Masonry Course

Lesson 1 • Workplace Safety Fundamentals

Establishes mandatory safety practices for masonry environments including PPE, hazard recognition, and regulatory compliance concepts. Safety knowledge underpins every subsequent chapter.

Lesson 2 • Reading Construction Documents

Teaches interpretation of blueprints, masonry schedules, and specifications. Students translate drawings into material lists and layout plans.

Lesson 3 • Core Masonry Materials Overview

Introduces brick, block, stone, and mortar as the primary masonry materials. Students distinguish material types by composition, use, and load-bearing properties.

Lesson 4 • Essential Tools and Equipment

Covers hand tools, power tools, and layout equipment used daily on masonry jobs. Proper tool identification is prerequisite to all hands-on chapters.

Lesson 1 • Hand Mixing Mortar Correctly

Demonstrates step-by-step hand mixing for small batches with consistent workability. Correct technique prevents weak joints and premature setting.

Lesson 2 • Mortar Joint Finishing

Covers tooling, raking, and finishing mortar joints to specified profiles. Joint finish affects both aesthetics and weather resistance of the wall.

Lesson 3 • Machine Mixing and Quality Control

Covers paddle and drum mixer operation for larger pours and production work. Students apply quality checks to ensure uniform mix throughout a shift.

Lesson 4 • Mortar Chemistry and Mix Types

Explains Portland cement, lime, and aggregate ratios that define mortar types. Students match mortar type to structural and environmental requirements.

Lesson 1 • Common Bond Patterns

Introduces running, common, Flemish, and English bond patterns and their structural logic. Pattern selection affects wall strength and visual character.

Lesson 2 • Laying Brick to Line

Develops the hand-eye skill of placing each brick to the mason's line with consistent joint thickness. Students achieve level courses across full wall runs.

Lesson 3 • Cutting Brick to Size

Covers hand-cutting with a bolster and machine cutting with a masonry saw for closures and special units. Accurate cuts maintain bond pattern and joint alignment.

Lesson 4 • Tolerances and Quality Inspection

Defines dimensional tolerances for plumb, level, and alignment in brick walls. Students self-inspect work against industry standards before moving to the next course.

Lesson 1 • Grouting CMU Cores

Teaches fine and coarse grout mixing, placement, and consolidation in CMU cores. Proper grouting is critical to achieving design compressive strength.

Lesson 2 • Laying CMU to Course and Plumb

Adapts brick-laying technique to the larger scale and heavier weight of CMU. Students build leads, run courses, and maintain plumb on multi-wythe walls.

Lesson 3 • CMU Types, Sizes, and Properties

Distinguishes hollow, solid, and specialty CMU by weight class, compressive strength, and application. Correct unit selection is prerequisite to structural compliance.

Lesson 4 • Control Joints and Wall Ties

Explains where and how to install control joints and wall ties to manage shrinkage and connect wythes. Omitting these elements causes cracking and structural separation.

Lesson 1 • Dry-Stack Stone Construction

Introduces mortarless dry-stack technique for retaining walls and decorative features. Students apply gravity and interlocking principles to build stable structures.

Lesson 2 • Anchoring Stone Veneer Systems

Covers mechanical anchors, wire lath, and scratch coat systems for adhered and anchored veneer. Proper anchoring prevents veneer failure under thermal and seismic movement.

Lesson 3 • Setting Stone with Mortar

Covers back-buttering, setting beds, and joint filling for mortared stone walls and veneers. Correct mortar coverage prevents delamination and water infiltration.

Lesson 4 • Stone Types and Selection

Covers granite, limestone, sandstone, slate, and manufactured stone by hardness, porosity, and workability. Material knowledge drives correct tool and mortar selection.

Lesson 1 • Building Masonry Arch Formwork

Covers layout, cutting, and erecting temporary wooden centering for semicircular and segmental arches. Accurate formwork geometry determines finished arch shape.

Lesson 2 • Load Transfer Principles at Openings

Explains how arches and lintels redirect compressive loads around openings. Understanding load paths is essential before any formwork or lintel installation.

Lesson 3 • Laying Brick and Stone Arches

Teaches radiating joint layout, voussoir cutting, and keystone placement for structural arches. Students build a full semicircular arch from spring line to keystone.

Lesson 4 • Installing Steel and Precast Lintels

Covers selection, sizing, and placement of steel angle and precast concrete lintels over openings. Correct bearing and leveling prevent differential settlement.

Lesson 1 • Waterproofing Coatings and Sealers

Compares penetrating sealers, elastomeric coatings, and crystalline waterproofing for different masonry substrates. Application method and surface prep determine long-term performance.

Lesson 2 • Water Infiltration Mechanisms

Explains capillary action, wind-driven rain, and condensation as the primary water entry paths in masonry. Understanding mechanisms guides correct system selection.

Lesson 3 • Weep Holes and Cavity Drainage

Teaches spacing, sizing, and protection of weep holes that drain the cavity behind masonry veneers. Blocked weeps cause hydrostatic pressure and wall failure.

Lesson 4 • Parging and Damp-Proofing Foundations

Covers parging CMU and stone foundation walls and applying damp-proofing membranes below grade. These systems are the last defense against ground moisture intrusion.

Lesson 1 • Diagnosing Masonry Deterioration

Teaches visual and probe inspection methods to identify cracking, spalling, efflorescence, and structural movement. Accurate diagnosis prevents misapplied repairs.

Lesson 2 • Tuckpointing and Joint Repair

Covers raking out deteriorated mortar, matching historic mortar, and packing new mortar in lifts. Correct mortar hardness prevents damage to soft historic masonry units.

Lesson 3 • Decorative and Specialty Masonry

Introduces corbeling, soldier courses, quoins, and textured block techniques for architectural expression. These advanced details require mastery of all prior core skills.

Lesson 4 • Cleaning Masonry Surfaces

Covers chemical, pressure washing, and abrasive cleaning methods matched to masonry type and soiling. Incorrect cleaning methods permanently damage historic and modern masonry.