Basic Masonry Tools and Materials

Masonry is one of the oldest construction trades and requires a unique set of tools to cut, shape, and set stone, concrete block, brick, and other masonry materials. From trowels and levels to mixers and grout bags, masons rely on a variety of hand tools, power tools, and materials to create lasting and attractive masonry structures. Understanding the basic tools and materials used in masonry helps build a foundation of knowledge for both professionals and home DIYers looking to work with brick, block, and stone.

Hand Tools

Hand tools are a mason’s basic weapons of choice and the most fundamental tools for shaping, placing, and finishing masonry units.

Trowels

Trowels are hand tools used to spread, shape, and smooth mortar, plaster, and concrete. The traditional mason’s trowel has a pointed metal blade with a handle. Trowels come in a variety of shapes and sizes for different functions:

Brick trowel – A rectangular trowel used to spread mortar for laying bricks. The rectangular shape matches the shape of brick for efficient spreading.
Concrete trowel – A curved blade trowel used for smoothing concrete surfaces. The curve allows masons to apply even pressure across the trowel face.
Margin trowel – A small trowel with a narrow blade used for detailed work or spreading mortar in tight spaces.
Gauging trowel – A larger trowel with a rectangular blade used for mixing or “gauging” mortar or plaster.
Notched trowel – A trowel with notches that leave grooves in mortar for tiles to be set into. The depth of the notches determines the thickness of the mortar bed.

Mortar Tools

Mortar transport and placement tools are necessary for efficiently working with the mortar used to bind masonry units together. Basic mortar tools include:

Mortar pan – A shallow metal pan used to hold mixed mortar on the jobsite. Mortar pans keep mortar portable and accessible when spreading.
Mortar board – A larger portable work surface made of wood, metal, or plastic used to hold mortar while laying masonry units nearby. The size makes mortar boards easier to carry than mortar pans.
Mortar hawk – A square board with a handle underneath used to hold a smaller amount of mortar while working. The handle allows one-handed carrying.
Mortar bag – A cone-shaped bag used to manually apply mortar into joints and gaps, similar to a pastry bag. Different tip attachments create varied joint profiles.

Jointing Tools

Jointing tools smooth and shape the mortar joints between masonry units. Basic jointing tools include:

Jointer – A metal tool used to finish mortar joints and give them a profiled recess. Jointers enhance the appearance of mortar lines.
Joint raker – A hand tool used to shape joints and remove excess wet mortar from joints during the laying process. This helps control the final joint profile.
Edger – A metal tool for creating rounded, concave mortar joints. Edgers provide a smooth, distinct finish to mortar lines.

Leveling and Plumbing Tools

Proper leveling and vertical alignment of masonry requires specialized tools to achieve precision:

Spirit level – An essential leveling tool with a bubble vial inside a sealed glass tube. The position of the bubble indicates if a surface is level (horizontal) or plumb (vertical). Longer levels provide greater accuracy.
Plumb bob – A pointed heavy weight on a string used to establish precise vertical alignment in relation to a fixed point. Plumb bobs rely on gravity rather than a spirit level.
Line blocks – Plastic or metal devices used to hold mason’s line taut for making straight horizontal runs in brick or block. Blocks have deep grooves to grip twine firmly.
Line pins – Pointed steel pins hammered into mortar joints to fasten mason’s line in place and provide elevation marks for multi-course brick or block runs.

Striking and Cutting Tools

Masons use an array of striking, splitting, and cutting tools to customize masonry units:

Brick set – A chisel-like tool used with a hammer to split bricks. Brick sets have a wide beveled blade to direct splitting force.
Brick hammer – A hammer with a chisel-shaped head optimized for striking brick sets or carving into brick or stone. The double-faced head combines a hammer and chisel.
Mason’s hammer – A bricklayer’s hammer with a head that combines a standard hammer on one end and a smaller cross-peen (double faced) hammer on the other for multiple functions.
Cold chisels – Hand chisels made of hardened steel used to cut brick, block, and stone. Chisel edges are beveled to maximize sharpness. Mason’s chisels come in wide, narrow, and special shaped profiles.
Masonry saws – Power saws with abrasive masonry blades for wet cutting brick, block, and stone materials. Common types are circ saws, tile saws, and specialty saws like chainsaws.
Chalk line – A twine line coated in colored chalk dust used to snap straight layout lines on surfaces. Chalk lines allow masons to mark long straight edges.

Power Tools and Equipment

In addition to traditional hand tools, masons utilize power tools and specialty equipment to improve productivity and perform tasks not practical by hand.

Mixing Tools

Thoroughly mixed and properly proportioned mortar is critical to quality masonry work. Power mixing tools help speed mortar and concrete preparation.

