Learn Stone Masonry and Brick Laying

Masonry commonly refers to construction with brick, stone or concrete units joined together with mortar to create structures. Those structures may be buildings, fences, walls, or perhaps something else.

In this course, you'll develop new skills, fine-tune existing ones. Understand materials used by bricklayers, stone workers, concreters and masons and expand your knowledge of the different ways those materials may be used to both build and repair things.

Course Duration:100 hours

Course Structure

This course has nine lessons.

1. Scope and Nature of Masonry
   • the language of masonry
   • masonry tools
   • ready mix or hand mixed concrete
   • masonry materials
   • types of stone
   • legal requirements
   • foundations
   • joining
2. Cement and Concrete
   • cement
   • cement terminology
   • the american society for testing and materials (astm)
   • concrete
   • what is the difference between drying and curing?
   • psi strength of concrete
   • concrete masonry units
   • concrete foundations
3. Construction Method and Structural Considerations
   • setting out levels
   • understanding loads
   • types of walls
   • making construction stronger
   • dealing with movement
   • movement joints
   • using moisture controls
   • using metal
   • copings and caps
4. Working with Brick
   • types of bricks
   • laying bricks
   • bonding
   • choice of bond
   • locking your construction in place
   • how to cut bricks
   • damp-proofing
   • building a brick garden wall
   • how to construct brick arches
   • piers
   • cavity wall construction
   • wall openings
5. Working with Stone
   • types of stone used in construction
   • stone walls
   • stone walls for landscaping
   • free standing stone walls
6. Construction for Fire: Fireplaces, bbq’s, kilns, ovens and fire pits
   • how to construct fireplaces and chimneys
   • chimneys that do not work
   • indoor slow combustion burners and wood/coal burning stoves
   • brick barbecues
7. Landscape Applications & Hybrid construction
   • paving
   • outdoor steps
   • other garden features
   • furniture
   • pedestals and plinths
   • wishing well
   • letter box
   • follies
   • water features
8. Repair and Miscellaneous Work
   • paints and sealants
   • plastering walls
   • fixing plaques to masonry
   • damaged walls
   • surface damage and structural damage
   • problems with paving & driveways
9. Building Applications: houses, farm and commercial buildings
• choosing a site
• setting out buildings
• legalities
• special project

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Learn to Get the Foundations Right

Masonry can be extremely heavy and so anything built with masonry must be supported by a very strong foundation which is going to prevent it from sinking or moving laterally. Some soil types are more likely to move than others e.g. clays can shrink and crack in very dry weather then expand in the wet. Likewise, construction on a slope may be at risk of being undermined by erosion. There are tables of permissible bearing pressures for different types of soils. The combined load (dead load, imposed load and wind load) is used to work out what size of foundation is required for the soil type. 

Whether a small or large construction e.g. two storey building or landscape feature, the foundation must be adequate. Concrete with metal reinforcing is preferred for foundations (earth buildings have been built on compacted earth foundations, cement stabilised soil, rock, brick and other such materials and whilst these may be considered for a child’s cubby or store shed, they are not advisable, nor likely to be accepted by the building inspector, for a house).

Joining

Masonry work involves joining individual pieces of brick or stone together to create walls or other structures. The strength and durability of any construction will depend upon the way the different components are joined. Typically, they are stuck together with cement mortar, but not always. Cement may be applied in different ways to fill the gaps between bricks or stones.

Variables:

• The quantity of cement used can vary i.e. different thicknesses of mortar.
• The contents of cement may vary, or be varied to suit the purpose e.g. acid in cement can 'eat' into sandstone.
• The colour of cement may vary according to the sand used (or dyes may be added).
• Reinforcing materials (usually metal), may be embedded in the concrete to strengthen the wall by tying the bricks or stones together.
• Utilities (e.g. water or gas pipe, electric wiring) may be embedded in a wall during construction.
• A waterproof barrier may be embedded in a wall.
• Joints between two bricks or stones may be treated in various ways to create different effects e.g. cement can be raked to create a recessed surface, it may be scraped so it is flush with the surface (or bricks), or it may be allowed to spill out beyond the surface of stones or bricks. There are many different ways to rake cement in a wall.