Fred Vaughn got his start in construction as a laborer. But when he reached the top of the pay scale, he knew it was time for a change. “They weren’t giving me any more raises. It was either stay there at $14 an hour or become an apprentice,” he says. So the father of five decided to set out to learn a new trade – tuckpointing.
Vaughn says good hand-eye coordination is critical to success in his trade, which requires using two contrasting colors of mortar in the joints of brickwork. “When you’re applying the cement between the joints, you have to follow a pattern,” he says. “You’re holding the mortarboard, and you’re holding a tool, so your hands are always full,” he says.
Jobs can require work on tall buildings, so Vaughn points out that tuckpointing is not suited for anyone who is afraid of heights. “If you can’t ride a roller coaster, don’t even try it,” he says. Safety on the job is essential. One mistake could put the lives of you or your partner at risk. “You have to follow the rules when you’re on a scaffold and make sure your safety equipment is correct. You want to go home safe every night,” Vaughn says.
Despite the risks, Vaughn says tuckpointing is a fairly easy trade once you get the hang of it. But he adds that it can be difficult for people of color to break in. Vaughn credits CEC with connecting him to job opportunities. “They’re the only ones I could count on to help me get jobs,” he says.
Vaughn says some of the best career advice he’s ever received came from his father, who helped convince him to stick with his trade when he felt like giving up. “He said, ‘You can’t do anything else. You either have to master it, or it’s going to break you,’” Vaughn said.
Tuckpointing is seasonal work. Most companies start hiring in March, and the work usually lasts until November or December. During his downtime, Vaughn says he relies on unemployment and tries to find side jobs when possible. When he’s not working, Vaughn says he enjoys watching football and hanging out with friends. “I want to try fishing one day, but that might have to be something for retirement,” he laughs.
Vaughn says anyone interested in tuckpointing as a career should go for it. But he stresses that it’s just as important to watch what you say as it is to do good work on the job site. “Even though it’s a predominantly male trade, women are coming in. You can’t act like the stereotypical construction worker sitting on your lunch pail whistling at women. That’s over with now,” he says. “What you might think is a joke, someone else might take personally.”