General Masonry Course

Lesson 1 • Reading Plans and Specifications

Teaches interpretation of construction drawings, symbols, and written specs relevant to masonry. Students extract dimensions and material callouts from basic plans.

Lesson 2 • Workplace Safety Fundamentals

Establishes hazard recognition, personal protective equipment, and site safety protocols. Compliance with occupational safety standards is emphasized throughout.

Lesson 3 • History and Scope of Masonry

Traces masonry from ancient construction to modern applications. Establishes context so students understand why techniques and standards exist.

Lesson 4 • Masonry Materials Overview

Introduces brick, block, stone, and mortar as primary materials. Students distinguish material types and their appropriate structural uses.

Lesson 1 • Mortar Chemistry and Mix Types

Explains cementitious binders, aggregates, and water ratios that define mortar performance. Students select the correct mortar type for load-bearing versus non-structural applications.

Lesson 2 • Mortar Joint Finishing

Covers tooling profiles, timing, and quality standards for finished mortar joints. Students produce weathertight joints that meet aesthetic and performance requirements.

Lesson 3 • Mortar Workability and Open Time

Addresses how temperature, humidity, and mix design affect workability and set time. Students adjust mixes to maintain productivity in varying field conditions.

Lesson 4 • Applying Mortar to Masonry Units

Teaches buttering, furrowing, and full-bed application techniques for brick and block. Proper joint thickness and coverage directly affect structural integrity.

Lesson 1 • Layout, Story Poles, and Dry Bonding

Teaches dry-bond layout and story pole use to plan coursing before mortar is applied. Accurate layout prevents costly cuts and misaligned openings.

Lesson 2 • Running Bond and Common Bond

Introduces the two most widely used bond patterns and their structural logic. Students lay full courses maintaining half-lap overlap and consistent joint alignment.

Lesson 3 • Decorative Bond Patterns

Explores Flemish, English, and stack bond patterns and their structural and aesthetic implications. Students plan pattern layouts to minimize cuts and maintain visual consistency.

Lesson 4 • Building Corners and Leads

Covers the sequence for racking back corners and constructing leads as guides for infill courses. Plumb, level, and square corners are the benchmark for wall quality.

Lesson 1 • Building CMU Walls to Height

Covers coursing, tooling, and bracing procedures for walls built to full height. Students maintain plumb and level while managing block weight and mortar set time.

Lesson 2 • CMU Types, Sizes, and Specifications

Distinguishes hollow, solid, and specialty CMU by weight class and compressive strength. Correct unit selection is tied to structural load and fire-rating requirements.

Lesson 3 • Openings, Lintels, and Bond Beams

Addresses forming and supporting openings, installing lintels, and constructing bond beams. These elements transfer loads around openings and tie walls together structurally.

Lesson 4 • Reinforcement and Grouting

Teaches placement of vertical rebar, horizontal joint reinforcement, and grout consolidation. Reinforced CMU walls meet structural requirements for seismic and wind loading.

Lesson 1 • Pointing and Finishing Stone Joints

Addresses mortar selection, joint raking depth, and pointing technique for stone assemblies. Finished joints must be weathertight and visually consistent with the stone character.

Lesson 2 • Rubble and Coursed Stone Walls

Distinguishes random rubble from coursed ashlar construction and their respective laying sequences. Students select and place stones to maximize bond and minimize voids.

Lesson 3 • Stone Cutting and Shaping

Teaches hand-splitting, angle grinder cutting, and wet-saw techniques for shaping stone. Proper cutting reduces waste and produces tight-fitting joints.

Lesson 4 • Stone Types and Selection Criteria

Covers igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic stone properties relevant to construction use. Students match stone type to application based on durability, weight, and appearance.

Lesson 1 • Precision Cutting Techniques

Covers scoring, splitting, and wet-saw cutting for brick, block, and stone to exact dimensions. Accurate cuts reduce waste and ensure tight joint tolerances at openings.

Lesson 2 • Curved Walls and Radius Work

Addresses layout methods and joint adjustment techniques for constructing curved masonry walls. Consistent joint width and plumb are maintained throughout the radius.

Lesson 3 • Forming and Framing Openings

Teaches temporary support, formwork, and coursing adjustments needed to create door and window openings. Proper support prevents settlement and cracking during construction.

Lesson 4 • Lintel Design and Installation

Covers steel angle, precast, and reinforced masonry lintels and their bearing and installation requirements. Correct lintel selection carries load safely across openings.

Lesson 1 • Weep Holes and Cavity Drainage

Teaches weep hole spacing, open-head joint technique, and cavity drainage mat installation. Functional weeps allow water collected on flashing to exit the wall cavity.

Lesson 2 • Moisture Movement in Masonry

Explains capillary action, vapor drive, and freeze-thaw cycles as primary moisture threats. Understanding moisture physics guides correct selection of protective systems.

Lesson 3 • Expansion and Control Joints

Covers the location, spacing, and detailing of expansion and control joints to accommodate movement. Properly placed joints prevent cracking caused by thermal and moisture-induced movement.

Lesson 4 • Waterproofing and Dampproofing Coatings

Distinguishes dampproofing from waterproofing and covers application of below-grade and above-grade coatings. Correct product selection depends on hydrostatic pressure and exposure conditions.

Lesson 1 • Brick and Block Unit Replacement

Addresses selective demolition, unit sourcing, and reinstallation procedures for damaged masonry units. Replacement units must match original dimensions, color, and absorption characteristics.

Lesson 2 • Quality Control and Documentation

Establishes inspection checkpoints, tolerance standards, and record-keeping practices for masonry projects. Documented QC supports compliance with project specifications and regulatory requirements.

Lesson 3 • Diagnosing Masonry Deterioration

Teaches visual and probe inspection methods to identify cracking, spalling, efflorescence, and moisture damage. Accurate diagnosis determines the correct repair strategy and prevents recurrence.

Lesson 4 • Tuckpointing and Joint Repair

Covers raking depth, mortar matching, and hand-packing technique for repointing deteriorated joints. Mortar compatibility with original masonry prevents accelerated damage to historic units.