and compressive strength grades. Selecting the correct unit type ensures structural adequacy and code compliance.

Lesson 4 • Reinforcement Placement in CMU Walls

Explains vertical rebar placement, horizontal joint reinforcement, and spacing requirements. Reinforcement transforms CMU walls into structural systems capable of resisting lateral loads.

Lesson 1 • Stone Selection and Sorting

Covers evaluating stone for size, shape, face quality, and structural suitability. Proper sorting before work begins reduces waste and speeds installation.

Lesson 2 • Random Rubble and Fieldstone Techniques

Covers the art of fitting irregular stones to minimise voids and create stable, attractive walls. Random work requires spatial reasoning and careful stone selection at each course.

Lesson 3 • Setting Coursed Ashlar Stone

Explains layout and setting procedures for uniform-height coursed ashlar patterns. Consistent course height and joint alignment define the quality of ashlar work.

Lesson 4 • Stone Veneer Installation

Teaches substrate preparation, scratch coat application, and stone veneer setting over frame or masonry backup. Veneer work requires attention to bond strength and drainage.

Lesson 1 • Flashing and Weep Hole Installation

Covers through-wall flashing placement and weep hole spacing to manage water infiltration. Flashing and weeps are the primary moisture management system in cavity walls.

Lesson 2 • Planning and Laying Out Openings

Covers locating, sizing, and marking openings in masonry walls for doors and windows. Accurate layout prevents costly rebuilding and ensures proper unit fit around openings.

Lesson 3 • Lintel Types and Selection

Explains steel angle, precast concrete, and reinforced masonry lintel options and their load capacities. Correct lintel selection is critical for structural safety above openings.

Lesson 4 • Installing Lintels and Continuing Courses

Teaches safe lintel placement, levelling, and resuming masonry courses above the opening. Proper installation transfers loads around the opening to the supporting wall.

Lesson 1 • Tuckpointing and Repointing Joints

Covers joint raking depth, mortar selection, and packing technique for repointing deteriorated joints. Matching mortar strength to existing masonry prevents further damage.

Lesson 2 • Diagnosing Common Masonry Defects

Teaches visual and physical inspection methods to identify cracks, spalling, efflorescence, and moisture damage. Accurate diagnosis determines the correct repair approach and prevents recurrence.

Lesson 3 • Cleaning Masonry Surfaces

Covers mechanical and chemical cleaning methods for removing mortar smears, stains, and efflorescence. Correct cleaning method selection prevents surface etching and unit damage.

Lesson 4 • Sealers and Protective Coatings

Explains penetrating and film-forming sealer types, application methods, and maintenance intervals. Sealers extend masonry life by reducing water absorption and freeze-thaw damage.