Masonry

Glen Collins
INSTRUCTOR

email: gcollins@rowanty.us

Industry

Masons work with brick, block, tile, terra-cotta, stone, and concrete to create structures ranging from simple brick walls to ornate stone mason structures. There are many different types of masonry workers such as brickmasons and blockmasons who are bricklayers that build and repair walls, floors, fireplaces, and other structures with many different masonry materials; cement masons and concrete finishers who pour and finish concrete in structures such as sidewalks, columns, walls, beams, panels, and more; stonemasons who build stone walls and set stone exteriors and floors; and terrazzo masons who create decorative walkways, floors, patios, and panels by blending fine marble chips into an epoxy, resin, or cement which is often colored.

Jobs

Employment of masons is projected to grow 12% from 2016 to 2026, faster than the average for all occupations. As the population increases, commercial and residential construction increases which requires the work of skilled masons. The median yearly wage for masons as of 2017 was $42,900. Typically, a mason will perform job duties including reading blueprints or drawings to calculate materials needed and to lay out patterns, forms, or foundations; breaking or cutting materials to required size; working with mortar, grout, or caulking materials and related hand tools as needed; constructing corners; aligning structures vertically and horizontally; and cleaning and polishing surfaces with hand or power tools.

What can you expect from the Masonry I & II courses?

First year students will learn basic construction safety. Second year students will complete a 10-hour OSHA safety training course with topics specifically covering the construction industry. Additionally, second year students are eligible to receive forklift certification training.

Students will then begin classroom and hands-on instruction in which they will learn the various tools, equipment, materials, and methods needed to become a skilled mason. First year students will concentrate on basic concepts and applications of masonry while second year students will delve deeper into more rigorous and advanced applications.

Masonry I & II Syllabus

Click the headings below to expand the syllabus for Masonry I and Masonry II

Masonry I Syllabus

Course Description

The purpose of this course is to provide an opportunity to explore and understand the basics of masonry. Emphasis is on basic concepts and application. Masonry is defined as building with the use of individual brick, block or stone units laid in and bonded together by mortar. Masonry can also refer to the units themselves.

Course Goals

At the end of this course, students will be able to:

  • Safely perform
  • Describe tools, equipment, and safety areas a mason may encounter on the job
  • Describe, discuss, and list different types of brick and block units
  • Describe cement and list the ingredients in mortar
  • Lay brick and block to a string line and space them correctly
  • Describe workplace readiness skills

Course Outline

The following topics are planned to be covered:

  • Safety
  • Tools and Equipment
  • Development of Brick and Block
  • Cement and Mortar
  • Bonds
  • Laying Masonry Units
  • Workplace Readiness Skills

Text

Kreh, R. T. Masonry Skills. 6th ed., Thomson Delmar Learning, 2008.

Required Supplies

Classroom: Pencil and Paper
Shop: Closed-toe shoes, dress out clothes, eye protection, plus any other Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Assessment

Quarter
Skills
Tests/Quizzes
Participation
Other
40%
30%
20%
10%
Semester 1 / 2
Quarter 1 / 3
Quarter 2 / 4
Exam 1 / 2
40%
40%
20%

Class Participation
Class participation grades may be included in the Test/Quiz category

Honor Code

Rowanty Technical Center Code of Honor is in effect at all times. See student handbook.

Exams (Exam Exemption Policy)

  1. No student will be exempt from mid-term exams.
  2. There are no exam exemptions for 1st year programs. For one year, 2nd semester of cluster, and two year programs, students must have a minimum of 80/B (by the administrative cut-off date) and have passed their industry certification to receive an exam exemption for the end of the year.
  3. Attendance – If a student is absent for the exam on the date that it is given, the student will have to produce a legal note to administration to be able to take the exam.
  4. If the student is suspended on the date of the exam, the student will receive a 0/F for the exam, which is 20% of the student’s semester grade.

Attendance Policy

Part of the mission of the Rowanty Technical Center is to prepare students to make the important transition from school to postsecondary education and/or employment. Helping students develop good attendance habits is an important part of that mission.

Students are expected to attend school every day. Any absence will be considered unexcused until appropriate verification is received and reviewed by the principal/designee.

