WorksheetsUnit 107 LEARNING OUTCOME 1
Total questions: 69
Worksheet time: 35mins
Use the key box words to complete the sentence: Positioning materials in the correct place before ______ work is important to ensure efficiency.
commencing
loading
bonded
adequate
Use the key box words to complete the sentence: If materials are too ______ from the wall that you are building, a lot of ______ is wasted.
far / energy
reach / calculation
evenly / bonded
adequate / loading
Use the key box words to complete the sentence: The positioning of material prior to laying is called stacking out or ______ out.
loading
bonded
evenly
calculation
Use the key box words to complete the sentence: The materials must be placed to ensure economy of movement for the bricklayer with everything in easy ______.
reach
bonded
evenly
calculation
Use the key box words to complete the sentence: First a rough ______ of the bricks or blocks required should be carried out and the total number of bricks or blocks spread ______ along the wall in neat ______ stacks.
calculation / evenly / bonded
energy / adequate / loading
reach / far / commencing
loading / bonded / evenly
Use the key box words to complete the sentence: The stacks should be approximately ______ from the face of the wall to give ______ working space.
600mm / adequate
far / evenly
reach / energy
bonded / calculation
If bricks or blocks are not covered when they are stacked ready for work, what could happen if they got wet?
They may become saturated, leading to poor mortar adhesion when laid.
They become stronger and bond better with mortar.
Their dimensions shrink, making them easier to handle.
Their color permanently darkens but performance improves.
What would happen if a bricklayer tried to lay wet bricks?
Mortar bond is weakened and bricks can slip out of position.
Mortar sets faster and the wall becomes stronger.
Bricks immediately dry and perform normally.
Mortar expands and locks bricks more tightly.
What is one simple way that a stack of bricks could be protected?
Cover the stack with polythene sheeting.
Soak the stack with water before covering.
Stack bricks loosely to allow more air gaps.
Leave the stack uncovered to dry in sunlight.
What precaution should be taken if a stack of bricks or blocks is covered with polythene sheeting?
Secure the sheeting so wind cannot blow it away or create a hazard.
Pierce many holes so rain can drain through the stack.
Place heavy bricks directly on top of the wall instead.
Remove the sheeting permanently once the weather improves.
Why should protection that has been removed from a materials stack be kept nearby as work proceeds?
So it can be quickly replaced if the weather changes.
To keep the work area crowded for safety.
Because the removed protection must be discarded later.
To weigh down the wall as bricks are laid.
Explain why a bricklayer should never tap the spirit level to adjust a course of bricks.
It can give a false reading and lead to inaccurate alignment.
It will make the bubble move faster and improve precision.
It saves time compared to resetting the course of bricks.
It ensures the level stays clean of mortar.
State two ways in which a spirit level is used simply as a straight edge when building a quoin.
Aligning the face of the quoin so it is straight.
Checking the bed joints along the quoin are straight.
Measuring the wall height in millimetres.
Striking off excess mortar from the wall.
What equipment is used with a string line to hold it in position on a brick quoin?
Line pins
Spring clamps
Timber pegs
Masonry nails
What equipment can be used to position a string line as a guide when building a straight stone wall?
Timber profiles (batter boards)
Line pins
Spirit level
Peg and feathers
Building accurately. Name the equipment used to make sure consistent proportions of materials are used in a mortar mix.
Gauge box
Measuring tape
Bucket
Wheelbarrow
Worksheet 4: Tools for masonry work (1). Using the tools listed in the key, select the tool used for spreading mortar and perping bricks and blocks.
Brick trowel
Pointing trowel
Half-round jointer
Spirit level
Straight edge
Worksheet 4: Tools for masonry work (1). Using the tools listed in the key, select the tool used for filling joints when pointing and smoothing mortar surfaces.
Pointing trowel
Brick trowel
Half-round jointer
Spirit level
Tape measure
Worksheet 4: Tools for masonry work (1). Using the tools listed in the key, select the tool used for producing half-round joints.
