Stonemasonry competition overview
Masonry is the craft of shaping rough pieces of rock into accurate geometrical shapes, at times simple, but some of considerable complexity and then arranging the resulting stones, often together with mortar to form structures.
Stonemasons create practical stone items that can last for centuries, they need to be skilled in creating stone items using traditional tools. Stonemasons work from sawn blocks of stone to shape everything from cladding for a new office block to intricate and important carvings for famous historic buildings, working with materials such as slate, sandstone and limestone. They use templates and drawings as a guide and often copy decayed or broken stones to create identical replacements. Stonemasonry is one of the oldest professions within the construction industry.
This competition has been designed to reflect the role of a stonemason and the standards that are expected within the construction industry.
Competition overview
Competitors will be marked throughout the competition:
- Competitors have to work in a safe manner and will lose marks if this is not adhered to
General information:
- At the Regional Qualifiers the maximum working time for the task is 8 hours
- At the SkillBuild National Final the maximum working time for the task is 18 hours
Core competencies
To take part in this competition you should be able to:
- Read and understand working drawings and standard graphical details.
- Familiar and practiced in the production of standard stonemasonry components.
- Produce full size setting out to very good standard.
- Work to a high level of dimensional accuracy of plus or minus 1mm.
- Mark out zinc/plastic templates and stonework accurately.
- Form internal and external mitres on moulded work.
- Be able to use competently standard stonemasonry hand tools.
- Cut and use reverse templates to ensure accurate work.
- Be able to apply a fine tooled finish to all seen faces.
- Handle stone without damaging the material.
- Work in a safe manner.
See also:
- Bricklaying competition overview
- Carpentry competition overview
- Furniture and Cabinet Making competition overview
- Joinery competition overview
- Painting and Decorating competition overview
- Plastering competition overview
- Drylining competition overview
- Roof Slating and Tiling competition overview
- Wall and Floor Tiling competition overview