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To become a cement mason, enroll in an apprenticeship program or gain on-the-job experience as a mason’s helper. Physical labor is required, and masons shape and finish concrete by hand. Cement masons work on residential and commercial projects, including highways and public works.
Most people who want to become bricklayers enroll in an apprenticeship program. These programs are typically offered by local contracting companies, community colleges, vocational schools, vocational training centers, and unions. Program lengths, requirements, and costs vary by location, so it’s best to check before beginning the application process.
Typically, a high school diploma is not required to enroll in an apprenticeship program. Courses in blueprint reading, mechanical drawing, math, science, and writing are very helpful in learning the craft and applying the various construction laws and concepts used in building design. If that apprenticeship program isn’t readily available, you can get a job as a mason’s helper to gain on-the-job experience and eventually become a cement mason.
Before choosing the path to become a cement mason, understand that it requires extremely demanding manual labor. Especially early on, job duties require tasks like lifting and moving heavy bags of dry cement from trucks onto pallets or around job sites. Manual mixing of thick batches of concrete in wheelbarrows and buckets is also a common job requirement, as is moving the mixed product to various locations on the construction site. After the concrete is poured, masons shape and finish it by hand, using hand tools that require strength and endurance. Before starting this career, it’s a good idea to have a physical exam to identify any physical limitations that might make it difficult to become a mason.
Cement masons mainly deal with cement and concrete. They also build wood and plastic forms to shape concrete into panels, columns, beams and platforms. These different shapes are used for foundations, porches, patios and driveways for both residential and commercial construction projects. Cement masonry also involves coating floors with epoxy and latex and applying different shades to cement for cosmetic reasons.
The construction of residential and commercial buildings requires extensive finishing work by bricklayers. After the concrete is poured and spread, it must be leveled. Specialized tools such as tables and floats are used to ensure a perfectly smooth surface, free of depressions or bumps. Sometimes large vibrating machines are used to shake the poured concrete to eliminate air bubbles.
The final surface touches are applied with a trowel which creates the permanent texture in the concrete finish. It can be a sophisticated pattern or a smooth, glassy facade. Power trowels can be used for large open surface areas, but a hand trowel is required to finish edges and corners.
Some masonry contractors deal exclusively with highway and public works projects. When working for this type of company, huge molds are used to create roads, viaducts, bridges, ramps and sidewalks. Cement masons on these types of projects must learn to operate the specialized machines that create these massive structures.
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