Bricklaying & Masonry in England

Repointing — grinding out failed mortar joints and refilling them — is priced per square metre and needed when mortar crumbles, washes out, or lets damp through. It is far cheaper than rebuilding, but matching the mortar mix and joint style to the original is what separates good work from patchwork.

A skilled bricklayer lays roughly 300-600 standard bricks a day on straightforward wall runs — fewer on detailed work, arches, or restoration. That is why fiddly small jobs cost more per brick than long straight walls.

Bricklayers price per thousand bricks laid, per square metre of wall, or by day rate. The total depends on brick type, wall thickness (single or double skin), height and access. Foundations, damp-proof courses, copings and scaffold are separate line items that quotes must state.

Usually, with effort — reclaimed bricks, brick-matching services and tinted mortars get close. An exact match matters most on street-facing walls; ask to see a sample panel before committing, since a bad match is permanent and obvious.

Stepped cracks along mortar joints usually mean foundation movement; vertical cracks through bricks suggest thermal movement or missing expansion joints; horizontal cracking on retaining walls means soil pressure. Small hairline cracks can be monitored, but widening or stepped cracks deserve a structural opinion before cosmetic repair.

Yes — a concrete footing sized to the wall's height and the soil. Retaining walls also need drainage behind them (weep holes, gravel backfill) or water pressure will crack or topple them. Most retaining-wall failures trace to missing drainage, not weak bricks.

Typically £200-320 per day, or £400-600 labour per thousand bricks laid. Repointing runs roughly £40-70 per m² depending on joint condition and access.

Pre-1920s brick was laid in soft, breathable lime mortar. Repointing with hard cement traps moisture and spalls the brick faces — a common and expensive mistake. Lime work costs more but is the correct spec for period properties.