Masonry Apprentice Selected for Segment on "Trade School"

Words: Ann Wolter
/Public/News/20060301133000.jpg" width="250" height="167" border="0" alt="Masonry apprentice Jason Brooks and mason Chris Olgierson are filmed by cameraman Kirk Selby of High Noon Entertainment as they build a fireplace in the conference room of Rocky Mountain Masonry Institute. Brooks was selected for a segment on "Trade School," a DIY Network series that follows a trade school student as his or her skills develop. The segment will air in late 2006 or early 2007.">
Masonry apprentice Jason Brooks and mason Chris Olgierson are filmed by cameraman Kirk Selby of High Noon Entertainment as they build a fireplace in the conference room of Rocky Mountain Masonry Institute. Brooks was selected for a segment on "Trade School," a DIY Network series that follows a trade school student as his or her skills develop. The segment will air in late 2006 or early 2007.

Masonry apprentice Jason Brooks of Q M Company in Loveland, Colo., was selected for a feature segment on "Trade School," A DIY (Do-It-Yourself) national cable network production filmed by High Noon Entertainment. Each half-hour show follows a trade school student as his or her skills progress and the student is positioned at the beginning of his or her career. The show is airing its second season and is preparing to broadcast seasons three and four.

Rocky Mountain Masonry Institute (RMMI) Executive Director Larisa LaBrant specifically recommended Brooks and his mentor/teacher Chris Olgeirson, project manager for A.P. Eberlein, for the show because of their skills and personalities.

The producers filmed Brooks and Olgeirson building an intricate brick fireplace designed by RMMI Technical Director Diane Travis. The fireplace they built is based on a fireplace designed by Frank Lloyd Wright for the May house in Grand Rapids, Mich., which utilize strips of iridescent glass infused with 18-karat gold. Summit Brick and Tile of Pueblo, Colo., created custom-glazed thin brick to emulate the glass in the design.

High Noon Producer Christin Mihon said the fireplace project was selected because it shows Jason using a wide range of skill levels. Mihon, Sequence Producer Bill Crispin and a camera crew spent the first week of January filming Brooks and Olgeirson as they built the masonry project in the RMMI office in Denver.

The fireplace includes concrete block (donated by Basalite), brick veneer (donated by Acme Brick and Robinson Brick), stone pieces (donated by Pine Stone), glass block (donated by Rio Grande Co.) and glazed brick inlay (donated by Summit Brick and Tile). With a "ventless" electric fireplace insert (supplied by Rio Grande Co.), the fireplace provides an aesthetic boost to the RMMI conference room.

The show, which is scheduled to air sometime in late 2006 or early 2007, will be accompanied by a web feature, located at www.DIYnetwork.com. The web pages will focus on the details of the fireplace project.

"Trade School" is broadcast on Sundays at 9:00 PM EST.

From Day One to Long-Term Success: Onboarding Strategies for Contractors
January 2026

The construction industry is facing one of its toughest challenges in decades. Companies are struggling to find enough skilled workers while competing to keep the ones they have. At the same time, projects are becoming more complex, deadlines are tighter,

Finding the Right PPE for Your Work
January 2026

When it comes to PPE, one thing’s for sure: safety isn’t one size fits all. The work you’re doing, where you’re doing it, and even what time of year it is, can all make a big difference in what gear actually works. Price, comfort, and job performance all

Back Injuries: The Real Cost and How to Prevent Them
January 2026

The mention of back injuries makes mason contractors cringe, and for good reason. Masons lift heavy objects every day, all day long. When a person sustains a back injury, it is serious. It affects every part of their life, from their ability to perform wo

Detailing for Durability: The 2026 Guide to High-Performance Stone Veneer Transitions
January 2026

Some of the most expensive failures involving manufactured stone veneer installations don’t come from the stone at all, but rather from the material transitions and flashing around it. Transitions are weak points in the overall cladding where water can fi