Studies plans and specifications to determine materials required, dimensions and installation procedures; erects scaffolding; seals foundations with damp resistant materials and spreads layers of mortar to serve as base and binder for blocks, using trowels; lays bricks in rows, designs and shapes, and spreads mortar between the joints; embeds blocks in mortar and removes excess mortar; checks vertical and horizontal alignment; cuts, shapes, and polishes stones and bricks using machines and hand tools, and shapes bricks to fit irregular spaces; repairs and maintains bricks, cement blocks and related structures.

• Works outdoors in various weather conditions. May work indoors for some tasks (e.g. fireplace construction and interior chimney repairs).
• Frequently works at heights especially if working as a steeplejack.
• Frequently works in dirty and dusty situations, also with wet cement, sand and water.

• The physical demand is medium to heavy.
• Standing is constantly required. Walking is frequently required.
• Stretching up and across is frequently required
• Squatting, crouching and/or kneeling is frequently required to carry out work tasks.
• Twisting of the body or neck is frequently required.
• Contact with water, cement, sand and abrasive hard materials is constantly required.
• Lifting and carrying of bricks or blocks and wheeling barrow-loads of wet and dry cement and other materials is frequently required.
• Repetitive movements are frequent for many brick or block-laying tasks especially in the use of hands and arms.
• Driving to worksites is frequently required
• Use of a range of hand and machine tools is frequently required including trowels, shovels, spreaders/concrete mixers.
• Bending is frequently required to carry out required work tasks.
• Climbing is occasionally required for ladders and work on scaffold when working at height, constant for steeplejacks.
• Mental skills necessary include bricklaying, practical and organisational skills.

• A New Zealand Register Level 4 qualification or at least three years of relevant experience. In some instances relevant experience and/or on-the-job training may be required in addition to the formal qualification. For entry-level positions on-the-job training may be sufficient (ANZSCO Skill Level 3).
• Licensed Building Practitioner (LBP) licencing is required in order to undertake or supervise Restricted Building Work, unless supervised by another LBP.

There are opportunities for flexibility of movement but they are limited.