Some programs have very specific requirements about attendance and the certifying agency will indicate the amount of absences (excused and unexcused) before loss of credit, certification and/or dismissal in the program. Students in these programs will be informed at the beginning of school.

Each time a student is absent from school, he/she will provide a note from the parent/guardian or official documentation from a medical office, court or other organization within five days school days of the absence.

An absence shall be excused for the following reasons per nine week marking period:

  1. Personal illness (3 days, with parent verification)
  2. Death in immediate family or household (4 days)
  3. Professional or legal appointment (unlimited, unless there may be reason to suspect abuse)
  4. Required court appearances
  5. College/military visits with prior approval of the principal
  6. Extenuating circumstances with prior approval of the principal

Students will not be marked absent for participation in school approved field trips and club meetings. It is the student’s responsibility to notify teachers and the attendance officer prior to such absences. Students who miss class due to field trips, testing, etc., and who know in advance, should have assignments prepared for the following school day.

It is the student’s responsibility to request makeup work for days missed. Students must make-up work within 5 days of each absence unless other arrangements have been made with the teacher. The teacher will determine time allotted for return of makeup work. The student shall be responsible for securing and furnishing all notes to the main office when he/she returns to school.

Students are reminded that presenting a “forged note” will result in disciplinary action. If a student exceeds five (5) absences per nine week marking period, only three (3) parent excuses will be accepted per nine week marking period. Other days must be excused by professional notes (doctor, legal, etc.). If credit is denied, the student and his/her parent may appeal this decision to the principal. If the student surpasses the daily attendance limit during a semester, the student is still required to attend school under the Compulsory Attendance Law.

Credit Denial and Appeal
Any student, who has five (5) days or more unexcused absences in any class in a given nine week period, may be subject to credit denial. A grade of 59 will be received (or the earned grade for the course, if it is lower than 59). If credit is denied, the student and parent/legal guardian may appeal the decision to the principal. If the student has surpassed the absence limit during the semester, the student is required to continue to attend school under the Compulsory Attendance Law.

Tardies
Students will be marked tardy when entering class after class has started unless they have an approved student pass or other approved excuse for being late.

Make-up Policy
Students are responsible for seeing the teacher the first school day upon return from an absence.  The students MUST initiate this meeting. It is the student’s responsibility to get homework assignments on days that are missed in class, either by contacting the teacher by email while absent or the school day on which he/she returns.

Failure  to make-up work within (5) school days of at  a time determined within those five days by the teacher will result in the loss of grade.  If a student is absent on the day of a test, the student will take the test the next class period he/she returns to class.  The make-up test may be different from the original test.

Electronic Use Policy

Students must abide by the Rowanty Internet Safety and Acceptable Use policy, outlined in the student handbook.

General Class Procedures

  1. Upon entering class, all class materials should be taken out
  2. Notes should be taken at all times
  3. Shop procedures covered in classroom before entering the shop

General Class Rules

  1. Be prompt
  2. Be courteous
  3. Do your best
  4. Students’ home school rules and Rowanty Technical Center rules are in affect at all times

Masonry II Syllabus

Course Description

The purpose of this course to provide an opportunity to expand and develop skills in masonry. Emphasis is placed on advanced application. Masonry is defined as building with the use of individual brick, block or stone units laid in and bonded together by mortar. Masonry can also refer to the units themselves.

Course Goals

At the end of this course, students will be able to:

  • Safely perform
  • Describe tools, equipment, and safety areas a mason may encounter on the job
  • Perform residential and commercial masonry with brick, block, stone, and tile
  • Mix cement and mortar properly
  • Perform workplace readiness skills

Course Outline

The following topics are planned to be covered:

  • Safety
  • Examination of all aspects of the masonry industry
  • Bonding brick, block, stone, and tile
  • Types of cement and mortar and how to mix
  • Bonds
  • Laying masonry units
  • Preparing the building site
  • Developing workplace readiness skills

Text

Kreh, R. T. Masonry Skills. 6th ed., Thomson Delmar Learning, 2008.

