The first commonly used bricklaying tool on our list is the old faithful brick trowel. A brick trowel is a specialised hand tool used by all bricklayers and stonemasons. The primary purpose of a brick trowel is for levelling, spreading, and shaping mortar or concrete. They come in many different shapes and sizes, which shape and size a bricklayer needs depends on their own personal preferences and the type of structure they are building.

The flat-edge with pointed blade allows for ease of use when spreading and working with materials. Ensuring you have a high quality trowel in good working order is an essential part of being a bricklayer. You can also purchase a smaller pointing trowel for cleaning up brick or stonework, too.

Presentation is key in the world of bricklaying and masonry, that’s why a pointing key for us is another toolbox essential. A pointing key can help ensure a high quality finish on brick and stonework. Pointing is the process of finishing and tidying the mortar joints which hide the interior mortar and enhance the finished appearance.

A pointing key is used to shape, smooth and compact mortar joints. Not only does this help with the finish and aesthetics, pointing is also important for weather resistance upon build completion.  Again, there are different sizes of pointing keys out there so we would suggest checking what kind of pointing you will be doing first before choosing a size to go with. As a rule of thumb at SLBC we often stick to pointing keys sized between 10mm-15mm.

The brick jointer, like a pointing key, is another tool used to help with the shaping and finish of mortar joints in between bricks. Using a brick jointer will help to improve the overall appearance of the structure but again, also helps with weather resistance due to the process of compacting the mortar. The tool has a rounded, pointed end which can be used while the mortar is still setting to achieve a neat and uniform finish.

Next in our list of commonly used bricklaying tools is the brick bolster. A brick bolster is mainly used by bricklayers when they need to cut or split bricks, blocks or stone to fit into specific parts of a structure.

The brick bolster has a wide, flat cutting edge. Good quality brick bolsters will come with a handguard which makes for far easier and safer use. When used in tandem with a hammer, a brick bolster creates clean, straight cuts due to its design.

Now, this one should really go without saying, but we felt we should add it anyway! The trusty tape measure… You can’t lay block and brick successfully without accurately measuring lengths and distances. Accurate measurements are CRUCIAL in bricklaying to maintain structural integrity. All bricklayers need a measuring tape which extends a minimum of 5 metres.

A club hammer is often used by bricklayers for striking other tools like a chisel or brick bolster. It can be used for a number of purposes including: 

• Light demolition work
• Cutting and splitting materials
• Driving anchors or stakes into the ground

 We’ve seen it referred to as the sledgehammer’s little brother as the handle is smaller and it is not quite as heavy. 

The Brick Hammer is used by bricklayers for a similar purpose i.e., cleanly breaking bricks, rocks, hammer concrete etc. One end of the hammer head is a chisel and the other is a block.

Another one which goes without saying are spirit levels, both large and pocket-sized. Spirit levels are used by bricklayers to ensure that the brick or block work they are building is level horizontally and plumb vertically.

This is essential in bricklaying. If you do not use a spirit level when working, you are opening yourself up to future problems with the build. For example, structural integrity could be compromised without using a spirit level, meaning remedial works to correct it.

Bricklayers line is used as a point of reference when building along a structure, such as a wall, to ensure the brickwork built is level and plumb. The line is run from one corner of brickwork to the other and can be easily assembled with corner line blocks, which help you move the line up and down the brickwork more efficiently. 

The line is stretched across this area at a preset height to ensure consistency of alignment. This is another great tool which you can use to ensure a professional finish and high quality build, no matter what you are working on.

Bricklayers should have a soft brush in their toolbox to clean dust, debris, and excess mortar from brick surfaces and joints. This helps ensure a neat appearance and prepares the bricks for finishing or sealing. It’s important to use a soft-haired brush as anything harsher (i.e., wire brush) will damage the pointing and impact the overall quality of work.