Episode Details

Bricklaying is a dying breed. That is the reality. But Damian and Tara are doing something about it.

In this episode, Az sits down with the husband and wife team behind DA Bricklaying and DAT Tools, two businesses built from the ground up with no shortcuts, no outside funding, and no corporate playbook.

Damian has been laying bricks for 27 years. Tara has been right beside him through all of it. Together, they turned a sole trader operation into a professional crew, competed on the world stage at the Spec Mix Bricklayer 500 in the United States, and launched a self-funded tools business born from real pain points on the job.

This conversation is raw, honest, and full of lessons for anyone running a trade business or building something with their partner.

What we cover:

• How Damian went from laying bricks at 14 to running a respected crew in Melbourne
• Tara becoming the first female mason tender in the history of the Spec Mix Bricklayer 500
• The real challenges of scaling from sole trader to a full business with overheads, crews, and cash flow pressure
• Practical lessons on tracking your numbers, managing tax, and building a financial buffer
• What it takes to build a reputation through word of mouth alone
• Working as a couple across two businesses while raising two young kids
• The story behind DAT Tools and how on-site frustrations became real products
• What makes a good builder from a bricklayer's perspective

If you are a tradie thinking about starting a business, or you are already in one and wondering how to do it better, this is one to listen to.

🔗 Check out DAT Tools and support an Australian family business doing it the right way.

https://www.dattools.com/
https://www.instagram.com/damianamusobricklaying/