Bricklayers, Stone and Marble Masons, Tile Setters And Finishers, Pointers, Cleaners And Caulkers

Masonry is a highly-respected craft in the building and construction trades. The International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers represents a diverse, exciting range of crafts known as the trowel trades. That's because you'll find a trowel in the toolbox of all BAC members. The projects BAC members work on range from large commercial projects to multi-family residential. Common projects include K-12 schools, universities, sports arenas and recreational facilities, apartment complexes, monuments and memorials, places of worship, office buildings, and more. 

No matter which trade you choose, you'll get satisfaction from looking back at projects you've been a part of throughout your career. 

BRICKLAYERS 

Bricklayers use their talents and training to properly position masonry units, creating efficient, beautiful buildings and structures. The bricklayer's role in the construction of buildings is normally, but not limited to, building walls. Bricklayers usually work outdoors, creating the structure of a building, but also installing facades. The work must be coordinated with other trades to ensure the buildings are completed on schedule. 

TILE LAYERS

Tile layers, or tile setters, install ceramic, granite, porcelain, glass, or stone tile that you see in showers, countertops, floors, walls, mosaics, patios, fountains, swimming pools, and more. Many times, they install a thick mortar base of sand, cement, and lime to create a flat or curved surface for the tile installation. They may work indoors and outdoors and use scaffolding to install tile or stone in high places. 

TILE FINISHERS

Tile finishers work together with tile layers to create installations of ceramic or stone tile. Finishers fill in joints (grouts) and clean and polish finished surfaces. They also apply sealants (caulking) for a finish detail. Tile finishers are responsible for setting up materials at the job and cleaning up afterwards. They mix all mortars, by machine or by hand, and using a mixing hoe or mixing drills. Tile finishing is very active work and is often strenuous. As with layers, they may work indoors and outdoors and use scaffolding to install tile or stone in high places. 

RESTORATION SPECIALISTS/POINTER-CLEANER-CAULKERS (PCC)

Restoration specialists have the opportunity to help bring historic structures and landmarks back to their original glory, and to repair and maintain existing masonry buildings. PCCs learn how to properly clean masonry materials and also how to caulk, or apply sealants to expansion joints, in both new and old buildings. 

MARBLE MASONS

Marble is an upscale building material used in both the interior and exterior of buildings and structures. Marble masons learn how to cut, tool, and set marble slabs for floors and walls. They also trim, polish, and cut marble to specified sizes. 

MARBLE FINISHERS

Assist marble masons in creating successful installations. Finishers take on a number of important tasks, including grinding and polishing marble and cleaning installed marble surfaces. They also mix mortar, plaster, and grout and repair chipped, cracked, or broken marble pieces. They may also erect scaffolds. 

TERRAZZO MECHANICS

Terrazzo mechanics Install terrazzo floors, medallions, countertops, steps, and more according to blueprints or project specifications. They are responsible for the layout and installation of floating beds, divider strips, pattern designs, and more. Other duties include pouring, rolling, grindingi, polishing, and the repair of terrazzo. Terrazzo's life cycle costs make it the desirable choice for high traffic areas, and you have probably seen it walking through universities, hospitals, airports, and sports venues. 

TERRAZZO FINISHERS

Terrazzo finishers assist terrazzo mechanics in creating durable installations. Their responsibilities include mixing mortar, chips, and aggregates; cleaning finished surfaces; stocking materials, and more on both new and remodeled construction projects. The work is physically strenuous but is considered an integral part of the terrazzo industry. Most mechanics start out as finishers. 

STONE MASONS 

Stone masons shape rough pieces of rock into precise geometrical shapes. Sometimes the application is basic, while other times the work is of considerable complexity. Stone masons arrange shaped stones, laying them together with mortar, to form structures. This usually involves setting a dimensional cut stone, stripping stone with a finished face, installing precast panels, and more. 

REFRACTORY BRICKLAYERS

Refractory bricklayers install materials that are resistant to extreme heat, pressure, or chemical attack. Most of the work is performed is in an industrial setting such as a steel mill or glass manufacturing plant. These materials come in different sizes manufactured to build walls, arches and tubes. Refractory has multiple useful applications including the lining of furnaces and kilns, making molds for glass and metals, and high temperature applications, such as cracking furnaces and reactors. 

CONCRETE FINISHERS

Concrete finishers are responsible for placing, finishing, protecting, and repairing concrete in engineering and construction projects. Concrete finishers often set concrete forms, ensuring they have the correct depth and pitch.

Concrete finishers place the concrete either directly from the concrete truck chute, concrete pump, concrete skip, or wheelbarrow. They spread the concrete using shovels and rakes, and after levelling the concrete, they smooth the surface using either a hand trowel, a long-handed bull float or by using powered floats. After the concrete has been leveled and floated, concrete finishers press an edger between the forms and the concrete to chamfer the edges so that they are less likely to chip.