Some of the more frequently asked questions that I get asked.  Hopefully some of the answers will help!

Can anyone be a Bricklayer?

To become a Professional Bricklayer will take some time.( Up to 3 years)  You need to undertake a formal training scheme either through an employer (CITB route) or attend a College course.  To work in the Construction Industry you need an NVQ and a CSCS card. For further information on a career in Bricklaying visit the CITB website or get in contact with your local training establishment/College.  However, to within a certain degree anyone should be able to master some of the rudimentary principles and skills required to repair and point brickwork, build small structures ( Garden walls, etc)and generally have a go.  With spiralling builders costs learning the basics in bricklaying (If you are DIY minded of course!) is not a bad idea.  I would stress that if anyone is wishing to undertake major structural work, extensions, new builds then a professional Builder MUST be consulted.  Through the series of DVDs I am producing you will learn the Basics of Bricklaying and the average person should become proficient enough to have a go.

What is the future of Bricklaying?

It  is generally recognised that the trade and skills of Bricklaying are diminishing.  Like many other manual skills the lack of skilled trades people is proving a problem.  Training establishments are not keeping up with industry demands, this in turn produces the "knock on" effect of rising building costs as fewer genuine trades people are available to undertake work.  At present there is a great demand for home improvement works and general building with the industry itself still demanding high volumes of trades people.  So is it a good time to acquire a construction trade? Well yes.  But you must be prepared to work hard and apply yourself.  The future for dedicated trades people is still good and required.  The construction industry is always looking for simpler methods and systems of build to overcome these problems of labour.  But , for my part, I can not ever see a time when a Bricklayer would no longer be required.