Gear Up For Masonry Education Day 2024

Words: Mason Contractors

Mark your calendars for October 3rd, 2024, as the highly anticipated Masonry Education Day returns to North Carolina. Held at the picturesque Ben Ketchie Park. This day promises to be packed with learning, competition, and inspiration for all attendees.


Attendees will then participate in various tutorials starting at 8:45 a.m., focusing on masonry equipment and operation, which are designed to provide hands-on experiences and to enhance skills in masonry practices.


A special highlight will be the SPEC MIX JR. Bricklayer 500 competition at 10:00 a.m., geared towards high school students and apprentices keen on showcasing their bricklaying abilities by constructing a 9-foot wall within 20 minutes. This competition not only highlights the craftsmanship of these up-and-coming masons but also serves as a platform for workforce development in the masonry industry.


The SPEC MIX Bricklayer 500 North Carolina Regional Qualifier will see professional masons from across the region compete in a thrilling 60-minute contest to build the highest quality brick wall measuring 26 feet in length. This competition is a part of the prestigious “Road to Las Vegas” series, with the regional winners securing a spot in the 2025 World Championship in Las Vegas, where they will compete for over $125,000 in prizes.


This event is open to masonry students, apprentices, and professionals eager to learn, compete, and network within the industry. Don't miss this opportunity to see the future of masonry up close and personal, and witness firsthand the incredible skill and dedication of the participants. For more details and registration, visit specmix.com.



Restoring the Breath of the Building: The Life-Saving Science Behind Historic Masonry Repairs
July 2026

When I first set out to become a historic preservation and restoration mason, I imagined that most of my trade would involve repairing the effects of old age. Instead, 99 percent of my work is attempting to stabilize and reverse damage caused by recent an

Laying the Foundation for the Future: Workforce Development at the Arizona Masonry Council
July 2026

For generations, masonry has been built on a simple but powerful principle: knowledge passed from one set of hands to the next. In Arizona, the Arizona Masonry Council (AMC) is working to ensure that tradition continues by investing in one of the industr

What Mason Contractors Don't Know Is Costing Them Money
July 2026

Most mason contractors can tell you exactly what a job should cost before it starts. Bid labor hours, material takeoffs, and crew rates per square foot. The numbers are on paper, and they look right. What most can't tell you is whether those numbers held

Preserving Masonry Aesthetics with Concealed Lintel Systems
July 2026

Masonry has long been valued for its ability to create buildings with character, permanence, and visual appeal. Features such as arches, deep reveals, corbelling, and decorative brickwork continue to be popular design elements in modern architecture. Howe