Bricklaying

What they do:

Bricklayers construct masonry structures for residential buildings, public facilities such as schools and hospitals, industrial plants, and infrastructure projects. Their work on site begins right after excavation, carried out by earthmoving operators. Based on architectural, engineering, and technical plans, they build foundations and basement walls, placing steel reinforcements for reinforced concrete structures. While constructing external, load-bearing, and partition walls, they also create door and window openings, cover pillars and chimneys, and build stairs made of concrete, natural stone, or artificial materials.

Bricklayers are skilled in bonding techniques for bricks and blocks, can read and interpret technical drawings (usually at a 1:50 scale), and perform basic calculations when needed. Depending on the size of the project, they may also handle plastering work or collaborate with specialised teams. In construction companies, bricklayers often work with prefabricated elements, which require specific installation techniques. In infrastructure projects such as bridges, roads, hydraulic works, or avalanche barriers, they handle the installation of formwork and reinforcements for concrete structures.

In addition to new construction, bricklayers also carry out renovation, modification, and finishing work on existing structures. Although modern machinery reduces heavy physical effort, the job remains demanding and requires endurance and precision.

Bricklayers work mainly outdoors, frequently moving between different sites and collaborating closely with other construction professionals.

Key skills:

• Construction of masonry and reinforced concrete structures
• Reading and interpreting technical drawings and plans
• Use of formwork, reinforcements, and construction machinery
• Knowledge of building materials and installation techniques
• Precision, manual skills, and teamwork