Stone carving is an art that has been around since civilization where people create sculptures, structures and buildings with stone. There is plenty of evidence for this thanks to the permanent nature of the materials that were used. Today, stonemasons use their stone laying and placement skills during construction projects and also carve stone blocks to create amazing pieces. Professionals have to be good at numbers to be successful in this job. This is because you generally have to follow architectural plans to do your job, especially when working in construction.

There are no requirements necessary to enter the art of stone carving, as most of the time it just takes passion and talent to create great pieces at the end of the day. However, it’s a different story when working in construction, as most employers want to hire stonemasons who have some experience in the field. It doesn’t have to be a natural talent, as there are some courses a person can take on masonry to learn the aspects of the job. This may allow you to enter the industry through an apprenticeship program.

As a bricklayer, you will be required to work as a repairman bricklayer on a construction site or as a banker bricklayer. The mason banker option has more stone carving responsibilities as they are required to shape and carve stone using a variety of power and hand tools to create a polished or textured finish. A repairman, on the other hand, builds stone walls or coats it with specialized or mortar fixings. They may also be required to repair any masonry that has been damaged.

Other projects they may work on include repairing monuments and buildings, carving and repairing statues, memorial headstones, and fabricating and laying masonry to be used in arches, landscape features, and window frames.

A variety of materials are used for the work, including limestone, sandstone, granite, marble, and slate. Most masons typically spend a total of 39 hours a week on the job. Lots of overtime is also thrown in, especially when you’re rushing to meet tight deadlines. It is important that masons wear protective clothing as there is a lot of dust and noise associated with the work. It is also important to prepare properly for the job, as there is usually a lot of heavy lifting associated with the job.

Some of the skills that stone carving professionals or masons should have include:

High level of fitness
Ability to follow various drawings and buildings.
Ability to work well in a team
Attention to detail and careful approach to work.
Health and safety awareness.
good math skills
You should not be afraid of heights, especially when you want to work as a repair mason.
Good coordination and extensive practical skills when using the tools.
Creative skills to create incredible and unique pieces.

Masons can be self-employed or work for someone else, depending on what they prefer.