Half-round jointer
Pointing trowel
Brick trowel
Straight edge
Boat level
Worksheet 4: Tools for masonry work (1). Using the tools listed in the key, select the tool used for checking brick and block masonry for level and plumb (available in a range of lengths).
Spirit level
Straight edge
Gauge rod
String line and pins
Boat level
Worksheet 4: Tools for masonry work (1). Using the tools listed in the key, select the small level used for plumbing and levelling individual bricks in decorative work.
Boat level
Spirit level
Brick trowel
Gauge rod
Tape measure
Worksheet 4: Tools for masonry work (1). Using the tools listed in the key, select the tool used for aligning courses of brick or block over longer walls.
String line and pins
Straight edge
Gauge rod
Pointing trowel
Half-round jointer
Worksheet 4: Tools for masonry work (1). Using the tools listed in the key, select the tool used for transferring levels over distances longer than the length of a level.
Straight edge
Gauge rod
Spirit level
Boat level
Tape measure
Worksheet 4: Tools for masonry work (1). Using the tools listed in the key, select the tool used for setting out and checking dimensions.
Tape measure
Gauge rod
Straight edge
Spirit level
Brick trowel
Worksheet 4: Tools for masonry work (1). Using the tools listed in the key, select the tool used for accurately checking gauge dimensions of brickwork.
Gauge rod
Tape measure
Straight edge
Spirit level
Boat level
The best type of hammer to use with a bolster is a brick hammer.
True
False
If we need to accurately trim or shape bricks, we use a scratch hammer.
True
False
The correct PPE for cutting bricks will always include safety glasses or goggles.
True
False
All bricks are easy to cut if we use the right tools.
True
False
Cutting bricks carefully to produce a neat line will give a good finish to the wall.
True
False
When stone is trimmed to shape using specialist tools, we call this ‘creasing’.
True
False
Which of the following tool combinations will allow a bricklayer to cut a clay brick?
Panel saw and bow saw
Lump hammer and bolster
Comb hammer and cold chisel
Masonry and coping saws
Which tool is used in order to ensure a brick wall is plumb?
Bolster
Laying trowel
Spirit level
Pocket level
Upon completion of a wall, which tool could be used to fill in small holes in mortar joints?
Pointing trowel
Gauging trowel
Line pins
Recess jointer
What is used to secure a string line to quoins at the ends of a straight wall?
Dense blocks
Aerated blocks
Corner blocks
Concrete blocks
Which tool is used to precisely trim a brick or block to shape?
Slate hammer
Club hammer
Claw hammer
Scutch hammer
Identify the equipment shown and select the option that states its typical use in masonry.
Hawk — used to hold small amounts of mortar close to the work
Brick bolster — used to cut bricks by striking with a hammer
Float — used to finish concrete surfaces
Mortar board — used to mix large batches of mortar
Identify the equipment shown and select the option that states its typical use in masonry.
Straight edge — used to check flatness and levels over a surface
Spirit level — used to check vertical plumb using bubble vials
Folding rule — used to measure long distances up to several meters
Chalk line — used to mark long straight lines on surfaces
Identify the measuring equipment shown and select the option that states its typical use in masonry.
Gauge Rod - to check the height on each course of Bricks or Blocks
Spirit level — used to check plumb and level
Chalk line — used to snap straight chalk marks
Vernier caliper — used to measure small diameters precisely
Identify the setting-out method illustrated and select the option that states its typical use in masonry.
3-4-5 method — used to set out a right angle on site
Diagonal tying — used to brace scaffold frames
Batter board method — used to support formwork edges
Running bond — used to lay bricks in staggered rows
Face brick is typically used for:
External facing where appearance and durability are required
Below-ground footings where aesthetics are irrelevant
Temporary formwork edges during concreting
Crushed aggregate in concrete mixes
Common brick is typically used for:
Internal backing walls and general-purpose construction
Decorative facades where colour and finish are critical
Paving setts for external walkways
Prefabricated insulation panels
Engineering brick is typically used for:
Damp-proof courses and groundworks requiring high strength and low absorption
Lightweight non-loadbearing partitioning
Thermal insulation where high R-values are needed
Ornate veneers where appearance is the only concern
Lightweight concrete block is typically used for:
Internal non-loadbearing partitions to reduce weight
Retaining walls subject to high lateral loads
Strip foundations under heavy walls
Load-bearing lintels over openings
. Dense concrete block is typically used for:
Load-bearing walls and structural work
Cavity insulation batts
Roof tiles
Decorative glass block panels
Thermal block is typically used for:
External walls where improved thermal insulation is required
Floor screeds under finishes
Edge copings for garden walls
Landscaping pavers for pathways
Which part of the brick is the arris?
