County Materials Sponsors Masonry Competition, Heightens Awareness of Industry

The Spec Mix Bricklayer 500^® Competitions are a series of events that demonstrate the craftsmanship and stamina of masons across the country. The regional and national competitions pit bricklayers from all over North America and beyond against each other to compete for prizes and vie for the honor of being the “Best Bricklayer in the World.” County Materials Corporation is proud to have been a Gold Level sponsor for the 12th Annual Wisconsin Bricklayer 500^® Regional Competition, one of 21 regional championships in the U.S. The event took place on September 24, 2015 at the IMI Training Center in New Berlin, WI. County Materials also provided masonry materials for the competition.

Each competing team includes a mason and his assistant, known as the mason tender. Teams have 60 minutes to construct a 26 foot long, 8 inch wide brick wall. Contestants are judged by a panel of industry experts using a 10-point criteria system. Winners are determined by who can lay the most brick in a specified amount of time while meeting strict quality standards. A Craftsmanship Award is also given to the team judged to have produced the highest quality wall.

While the Bricklayer 500 competitions are certainly fun for contestants and spectators alike, the events serve a practical purpose, too: educating the public about the value of masonry. The masonry trade is one of the oldest, most respected professions in the world. However it is often overlooked as a good career opportunity for young people. By shining a spotlight on masons and the amazing work they do, the Bricklayer 500 events support the industry with the pride and recognition it deserves, helping to recruit talented young people into this rewarding career.

This year’s Wisconsin championship went to a team of brothers, both third generation masons from Fort Atkinson, WI. Mason Nick Brock, owner of Exteriors Plus, LLC, took first place with 514 brick, assisted by tender Jake Brock, owner of Brock Construction. This is the first time the brothers have teamed up for the competition; in the past they have competed against each other. Between the two of them they have taken the Wisconsin championship 8 out of the past 9 years. The Top Craftsman award this year went to Mike Schlund of Kowalski Masonry in Wausau.

As regional winners, the Brock brothers also participated in the national Bricklayer 500 competition, which took place February 3, 2016 at the World of Concrete tradeshow in Las Vegas. Nick Brock says he and his brother practiced quite a bit to prepare for the national event. “We did a full practice run once a week. I would also practice on my own once or twice a week as well.”

The practice paid off in improved performance for the Brock brothers, whose brick install count at the national event was 658. While the championship went to another team of brothers from Utah, just being at the Bricklayer 500 events was rewarding and has become a family tradition, says Nick, whose father, uncle, and grandfather were also masons. “We had about 25 family members rooting for us. My grandma and grandpa and a bunch of friends have been there all 8 years. They love seeing us in the industry. They’re proud of that, and I think half the time we compete for them, not for us. It’s a good feeling for the guys that know the craft - it’s exciting. The butterflies kick in right away and everybody’s scrambling, but it’s a lot of fun.”