Bricklayers: What They Do and What to Check
Walls, foundations and pointing — with realistic UK prices and common pitfalls.
4 min read · Updated 2026
Key takeaways
- ›Bricklaying is priced per 1,000 bricks or per m², not per hour.
- ›Cavity walls need wall ties and a proper cavity — never bridge it.
- ›Match the brick and mortar for extensions or repointing will stand out.
What a bricklayer does
Bricklayers lay bricks and blocks for external and internal walls, build piers, arches, garden walls and chimneys, and do repointing and restoration on older homes. On extensions they follow the architect's drawings for openings, cavity widths and lintels, and work with the groundworker on foundations.
Typical prices (UK 2026)
- •Per 1,000 bricks laid (labour only): £600–£900.
- •Single-skin garden wall (1m high): £400–£700 per 5m run.
- •Repointing: £20–£40 per m².
- •Block work (internal): £15–£25 per m².
- •Bricklayer day rate: £180–£280.
Questions to ask and common mistakes
Ask whether the quote is per brick, per m² or day rate, and whether it includes mortar and scaffolding. Common mistakes: bridging the cavity with mortar (causes damp), using the wrong brick match on an extension, and repointing with a harder mortar than the original (spalling).
- ☐Is the price per 1,000 bricks, per m² or a day rate?
- ☐Does it include mortar, lintels and scaffolding?
- ☐Can you match the existing brick and mortar colour?
- ☐How will you keep the cavity clear of mortar droppings?
Frequently asked
Bricks or blocks?
Bricks for the outer leaf and appearance, blocks for the inner leaf and speed. A cavity wall combines both with insulation between.
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