The sharp edge where two faces meet
The recessed area on the top surface
The long side face
The short end face
Which part of the brick is the frog?
The sharp edge where two faces meet
The recessed area on the top surface
The long side face
The short end face
Which part of the brick is the header face?
The sharp edge where two faces meet
The recessed area on the top surface
The long side face
The short end face
Which part of the brick is the stretcher face?
The sharp edge where two faces meet
The recessed area on the top surface
The long side face
The short end face
Which part of the brick measures 215.0mm?
Length
Width
Height
Which part of the brick measures 102.5mm?
Length
Width
Height
Which part of the brick measures 65.0mm?
Length
Width
Height
How many bricks are there in a square metre of half-brick walling?
50
60
70
80
What is the main reason that stored bricks should be covered?
The sun can fade their colour
Someone might steal them
They could get mud on them and be spoiled
If they get wet, they will be difficult to lay
Which official organisation sets the tolerances?
The Brick Development Association
The British Standards Institute
The Health and Safety Executive
The Guild of Bricklayers
In stone masonry, what is the term used to describe the process of shaping stone using hand tools?
Dressing
Quarrying
Pointing
Seasoning
In masonry construction activities, select two types of stonework commonly used.
Ashlar
Rubble
Stretcher bond
Reinforced concrete
When the end of a steel chisel is described as ‘mushroomed’, what does this mean?
The struck end has flared out due to repeated impact, creating a hazardous lip
The cutting edge has been sharpened to a taper
The chisel shaft has bent out of alignment
The tool surface is coated with rust
When building a natural stone wall, select two reasons why it is necessary to leave more space in the work area for stacking materials.
To sort and select stones of varying sizes and shapes
To accommodate larger pallets of bricks
To allow safe access and handling of irregular stones
To store additional mortar mixers
Explain why stonework takes more time to produce than brickwork or blockwork.
Stones vary in size and shape, requiring selection and dressing before laying
Mortar sets significantly slower with stone than with bricks or blocks
Building regulations require more inspections for stonework
Stone beds are wider, so fewer units can be laid per course
What two types of sand can be used for mixing mortar?
Building (soft) sand
Sharp sand
Chalk
Clay
Why must sand be ‘well graded’?
It contains only uniform large grains
It has a range of particle sizes that create a dense, workable mortar with fewer voids
It is washed to remove salts
It is very fine like silt
Why must a ‘silt test’ be carried out on sand used for mixing mortar?
To check for clay/silt contamination that can weaken mortar and affect bonding
To measure the sand’s color for aesthetic matching
To determine moisture content for curing schedules
To assess the presence of gravel for concrete mixes
What is the name of the chemical reaction that causes cement mortar to harden?
Hydration
Oxidation
Sublimation
Polymerization
Select three different types of cement that can be used in mortar.
Ordinary Portland cement (OPC)
Rapid‑hardening cement
Sulphate‑resisting cement
Gypsum plaster
When using a chemical plasticiser, what does the term ‘air entrainment’ mean?
Formation of uniformly distributed microscopic air bubbles in the mix to improve workability and durability
Trapping large air voids that reduce strength
Removal of all air from the mortar during mixing
Adding water to increase the air content
Why is it important to use water that is ‘potable’ when mixing mortar?
To ensure the water is clean and free of impurities that could affect setting and strength
To keep the mortar a consistent color
To reduce the cost of mixing
To increase the temperature of the mix
List two additives that can be used in a mortar mix besides plasticiser.
Colour pigment
Waterproofing admixture
Table salt
Motor oil
