Acquire building skills for home, work or business use
Masonry commonly refers to construction with brick, stone or concrete units joined together with mortar to create structures. Those structures may be buildings, fences, walls, or perhaps something else.
Definitions of masonry vary though. One definition may be the work undertaken by a “mason”. Some definitions describe masonry as working with clay or concrete bricks and stone. Other definitions may consider masonry as working with a more diverse range of materials including glass bricks, cobbles and ceramic blocks and tiles.
Learn to work with Brick, Stone and Concrete
- Find out about different types of materials and techniques used to create buildings, interior and exterior building features, and landscape features.
- This is a course for people involved with property management, maintenance or construction.
- It is relative to commercial and residential construction, as well as landscape construction.
Lesson Structure
There are 9 lessons in this course:
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Scope and Nature of Masonry
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Cement and Concrete
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Construction Method and Structural Considerations
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Working with Brick
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Working with Stone
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Construction for Fire -Fireplaces, bbq’s, kilns, ovens and fire pits
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Landscape Applications & Hybrid construction
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Repair and Miscellaneous Work
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Building Applications -houses, farm and commercial buildings
What's to Learn?
Masonry materials, equipment and construction techniques are more variable than what most people realize.
As you progress through this course, you will discover just how true this is, and learn more and more about those differences. As you get to know the many variations available, your ability to plan, manage and execute different types of masonry work will steadily improve.
MASONRY MATERIALS
Materials used in masonry work may include:
- Brick
- Concrete block
- Glass blocks
- Ceramic pavers
- Stone, cement or ceramic tiles
- Uncut rocks
- Cut stone
- Building stone
- Paving stone
- Concrete pavers
- Concrete block
- Flat faced brick
- Frogged brick
- Extruded brick
- Firebrick
Types of Stone
Stone varies in appearance, strength, durability and other features. Porosity and permeability are considered two of the most important factors affecting deterioration of stone. Some types of stone may last for millennia without much maintenance; but other types may need more attention. The main types of stone used are:
- Granite
- Basalt
- Marble
- Travertine
- Slate
- Sandstone
The characteristics of stone can be determined by testing small laboratory samples before they are quarried, cut and used. In some instances, this may not be necessary, but for any substantial and serious engineering work or building construction such testing may not just be wise - it may be mandated by law. Stone used for construction needs to be appropriate in terms of all the following:
- Strength
- Hardness
- Workability
- Durability
- Colour and grain
- Porosity and texture
- Ease of quarrying
- Accessibility and availability
Why Study This Course?
Whether to fulfil personal or professional needs, this course will develop your understanding of different types of materials and techniques used to create buildings, interior and exterior building features and landscape features.
Take this course if you would like to:
Find ways to improve an existing construction business.
Enhance your employability in construction and maintenance positions.
Improve your knowledge of building techniques.
Develop your skillset for freelance work in construction-related fields.
This course may be studied by itself or along with other modules as part of a learning package.
