If you enjoy working with your hands, love construction sites or traditional crafts, and want to see the results of your work at the end of the day, you're likely to consider a career involving stone. But what exactly separates a bricklayer from a stonemason? While they may seem similar at first glance, they are in fact fundamentally different trades. Here's a behind-the-scenes look at two historic and skilled professions.
The bricklayer is essentially the foundation builder. They lay the groundwork for buildings, erect walls, pour ceilings, and ensure the structural frame is secure – solid, precise, and safe. Most of the work takes place outdoors and in all kinds of weather. Bricks, concrete blocks, aerated concrete, and mortar are part of daily life on the job.
A bricklayer typically:
The work is physically demanding, requires teamwork, and calls for a good eye for measurements and angles. But the reward is clear: you see what you've built – and it often lasts for decades.
A stonemason approaches the material very differently. Their world isn't brick walls, but natural stone. They work with sandstone, granite, marble, or basalt – using chisels, grinders, or even CNC-controlled machines. It’s about shaping, surface texture, and artistic precision. Less construction, more craftsmanship and design.
A stonemason typically:
The work is usually quieter, more focused, and often done indoors – but no less demanding. If you have an eye for detail and can handle materials with care, this might be your path.
Bricklayers think in terms of scale, structure, and stability. How strong is a wall? How much weight can a ceiling hold? How quickly can the shell be completed?
Stonemasons think in terms of form, surface, and fine detail. How does an edge look? How does the surface interact with light? How can you preserve historical authenticity?
Both work with stone – but their “language” is entirely different.
While bricklayers often work under time pressure on changing job sites, stonemasons usually spend more time on a single project in a stable setting.
Both professions are challenging in their own way. Bricklayers face physical pressure, weather conditions, and teamwork. They must measure and align full structures accurately. Stonemasons need artistic sensitivity, a steady hand, and historical understanding of delicate materials and techniques.
A bricklayer must be quick, strong, and precise – a stonemason must be careful, detail-oriented, and patient.
Both trades involve a 3-year dual apprenticeship. Afterwards, professionals can specialize, pursue a master’s qualification, or start independent projects. Bricklayers often stay in construction, while stonemasons may move toward restoration, design, or artistic stonework.
If you want to build, bricklaying may be your path. If you want to craft and design, stonemasonry could be the right fit. But both share a love for stone, pride in craftsmanship, and the joy of creating something that lasts.
Stone is not just hard – it speaks. And both bricklayers and stonemasons know how to make it speak.