Mortar mixer – A rotating drum mixer powered by electricity or compressed air used to efficiently mix mortar in larger quantities and achieve a superior blend of ingredients.
Paddle mixer – A portable mixertool with mixing paddles attached to a drill. Paddle mixers provide flexibility for mixing smaller mortar batches by hand.
Cement mixer – A motorized drum mixer designed for mixing full loads of concrete. Cement mixers have larger capacities than mortar mixers.

Material Handling

Masons have an assortment of specialized tools to aid with lifting, placing, and transporting heavy masonry materials:

Wheelbarrows – Sturdy wheeled carts for moving bricks, mortar, and other materials around a jobsite. Large rubber pneumatic tires allow easy rolling over rough terrain.
Mortar boards – Some mortar boards have wheeled legs allowing them to be rolled from place to place rather than carried.
Telescoping forks – Long reaching forklift-style clamps attached to lifting machines used to place pallets of bricks and lift other heavy loads. The extending arms provide vertical and horizontal reach.
Material hoists – Temporary elevator systems to lift brick, block, tools, and other loads to the working height on a building or structure under construction. Hoists eliminate extensive ladder work.

Scaffolding

Scaffolding provides masons safe overhead and aerial work platforms when working at height is required:

Pump jacks – Scaffolds that utilize hydraulic jacks to lift support towers allowing scaffold platforms to be raised or lowered. Pump jack scaffolds are adaptable to different heights.
Rough terrain forklifts – Heavy duty forklifts designed to lift, carry, and set scaffolding frames on uneven jobsite surfaces. Their strong masts provide stability.
Scissor lifts – Expandable aerial work platforms that lift workers up on scissor-like arms. The compact footprint allows maneuverability in tight spaces.

Masonry Materials

Masonry construction depends on the quality, properties, and compatibility of materials like brick, block, stone, mortar, and grout.

Masonry Units

Masonry units are the building blocks that form structures. The most common types are:

Clay brick – One of the earliest and still most popular masonry units, clay bricks are formed from shale, clay and water, molded, dried, and fired in high heat kilns. bricks come in a standard modular sizing.
Concrete block – Blocks composed of poured concrete into molds. The cement-aggregate mixture results in a high strength, economical unit. Blocks are sized for modular coursing with brick.
Concrete brick – Formed bricks composed of concrete rather than clay and fired in lower temperatures than clay brick. They offer comparable durability at a lower cost.
Natural stone – Stone sourced from quarries provides a uniquely attractive, prestigious building material. Common structural stones are granite, limestone, and sandstone. Stone is used as ashlar, or dressed rectangular blocks.
Glass block – Translucent blocks made of pressed molten glass. They provide privacy, light transmission, and artful design patterns. Most glass block is hollow inside.
Adobe block – An ancient sun-dried masonry building unit made from sand, clay, water, and straw or grass binders. Adobe has good thermal mass properties and low emissions.

Mortar

Mortar is the bonding agent that joins masonry units together and seals joints. Mortar mix ratios vary based on intended use:

Type N Mortar – A medium compressive strength (750 psi) mix for above grade indoor use with softer masonry units like brick, block, and stone. N is the most common structural mix used both interior and exterior.
Type S Mortar – A high early strength (1800 psi) mortar for masonry work that needs to be immediately load-bearing. The higher cement ratio provides rapid hardening. Type S mortar is also highly durable.
Type O Mortar – A extremely low compressive strength (350 psi) soft mortar reserved for heritage restoration work involving fragile antique bricks that require pliable, less rigid joints.

Grout

Unlike mortar, grout is a fluid mixture that is poured or pumped into cavities and gaps in masonry assemblies:

Fine grout – A thin grout mix used for filling small voids under 3″ wide. Fine grout has a slump consistency optimal for minimal spaces.
Course grout – A wider joint grout suitable for interior application in cavities larger than 3″ such as filling CMU block cores or wall furring. Course grout uses larger aggregate.
Fluid grout – A pumpable suspension grout with high water content used for filling hollow masonry units like concrete block cores. Fluid grouts can be pumped over long distances.

Common Uses of Masonry

With this broad assortment of tools and materials, masons can apply their trade across unlimited applications. Some of the most common uses of masonry in construction include:

Structural Masonry

Masonry bears loads as a fundamental part of buildings and infrastructure. Structural masonry forms both foundations and superstructure:

Load bearing walls – Masonry curtain walls in commercial buildings that directly transfer floor and roof loads using steel reinforcing or masonry bonds. This eliminates the need for separate structural framing.
Shear walls – Solid masonry walls built on foundations and intersecting panels that provide lateral wind and seismic resistance to keep structures intact.
Retaining walls – Freestanding masonry walls erected a short distance in front of grade changes to retain soil and provide elevation transitions around a site. They enable terracing.
Foundation walls – Concrete block or poured concrete masonry walls built as the lower portion of foundations to enclose basements and crawlspaces. They transfer building loads to footings.

