MASONRY TRAINING

A BLOCK SITE!

What does a typical block site look like? The block is delivered in cubes. Then the labor crew stocks the block in rows so that the Mason has easy access to each block.

Example of block in cubes

FINISHED BLOCK WORK

TOOLS USED IN MASONRYTrowel

HammerPlumb Rule (Level)

STOCKING A WALL

Stocking a wall involves placing the blocks near the location of the wall in repeating patterns: 4 blocks stacked, then a mortar board (2x2 piece of plywood where the mortar sits). This repeats for the entire length of a wall.

Mortar board

1 324

Mortar board

MIXING MORTAR

There are two different ways to mix mortar : in a mortar mixer (above), and by hand in a wheelbarrow (below)

SPREADING MORTAR

Spreading Head JointsSpreading Bed Joints

To spread mortar means to place the mortar on a block using a trowel. Doing this bonds the block to the rest of the wall.

8” BLOCK CORNER

BUILDING A CORNER

After the first course is laid, leveled and plumbed, spread the mortar on top of the previous course to lay the 2nd course.

LEVELING A CORNERAfter you lay each course on the corner, level that course, plumb it and then straight edge it to make sure the course of block is straight, level and plumb. Next you build a corner on the other side of the wall. Then you will be able to put the line up between the corners and you can lay the block to the line as you build the wall.

Laying the corner correctly is very important because if you lay the corner straight, the wall will also be straight.

Level

Straight

Plumb

BUILDING A CORNER

LAYING BLOCK TO THE LINE

Lead1st

cours

e

2nd course

3rd course 4th course

Line block

LAYING BLOCK TO THE LINE

You lay the block using the line as a guide as is demonstrated above.

SCAFFOLD HEIGHT

Here is an example of a block wall that is eight courses high, it is ready for scaffolding to be put up.

LAYERS OF A FINISHED BLOCK WALL

EXAMPLE OF A FINISHED WALL

Here you can see an example of a wall that is

nicely laid, level, straight, and plumb.