Masonry
MASONRY
Instructor: Gary Kibler
The Masonry program will prepare students for entry into an apprenticeship program in the masonry field. This is a hands-on class where students will learn the proper use of hand tools, trowels, levels and spacing rulers, squares, and layout. This class will also feature beginning brick and block laying to setting proper elevations. Students will also learn about various types of mortar and mixtures, corner construction, and proper reinforcement. Concentration will also be stressed regarding job safety, products, usage, different brick and block types, and proper scaffold setup/removal.
Students interested in a career in landscaping and/or landscaping design will also benefit from the skills and knowledge gained in this course to prepare them for laying pavers and retaining walls used in many landscaping projects. Students can take pride in being part of the construction of permanent structures within the community.
Masonry work is one of the oldest and most time-honored crafts. It offers a career for persons who like to work with their hands and are interested in construction work.
Triplett Tech is proud of the masonry department's accomplishments. Since 1990, we have won the district masonry contests seven consecutive times. We also had back-to-back wins in the Virginia State Fair Contest and the Virginia State Skills Championships. These students have gone to place eighth and ninth in the United States Skills Championships held in Kansas City, Missouri. These are a few of the reasons we feel our masonry program ranks among the finest to be offered at the high school level.
Basic Masonry concepts consist of the following:
- Proper care and use of tools
- The laying of brick, block, and tile
- Wall construction and the tools needed to perform the job
- Brick and block bond patterns
- Corner building and layout techniques
Advanced Masonry concepts consist of the following:
- Fireplace and chimney construction
- Arch building and outdoor structures
- Advanced brick and block bond patterns
- Corner building
- Blueprint reading
- The alteration, repair, and maintenance of masonry, and the study of planning and managing the job.