9781422276877

■ ■ There is strong demand for bricklayers in many countries.

Bricklayers Brick is made from clay or shale and fired in a kiln at about 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit (1,093 degrees Celsius) to make the materials firm and bind together. It has been used for thousands of years to construct buildings, bridges, and other structures because it is durable; fire-resistant; and comes in many sizes, colors, and textures. Bricklayers build and repair walls, fireplaces, chimneys, floors, and other structures with brick, terra cotta, concrete or glass block, precast masonry panels, and other masonry materials. They are sometimes called brickmasons and blockmasons . They perform many duties, including: • Reading and working from blueprints and other plans to calculate the types and amounts of materials to use • Erecting scaffolding and ladders to prepare for the work • Excavating (digging out) foundations, building a wood frame, and mixing and pouring the concrete to build a foundation (strong base) in preparation for building the main structure

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