Bricklayer

building trades · craftsmanship · construction

Bricks and blocks. Bricklayers use individual bricks or concrete blocks, laying them in neat rows and sticking them together with mortar to create solid walls. Each brick has to be positioned just right so the wall is strong and straight.

Tools and technique. Bricklayers use a trowel to spread mortar, a level to check that rows are even, and a mallet to tap bricks into place. It takes years of practice to lay bricks quickly and perfectly.

Building everything. Bricklayers build homes, offices, schools, and many other structures that people use every day. Without bricklayers, we wouldn't have the brick buildings that line our streets.

British nickname. In British and Australian English, people call a bricklayer a 'brickie' for short. It's a friendly way to refer to these hardworking professionals.

Part of masonry. Bricklaying is closely related to stonemasonry, where workers lay stones instead of bricks. Both are types of masonry, the ancient craft of building with individual pieces of material.