The majority of people who want to work as a cement mason do so through an apprenticeship program. Local contracting firms, community colleges, vocational schools, job training centers, and unions are typically the providers of these programs. The lengths, requirements, and costs of the programs vary location, so double-check before starting the application process.
In most cases, a high school diploma is not required to enroll in an apprenticeship program. Courses in blueprint reading, mechanical drawing, math, science, and drafting are extremely beneficial in learning the trade and applying the various construction laws and concepts that are used in construction projects. If you can’t find an apprentice program, you can work as a mason’s helper to gain on-the-job experience and eventually become a cement mason.
Before deciding to pursue a career as a cement mason, keep in mind that it entails arduous manual labor. Job tasks include lifting and moving heavy bags of dry cement mix from trucks to pallets or around job sites, especially when starting out. Hand mixing thick batches of concrete in wheelbarrows and buckets, as well as transporting the mixed product to various locations around the construction site, are both common job requirements. Masons manually shape and finish the concrete after it has been poured, using hand tools that require strength and stamina. Before starting this career path, it’s a good idea to get a physical exam to see if you have any physical limitations that would make becoming a cement mason difficult.
Masons who work with cement and concrete are known as cement masons. They also shape concrete into panels, columns, beams, and platforms using wooden and plastic forms. For residential and commercial construction projects, these various shapes are used for foundations, porches, patios, and driveways. Coating floors with epoxy and latex, as well as applying different tints to cement for cosmetic reasons, are all part of cement masonry.
Cement masons are needed for a lot of finishing work on residential and commercial buildings. The concrete must be leveled after it has been poured and spread. Screeds and floats are used to ensure that the surface is perfectly smooth and free of depressions or bumps. To remove air bubbles from poured concrete, large vibrating machines are sometimes used.
A trowel is used to apply the finishing touches to the surface, creating a permanent texture on the concrete finish. A fancy pattern or a smooth, glassy façade can be used. Large, open areas of the surface can be finished with an electric trowel, but the edges and corners must be finished with a hand trowel.
Some masonry contractors specialize in highway and public works construction. Huge molds are used to create roads, overpasses, bridges, ramps, and causeways for these types of companies. On these types of projects, cement masons must learn how to operate specialized machinery that builds these massive structures.