PRINCIPLES OF MASONRY

Skills Indicators

Listed below are content areas that students will learn throughout their 2 years while attending the Masonry Program at CTC.

Safety Practices

• Explain and comply with personal safety rules
• Explain and conform to tool safety rules
• Explain and comply with equipment safety rules
• Explain and comply with report procedures for all safety issues
• Inspect work place for safe working environment

• Maintain and organize a safe work area
• Report problems or concerns to supervisor
• Use technical references to gather information
• Interpret Material Safety Data Sheets

Hand Tools and Equipment

• Identify the basic tools used in masonry
• Identify the difference between consumer and professional grade tools
• List safety measures to be practiced while handling tools
• Demonstrate the correct methods of using the basic tools
• Demonstrate good safety practices when using the tools
• Describe hand-powered equipment used in masonry work
• Maintain power equipment and use it safely
• List important safety practices to be followed when operating the masonry saw
• Perform common cuts with the masonry saw
  

Mortar

• Identify the components of mortar
• Explain the function of mortar
• Describe the relation of lime to mortar
• Identify the various types of mortar used in masonry work
• Describe admixtures and how they are used in mortar
• Explain the proportion of mortar ingredients
• Mix mortar manually with hand tools and equipment
• Temper mortar
• Mix mortar with power mixer

Performing Entry-Level Masonry

• Spread mortar
• Apply head joints
• Bond a brick wall
• Lay a stretcher course
• Gauge masonry wall with mason’s rule
• Gauge masonry wall with story pole
• Strike joints

Bonding

• Describe various types of bonds
• Describe various brick positions and their applications
• Construct Common/American bond wall
• Construct Flemish bond wall
• Construct Stack bond wall
• Lay a soldier course
• Lay a rowlock course
• Lay out and construct brick walls using the 5 basic bonds
• Lay out and construct block walls using running and stack bond
• Apply rules for bonding brick and block

Laying brick and block walls

• Attach line block and pins to a wall
• Set a twig
• Lay brick and block to the line while spacing them the correct distance from the line
• Setting Corner Pole

Building the brick and block corner

• Construct a block/brick rack-back lead
• Construct a block/brick jamb lead
• Construct an outside and inside corner
• Apply a coat of parging to walls
• Construct a outside corner using toothing
• Make bed and head joints for block construction
• Cut concrete block with a brick set and hammer
• Install wire reinforcement in bed joints

Estimating brick and concrete block

• Apply basic addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division of whole numbers and fractions to the 1/8”
• Convert measurements into inches, feet and yards
• Use a calculator with accuracy
• Estimate brick, block, masonry cement and sand using rule of thumb method

Construct a composite wall using brick and block

• Describe the different methods of bonding walls with brick headers and metal wall ties
• Install various wall ties in a composite wall
• Construct an 8” & 12” composite wall

Cavity and Reinforced masonry walls

• Describe techniques in building a cavity wall
• Construct a cavity wall
• Describe the different methods of grouting masonry wall

Masonry supports, chases, and bearings

• Describe various types of lintels and how lintels are installed in a masonry wall
• Construct a pier or pilaster
• Construct a chase wall

Single flue chimney

• Describe the various components of a chimney
• Build a one-flue chimney
• Demonstrate how to flash a chimney
• Demonstrate a working knowledge of the building code requirements for the construction of a chimney

Anchor bolts, brick corbelling and wall coping

• Set an anchor bolt
• Describe the process of corbelling brick
• List the different type of coping used on masonry walls

Scaffolding

• Erect a section of tubular steel scaffold to conform to safety standards
• Compare/contrast various types of scaffold
• List safety rules for erecting and working on scaffolding
• Describe in detail how a steel sectional scaffold is built
• Demonstrate a working knowledge of the OSHA Safety and Health Standards for erecting scaffold

Fireplace

• List the parts of the 2 or 3 flue chimney and state how each part contributes to chimney operation
• Identify the parts of a fireplace
• Explain the construction techniques for building a fireplace

Arches

• Describe the major types of masonry arches used today
• Explain the difference between a minor and major arch
• Describe the theory and function of an arch
• Define the terms associated with arch construction
• Construct a jack arch
• Construct a semi-curricular arch
• Construct a gothic arch

Concrete and Footing

• Describe the composition of concrete
• Define the types of footings
• Select appropriate mix of cement for a job
• Estimate concrete for a footing
• Describe how a footing is placed and cured
• Erect batter boards
• List and explain steps in preparing, placing, and finishing concrete

Construction Drawings

• Explain the use of lines in a set of plans
• Recognize the most commonly used symbols and explain their meaning
• Define certain masonry abbreviations found in plans
• Describe the major sections of a set of working drawings
• Explain the relationships between various parts of a drawing
• Identify the various scales used on a set of plans

ABC Wheels of learning curriculum
Core curriculum

• Basic safety
• Basic math
• Introduction to hand tools
• Introduction to power tools
• Introduction to blueprints
• Basic rigging