Stonemasonry 101: Types of Stonemasons
All stonemasons work with stone, but not all stonemasons do the same kind of work on stone. There are several types of stonemasons, and each type has a specific set of tasks.
Are you interested to become a stonemason? If you like the idea of working with stone, then you should definitely pursue a career in stonemasonry. Before you start learning about the craft though, you should know that not all stonemasons do the same kind of work. There are several types of stonemasons, and it would help for you to understand the different kinds of stonemasonry jobs available.
Quarrymen
As the name implies, quarrymen are stonemasons who work in quarries. They are the ones who split rocks and extract them from the ground. They have a crucial job, because they make the jobs of other stonemasons possible.
Sawyers
Sawyers are the professionals responsible for cutting the rough blocks extracted from the quarries. They take over after the job of the quarrymen is done. They cut the stone according to the size requirement using several tools, including chisels, jackhammers, power saws and wedges. This kind of stonemason can be found in tile and flooring shops. Stonemasons hired in these establishments cut and carve stone based on grain patterns and fabricate sheets of rock for counter tops and floors, among other things.
Carvers
Carvers are stonemasons whose tasks are more artistic. They work as artists with stone as their medium by carving designs and figures. Carvers carefully check out the designer's plans, blueprints or sketches to determine the stone carving techniques as well as tools necessary to create the desired output. Designs in buildings such as carved stone foliage are the work of this type of stonemason.
Monumental/memorial masons
This type of stonemason is responsible for monuments or memorials like gravestones. They usually specialize in letter cutting, especially with stones like granite and marble.
Banker Masons
Banker masons are the stonemasons who shape blocks of stone according to what is required. They are also in charge of texturing and polishing (also known as dressing) the stone. The tools that they often use are the chisel and the mallet. The work of banker masons are off-site—they do their job in workshops.
This type of stonemason has a very important role when it comes to the repair and restoration of natural stone structures. To replace the stones in a building ruined by decay, banker masons replicate the original stones, both in form and shape.
Fixer Masons
Fixer masons are those that work on-site. It is their job to put the stones in place in buildings, usually with the help of lime mortars. They work with the stones created by the banker masons and install then where they are needed. The job of fixer masons are dangerous; they work with heavy stones and usually at high elevations.
Quarrymen
As the name implies, quarrymen are stonemasons who work in quarries. They are the ones who split rocks and extract them from the ground. They have a crucial job, because they make the jobs of other stonemasons possible.
Sawyers
Sawyers are the professionals responsible for cutting the rough blocks extracted from the quarries. They take over after the job of the quarrymen is done. They cut the stone according to the size requirement using several tools, including chisels, jackhammers, power saws and wedges. This kind of stonemason can be found in tile and flooring shops. Stonemasons hired in these establishments cut and carve stone based on grain patterns and fabricate sheets of rock for counter tops and floors, among other things.
Carvers
Carvers are stonemasons whose tasks are more artistic. They work as artists with stone as their medium by carving designs and figures. Carvers carefully check out the designer's plans, blueprints or sketches to determine the stone carving techniques as well as tools necessary to create the desired output. Designs in buildings such as carved stone foliage are the work of this type of stonemason.
Monumental/memorial masons
This type of stonemason is responsible for monuments or memorials like gravestones. They usually specialize in letter cutting, especially with stones like granite and marble.
Banker Masons
Banker masons are the stonemasons who shape blocks of stone according to what is required. They are also in charge of texturing and polishing (also known as dressing) the stone. The tools that they often use are the chisel and the mallet. The work of banker masons are off-site—they do their job in workshops.
This type of stonemason has a very important role when it comes to the repair and restoration of natural stone structures. To replace the stones in a building ruined by decay, banker masons replicate the original stones, both in form and shape.
Fixer Masons
Fixer masons are those that work on-site. It is their job to put the stones in place in buildings, usually with the help of lime mortars. They work with the stones created by the banker masons and install then where they are needed. The job of fixer masons are dangerous; they work with heavy stones and usually at high elevations.