Required Supplies

Classroom: Pencil and Paper
Shop: Closed-toe shoes, dress out clothes, eye protection, plus any other Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Assessment

Quarter
Skills
Tests/Quizzes
Participation
Other
40%
30%
20%
10%
Semester 1 / 2
Quarter 1 / 3
Quarter 2 / 4
Exam 1 / 2
40%
40%
20%
Year
Semester 1
Semester 2
50%
50%

Class Participation

Take part and become involved in the class.

Exams (Exam Exemption Policy)

  1. No student will be exempt from mid-term exams.
  2. There are no exam exemptions for 1st year programs. For one year, 2nd semester of cluster, and two year programs, students must have a minimum of 80/B (by the administrative cut-off date) and have passed their industry certification to receive an exam exemption for the end of the year.
  3. Attendance – If a student is absent for the exam on the date that it is given, the student will have to produce a legal note to administration to be able to take the exam.
  4. If the student is suspended on the date of the exam, the student will receive a 0/F for the exam, which is 20% of the student’s semester grade.
  5. The student must have no more than six (6) unexcused absences in the class during the school year.

Attendance Policy

Part of the mission of the Rowanty Technical Center is to prepare students to make the important transition from school to postsecondary education and/or employment. Helping students develop good attendance habits is an important part of that mission.

Students are expected to attend school every day. Any absence will be considered unexcused until appropriate verification is received and reviewed by the principal/designee.

Some programs have very specific requirements about attendance and the certifying agency will indicate the amount of absences (excused and unexcused) before loss of credit, certification and/or dismissal in the program. Students in these programs will be informed at the beginning of school.

Each time a student is absent from school, he/she will provide a note from the parent/guardian or official documentation from a medical office, court or other organization within five days school days of the absence.

An absence shall be excused for the following reasons per nine week marking period:

  1. Personal illness (3 days, with parent verification)
  2. Death in immediate family or household (4 days)
  3. Professional or legal appointment (unlimited, unless there may be reason to suspect abuse)
  4. Required court appearances
  5. College/military visits with prior approval of the principal
  6. Extenuating circumstances with prior approval of the principal

Students will not be marked absent for participation in school approved field trips and club meetings. It is the student’s responsibility to notify teachers and the attendance officer prior to such absences. Students who miss class due to field trips, testing, etc., and who know in advance, should have assignments prepared for the following school day.

It is the student’s responsibility to request makeup work for days missed. Students must make-up work within 5 days of each absence unless other arrangements have been made with the teacher. The teacher will determine time allotted for return of makeup work. The student shall be responsible for securing and furnishing all notes to the main office when he/she returns to school.

Students are reminded that presenting a “forged note” will result in disciplinary action. If a student exceeds five (5) absences per nine week marking period, only three (3) parent excuses will be accepted per nine week marking period. Other days must be excused by professional notes (doctor, legal, etc.). If credit is denied, the student and his/her parent may appeal this decision to the principal. If the student surpasses the daily attendance limit during a semester, the student is still required to attend school under the Compulsory Attendance Law.

Credit Denial and Appeal
Any student, who has five (5) days or more unexcused absences in any class in a given nine week period, may be subject to credit denial. A grade of 59 will be received (or the earned grade for the course, if it is lower than 59). If credit is denied, the student and parent/legal guardian may appeal the decision to the principal. If the student has surpassed the absence limit during the semester, the student is required to continue to attend school under the Compulsory Attendance Law.

Make-up Policy
Students are responsible for seeing the teacher the first school day upon return from an absence.  The students MUST initiate this meeting. It is the student’s responsibility to get homework assignments on days that are missed in class, either by contacting the teacher by email while absent or the school day on which he/she returns.

Failure  to make-up work within (5) school days of at  a time determined within those five days by the teacher will result in the loss of grade.  If a student is absent on the day of a test, the student will take the test the next class period he/she returns to class.  The make-up test may be different from the original test.

Electronic Use Policy

Students must abide by the Rowanty Internet Safety and Acceptable Use policy, outlined in the student handbook.

General Class Procedures

  1. Upon entering class, all class materials should be taken out
  2. Notes should be taken at all times
  3. Shop procedures covered in classroom before entering the shop

General Class Rules

  1. Be prompt
  2. Be courteous
  3. Do your best
  4. Students’ home school rules and Rowanty Technical Center rules are in affect at all times
For more information about careers in Masonry, check out the links below