Bricklayers at the Big Build
On September 21, 2013, the National Building Museum hosts its annual free festival, The Big Build: A Hands-On Family Festival of Tools, Trucks and Construction. To learn more about the building professionals who present their work at the festival, we talked to Robert Arnold from the International Masonry Institute, the team behind the festival’s extremely popular brick laying display. Bring your family to the Big Build to meet Robert and other building professionals in person.
National Building Museum Online (NBM Online): Describe a typical day of a bricklayer.
Robert Arnold (RA): A typical day as a bricklayer normally starts with checking the weather to see how to dress for the day. Usually an early start, like 7 to 7:30 am. If you are working in a commercial environment you may be laying brick or block or a combination of both. The walls grow quickly starting at the ground and moving upward at a fast pace. Once you reach the four to five foot benchmark, scaffolding is built and the bricklayer will be working on the scaffolding for the duration of the job. After a long day, you can look back at what you have accomplished knowing that the masonry wall that you worked on could be standing for generations to come.
NBM Online: How did you get interested in being an bricklayer?
RA: My best friend’s father worked at a material yard and asked us if we wanted to work for a mason contractor for the summer.
NBM Online: What training did you have to have before you could start working?
RA: The trade normally starts with a three year apprenticeship. You may go to school during the week after work or in the evenings. In some areas, week long training is required. Safety classes are mandatory.
NBM Online: What is the coolest building you've ever worked on?
RA: I had the privilege of working on a replica of the Duomo masonry dome on the Florence Cathedral in Florence, Italy. The original masonry dome was built in the early 1400s.
NBM Online: What is your favorite part of the job?
RA: Working with fellow bricklayers and teaching those who will someday take my place on the wall.
NBM Online: How many bricklayers typically work on any one project or building?
RA: A typical brick project may average around 10 bricklayers. I have worked on jobs by myself and I have worked on a few jobs with over 250 bricklayers.
NBM Online: Can you give us a teaser about what you’ll have at the Big Build on September 21?
RA: Trainers from the International Masonry Institute will be leading kids of all ages hands-on demonstrations on bricklaying, arch building, and ceramic tile installation. Everyone is also invited to take the brick tower challenge. Stop by to see if you can build a scaled down tower that will withstand an earthquake.
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The Big Build: A Hands-on Family Festival of Tools, Trucks, and Construction is generously sponsored by The Associated General Contractors of America; International Masonry Institute, International Union of Bricklayers & Allied Craftworkers; International Union of Elevator Constructors; Ironworker Management Progressive Action Cooperative Trust; The Electrical Alliance; Independent Electrical Contractors, Inc.; with special thanks to an anonymous donor. Washington Parent is the exclusive parenting media sponsor of the Big Build. |
