Master bricklayer

The mason is a qualified professional who is in charge of carrying out different works in the masonry field in the construction of building works, especially the creation of all types of walls, including thick walls, partitions and pillars of ordinary engineering structures and facing brick. The gradual development of construction techniques, available materials and tools, as well as the complexity of the buildings has been increasing the specialisation in construction works, making a higher level of experience and skill necessary to carry them out. Thus, from the first jobs that were carried out by the users of the structures themselves with rudimentary techniques and non-fabricated materials, progress was made towards more specialised jobs, which require expertise with increasingly greater knowledge and skills, eventually leading to the creation of the occupation of mason. This occupation, traditionally linked with architecture and construction, still retains a certain artisanal nature. The new construction systems, with high-performance machinery, techniques and products, have served to reduce effort, improve performance and facilitate on-site work, but they do not prevent the quality of the works from still depending on the skill and knowledge of the mason, and it continues to be an occupation that is fully valid and in high demand by companies.

• Conduct a previous study, based on the plan or graphic documentation, of the object that is to be built.
• Prepare the work area and organise the environment, determining and preparing the necessary materials, tools, machines, implements, auxiliary resources as well as the group and individual protective equipment.
• Set out the objects to be built through measurement operations and the location of dimensions, drawing of lines (straight, curved, perpendicular, diagonal, etc), levelling and plumbing, placement of screeds or rods, definition of devices, vertical and horizontal modulation of the blocks and preparation of templates or falsework.
• Prop up and arrange falsework and other auxiliary elements.
• Build foundations.
• Create clearing networks.
• Build walls, pillars, thick walls, partitions, arches, vaults, lintels, kerb structures of ceramic, stone or pre-fabricated with concrete.
• Build flat and sloped roofs.
• Render, plaster, trowel and skim the vertical and horizontal walls.
• Plaster and skim the interior walls.
• Carry out works to assist the other industrialists in the field of masonry: opening of channels, placement of embedded elements and ducts for various systems, etc.
  

Regulated training and graduates

• Minimum compulsory education
• Professional Training Course(s) in the field of Civil Engineering Works and Building - Intermediate Level: Construction

Complementary training

Other specific skills

Flexibility and change management: Level 2

Concern for order and quality: Level 2

Initiative: Level 1

Customer orientation: Level 1

Planning and organisation: Level 1

Team work and cooperation: Level 2

Mechanical handling

People related to the field of mechanical handling are interested in the assembly, maintenance, repair and use of machines, tools and installations. Some good examples of professional activities in the field of mechanical handling are adjusting and configuring machines, reviewing technical equipment to detect incidents in their operation, handling machinery in production processes and driving specialised vehicles.

Technician in working at heights

Tubular scaffolding assembler

Tower-crane operator

Building waterproofing system installer

Formworker

• Work hours

  Usually, this professional works a 40-hour week.

• Salary

  From 18.630 to 24.553 euros a year. Median: 21.286 euros annum gross.
  
  Source: Report "Observatory of Jobs and Salaries of the Labour Market. Barcelona Activa", elaborated by ICSA Grupo. April 2015.

• Professional category

  Specialist staff