A masonry subcontractor agreement sets forth the terms of a working relationship between a mason and a hiring contractor. The agreement will identify the masonry subcontractor, the prime contractor, and the client. The contract provides space for the stone mason’s responsibilities and the compensation for services rendered.

Contents What’s Included Masonry Subcontractor Job Description How to Become a Mason Types of Masons Stonemasons Brick Masons Cement Masons Refractory Masons

What’s Included

Party Information

Any masonry subcontractor agreement should include the name (or business name) of the prime contractor, their client, and the subcontractor. Once both parties agree to the terms of the contract, they should sign it to make it valid and enforceable.

Services and Responsibilities

The agreement should communicate what services the subcontractor will be responsible for and if they will provide materials, labor, transportation, and equipment.

Some standard services a masonry subcontractor will be required to carry out are:

• Concrete work
• Building retaining walls
• Waterproofing
• Foundation construction and repair
• Fireplace and chimney repair
• Block, stone, and brick installation
• Interlock and flagstone installation
• Driveway columns
• Parging
• Tuckpointing

Deadlines

If the subcontractor is required to complete the services by a specific date, it should be stated in the document. The date the subcontractor will begin working should also be relayed in the contract.

Compensation

The contract should state how much the masonry subcontractor will make and if they are to be paid after job completion or on a weekly, monthly, or quarterly basis. Generally, masonry subcontractors charge by the hour.

Termination

The signing parties must decide on the termination provisions of the contract. The contract should indicate if the contract can be terminated before the agreed-upon completion date in the case of an agreement breach. If yes, it should be clear by which party and with how many days’ notice.

Masonry Subcontractor Job Description

Masonry is a specialized trade involving building and repairing structures using materials such as brick, stone, concrete, and marble. Professional masons must be knowledgeable of local regulations and bylaws and should come equipped with the necessary liability insurance. Prior to starting a job, they will provide an estimate of the cost of labor and materials, the amount of which can be relayed in the contract.

How to Become a Mason

Most masons learn their trade via an apprenticeship which includes a combination of on-the-job training and classroom studies. Prospective masons may pursue an apprenticeship program through technical colleges, builder’s associations, masonry unions, and masonry associations. Programs typically last three (3) to four (4) years, and once completed, the apprentice may continue their career as a journeyman mason.

Types of Masons

Masonry projects often require professionals who specialize in a specific area of the trade. The following are examples of specialists:

Stonemasons

These individuals use stones to build, repair, and maintain various structures, monuments, and statues. Their technique may be broken down into two primary types:

• Ashlar Masonry – Utilizes uniformly cut stones laid out with minimal mortar between the stones.
• Rubble Masonry – A technique that uses undressed, uneven, and irregular stones to create structures.

Brick Masons

In this type of masonry, bricks are laid out systemically with mortar to create walls, chimneys, and other structures. Depending on the project, these masons may use different bricks, including burnt clay, concrete, fly ash, engineering, and sand lime bricks.

Cement Masons

A cement mason is responsible for pouring, leveling, smoothing, and setting concrete in various construction projects. Floors, driveways, sidewalks, foundations, beams, columns, and panels are just some of the things a cement mason may use concrete to construct.

Refractory Masons

A refractory mason builds, repairs, and maintains structures that withstand extreme temperatures and corrosion. This specialization often requires the mason to restore the linings of kilns, basins, and furnaces to protect the structures from high heat.