14d • General discussion
Just completed my student and instructor handbook
🧱 MASONRY 101
Instructor Handbook
Course Overview
Course Title: Masonry 101 – Foundations of Brick, Block, and Mortar
Course Length: 8–12 weeks (adjustable)
Target Audience: Beginners with little or no masonry experience
Instruction Format: Classroom + Hands-on Shop / Jobsite Practice
Course Objectives
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
• Identify masonry tools, materials, and terminology
• Mix mortar correctly and safely
• Lay brick and concrete masonry units (CMU) to line, level, and plumb
• Understand basic bonds and patterns
• Demonstrate proper jobsite safety practices
• Perform basic masonry measurements and layout
• Recognize common defects and how to correct them
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Instructor Responsibilities
• Deliver both theoretical and practical instruction
• Demonstrate techniques before student practice
• Enforce safety rules at all times
• Evaluate student work objectively
• Provide corrective feedback and encouragement
• Maintain tools, materials, and shop cleanliness
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Course Breakdown (Suggested)
Lesson 1 – Introduction & Safety
Key Topics
• What masonry is and where it’s used
• Types of masonry work (brick, block, stone)
• PPE requirements
• Tool safety
• Silica dust awareness
Instructor Tips
• Demonstrate PPE properly
• Reinforce “no rushing” mindset early
• Set expectations for craftsmanship
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Lesson 2 – Tools & Equipment
Tools Covered
• Trowels (brick, margin, pointing)
• Levels (2’, 4’, line level)
• Mason’s line and pins
• Jointers
• Hammers, chisels
• Measuring tools
• Mixing equipment
Instructor Tips
• Let students handle tools early
• Show incorrect tool use and consequences
• Emphasize tool care
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Lesson 3 – Materials
Materials Covered
• Bricks (types, sizes)
• CMU blocks
• Mortar types (N, S, M)
• Sand and water quality
• Reinforcement basics
Instructor Tips
• Let students compare mortar consistencies
• Explain why “stronger” mortar is not always better
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Lesson 4 – Mortar Mixing
Skills Taught
• Dry vs wet mixing
• Correct proportions
• Identifying proper consistency
• Re-tempering rules
Common Student Errors
• Too wet mortar
• Overmixing
• Adding water after set time
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Lesson 5 – Layout & First Course
Skills Taught
• Measuring and squaring
• Establishing control lines
• Dry-laying
• Importance of the first course
Instructor Emphasis
“A bad first course guarantees a bad wall.”
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Lesson 6 – Brick Laying Techniques
Skills Taught
• Buttering brick
• Spreading mortar bed
• Proper head joints
• Tooling joints
• Cutting brick safely
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Lesson 7 – CMU Block Laying
Skills Taught
• Block placement
• Buttering ends
• Checking plumb and level
• Understanding cores and reinforcement
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Lesson 8 – Bonds & Patterns
Covered
• Running bond
• Stack bond
• Common bond
• Basic decorative concepts
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Lesson 9 – Quality Control & Troubleshooting
Topics
• Identifying out-of-plumb walls
• Joint inconsistencies
• Cracks and causes
• Cleanup techniques
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Lesson 10 – Final Project
Project Examples
• Brick panel
• Block corner
• Small wall section
Evaluation Criteria
• Line, level, plumb
• Joint consistency
• Tool usage
• Safety compliance
• Work ethic
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Grading Rubric (Sample)
• Safety & PPE: 20%
• Tool Knowledge: 15%
• Mortar Mixing: 15%
• Wall Accuracy: 30%
• Professional Conduct: 20%
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🧱 MASONRY 101
Student Handbook
Welcome to Masonry 101
Masonry is a skilled trade that rewards patience, precision, and pride in workmanship. This course will teach you the foundational skills needed to start your journey as a mason.
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Course Expectations
• Show up on time and prepared
• Wear required PPE at all times
• Respect tools, materials, and classmates
• Follow instructor directions
• Maintain a clean work area
• Ask questions — mistakes are part of learning
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Safety Rules (Non-Negotiable)
• Safety glasses required at all times
• Gloves when handling materials
• No horseplay
• Be aware of silica dust
• Lift properly — masonry is physical work
• Report injuries immediately
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Basic Masonry Tools
You will learn how to properly use:
• Brick trowel
• Margin trowel
• Level
• Mason’s line
• Jointer
• Hammer and chisel
• Measuring tape
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Materials Overview
Brick
• Used for walls, veneers, chimneys
• Requires consistent joints and alignment
Concrete Block (CMU)
• Larger and heavier than brick
• Used for structural walls
Mortar
• Acts as the glue
• Must be mixed correctly
• Too wet or too dry causes failure
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Mortar Mixing Basics
• Follow instructor ratios
• Add water slowly
• Mortar should hold shape on a trowel
• Never add water to hardened mortar
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Laying Your First Brick
1. Spread mortar evenly
2. Butter the end of the brick
3. Set the brick gently
4. Tap into place
5. Check level and alignment
6. Tool joints at the correct time
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Common Beginner Mistakes
• Rushing the work
• Ignoring the level
• Using too much mortar
• Poor joint tooling
• Not cleaning as you go
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Masonry Vocabulary (Basic)
• Course: A horizontal row
• Bed joint: Horizontal mortar joint
• Head joint: Vertical joint
• Plumb: Vertical alignment
• Level: Horizontal alignment
• Bond: Pattern of masonry units
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Final Project
You will complete a masonry project demonstrating:
• Proper layout
• Accurate mortar joints
• Level and plumb work
• Safe tool usage
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Success Tips
• Masonry is about repetition
• Quality matters more than speed
• Learn to read your wall
• Respect the craft
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Just completed my student and instructor handbook
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Introduction to Brick and stone Masonry 101.Education of tools materials safety and all things masonry.32 years experienced master masonry contractor
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