Looking for a Way?

When I was young I began to work up through the trades. I spent five years as a hod tender. (also known as a mason's helper) I am deeply fascinated with the masonry trade. Masonry goes back to the dawn of civilization. People realized a need and so began the laying of one stone atop another for shelter and protection. The masonry trade instructs civilization in universal principles concerning foundation, line and level. In this modern era there are breakthrough developments which enable masonry work to be done with great efficiency and creativity. Yet, all such work is firmly laid on the foundation of the eternal principles.
In this neighborhood almost every house has brick work of some kind. Unless the brickwork has received tuck pointing, almost every house needs re-pointing. Our house is a perfect example. Tuck pointing is a task requiring specialized skills. I would like to call attention to the need and show that masonry repair is a very fertile field for a person seeking such opportunity. When home owners see bricks with degraded and missing mortar the first thought may be fear and apprehension at what will possibly be a costly, but very needful repair. To a man or woman starting out this is an opportunity to calm these fears with a decisive answer. I suggest the idea of specialization to provide such repairs. A person who can learn to effect repairs in a price range attainable by the average homeowner and make a profit, can learn to create a great demand for his or her services. Such a person will see and feel a connection with the ancient craft and realize the reward of a true contribution to society.
Check out my link to the National Park Service preservation briefs and look under repair of masonry. I've taken this photo from that brief.