Hi everyone, new to the site today, basically im 19 and just finishing my level 3 diploma/NVQ in bricklaying and have my heart set that i will be going abroad within the next 2-3 years and i'd love to go to canada. However with the government now brilliantly deciding to cancel all new schools projects i couldnt let myself on the dole and maybe have to think about moving sooner rather then later.

So just wondering where the work is for brickys in canada, what to expect etc. Any help or tips appreciated.

Can't help with your enquiry but best of luck. I'm sure someone will be along soon with some useful information.

Have a lok at the WIKI and also at BUNAC.

As for bricklayers - there is a guy building mock walled gates (breeze blocks finished with a posh outer layer) He is taking forever, been at it since march, I can only assume decent bricky's are hard to come by

Understandable given most peoples houses are made of wood.

19 ? get yourself to somewhere warm and have a bit of fun, spain or somewhere - working hol in australia etc ; you need to wait til the lifes been sucked out of you before you head over here (as a young guy)

I"d apply for a working holiday visa - BUNAC.

Best way to get the lay of the land and you can see if Canada's really for you.

haha beaverquest see i wouldnt mind trying australia too but ive heard its a bad country for bricklaying from people i know who've been there, besides i think i'd melt working in that heat. Is canada not somewhere to be reccomended for a young lad, i know its a big place just wondering on your opinion. Thanks kiwilass thats what i was thinking of , im going to give it a go when i get more serious on it. Some people mention to me about there always being adverts in the papers for brickys in canada though?, but ive been looking through the forums for a while and there dosent seem to be a mention.

So all the young folk that come over here from all manner of different countries to work the ski season have a lousy time? Canada's certainly different in terms of opportunities compared to Australia, but that doesn't necessarily make it a bad choice.

bricklaying in balzac has hardly the same appeal as boarding in banff...

We've got some bricks on our house.

Problem is with brickies in Canada is that you have two major things against you.

1) The weather - most thigs i the outside trades get done / started after spring break - so you get around about 7 months to build outside if you're lucky.

2) Most of the houses are made of wood with vinyl siding on them.

You could specialise in building interior brick walls that go behind people log burners

Joking aside, back in the UK I knew loads of brickies, here I don't think i've met one??? Shame cos I wouldn't mind 2 brick posts at the end of the drive (so if anyone knows a good brickie!!!!!)

If you were to come over on a BUNAC visa, work out which province you are going to and then contact a load of house building companies and see what they say the need for brickies is.

Lots of large commercial and public building use brick either structurally or as fascia.

Yes true, wasn't thinking - it' been a while since I saw a commercial building

Personally I don't think brick is a practical material for building homes here in Canada. At least anywhere other than southern Vancouver Island and the lower mainland.

New homes in Canada are insulated with fibreglass batts which are rated at R20. These batts are 6" thick. In order to build with brick you would have to have outside walls that are 14" thick just for the two courses of brick (4" per brick) and the space required for the insulation. In addition to this you would still need something on the inside of the brick to hang the drywall on there's another possible 4" (2x4 +drywall), potentially an 18" thick wall.

Wood frame requires a 2x6 frame plus the sheething and the drywall total thickness about 6.5"

Just get your self on BUNAC and have a year in Canada to decide for your self.