Veneer Masonry

Masonry veneer adds a decorative and protective cladding to concrete and framed structures:

Brick veneer – A single non-load bearing wythe of brick laid over a concrete or wood structure to give a traditional brick aesthetic. Veneers are anchored to structural walls.
Thin stone veneer – Natural stone pieces attached in a mortarless application over concrete, wood framed walls, or rigid insulation. Thickness is under 3″ to minimize weight load.
Manufactured veneer – Lightweight imitation brick, stone, and stucco panels made of concrete, polymers, or composites that install as an exterior cladding. Veneers emulate the look of authentic masonry.

Paving and Hardscaping

Masonry creates beautiful and functional paved surfaces for the landscape:

Patio pavers – Pre-cast concrete paving slabs, bricks, or stones laid over a sand or aggregate base to create solid flat patios, walkways, and pool decks. Mortar is typically not used.
Mortared pavers – Brick or cut stone pavers set on a mortared bed over concrete for durable and decorative walkways and courtyards. Mortar provides a smooth surface and joint profile.
Retaining wall blocks – Modular landscaping masonry units made from concrete that stack together to form gravity walls. The block built walls support and retain earth.
Poured concrete – Monolithic concrete slabs integrally colored and textured as patios, driveways, and sidewalks. Concrete offers a seamless appearance and optimal strength.

Decorative Accents

Masonry craftsmanship creates one-of-a-kind decorative accents:

Stone or brick fireplaces – Indoor and outdoor masonry fireplaces made from natural stone or brick for aesthetic beauty and heating ambiance.
Brick or stone arches – Structural spanning elements formed from stacked masonry rather than beams or lintels. Arches impart classic architectural elegance.
Stone fountains and water features – Custom designed and built garden fountains using carved natural stone and masonry to hold and spill water. Stone selection considers freeze-thaw resistance.
Brick ovens and kitchen features – Hand built brick baking ovens as well as cooking surfaces, countertops, and backsplashes that incorporate brickwork. Brick maintains and distributes heat evenly.

Basic Masonry Skills

While masonry involves scientific principles of materials engineering and construction, it also requires craftsmanship and technique refined over centuries of practice. The most fundamental skills needed to work with brick, block, and stone include:

Laying Masonry Units

Spreading mortar properly on both masonry units and foundation surfaces to achieve full contact and bond strength
Maintaining level and plumb courses with precise head and bed joints
Achieving straight uniform joints with proper joint finishing and striking
Timing cleaning of excess wet mortar from units (open joints) as work progresses
Alternating lap patterns between courses to tie units together longitudinally

Cutting and Fitting Masonry

Accurately measuring and marking dimensions for sizing units
Making controlled splits and cuts with chisels to custom fit units
Using power saws to safely and efficiently cut concrete, brick, and stone
Shaping ends of masonry units to fit irregular openings or spaces

Mixing Mortar and Grout

Batching cement, lime, sand, and water in proper ratios for different applications
Mixing ingredients thoroughly to achieve consistent, workable consistency without separation
Achieving proper water content for maximum workability without weakening mortar
Mixing only what can be used before initial set to avoid waste and re-tempering

Tuckpointing and Repair

Raking out deteriorated mortar joints to sound, clean edges for repointing
Matching new mortar color, texture, and joint profile characteristics for seamless repairs
Timing surface cleaning of newly pointed joints for proper curing and desired final appearance

Mastering these core skills allows masons to apply their materials knowledge on any building project to construct durable and attractive masonry structures.

Masonry Safety

Masonry work poses many potential jobsite hazards, both from handling heavy materials at height as well as exposure to silica dust. Following essential safety practices protects masons on the worksite:

Use proper lifting techniques and get help when handling heavy masonry units, mortar, and tools. Do not overload equipment capacity.
Inspect scaffolding and aerial lifts thoroughly before use. Ensure guardrails, toe boards, and fall restraints are in place.
Wear harnesses and tie-off with anchored safety ropes when working from scaffolding. Never stand on the top rail.
Use dust collection systems and wear N95 rated respirators when cutting masonry materials to reduce silica exposure.
Wear appropriate PPE including hard hats, eye protection, gloves, and steel toe boots at all times on a masonry jobsite.
Keep worksites clean and orderly. Stack materials properly and remove trash to prevent slips or falls.

Careers in Masonry

Masonry offers diverse career paths with opportunities to utilize specialized skills and advance into management roles:

Bricklayer – Lays structural and veneer brick and block fundamentals for commercial and residential projects. Focuses primarily on new construction.
Stonemason – Specializes in natural cut stone work including structural stone installations and artistic decorative stone elements.
Concrete Mason – Works with concrete elements like poured slabs, block, pavers, and decorative concrete applications.
Restoration Mason – Repairs, restores, and replaces deteriorated masonry on existing antique or historic structures. Focuses on preservation.
Construction Superintendent – Manages masonry project schedules, quality control, subcontractors, materials, and budgets. Oversees entire building process.
General Contractor – Runs all aspects of a