Bricklayer prices: what affects the cost

How bricklayers price work

When people search for bricklayer prices they are usually trying to answer one of two questions: what does a bricklayer charge per day, and what will my particular job cost? The two are related but not the same. Some small jobs are priced as day work, where you pay for the time spent plus materials. Most defined jobs, such as a garden wall, a chimney repair or the brickwork on an extension, are priced as a fixed quote for the whole job.

A fixed job price is usually easier to budget for, because the bricklayer carries the risk of the work taking longer than expected. Day work suits jobs where the extent is hard to know until you start, such as investigating a damp patch or small repairs dotted around a house. This guide explains what drives either kind of price. It does not give figures, because any number without seeing the work would be a guess.

Bricklayer cost per day: what it covers

A day rate is not just the bricklayer's time. On most jobs a bricklayer works with a labourer who mixes mortar, moves bricks and keeps the work supplied, so you may see a rate for a bricklayer and labourer together. Ask whether the rate includes tools and equipment such as mixers, cutting saws and scaffold towers, and whether travel, parking or waste removal are charged separately.

Output per day varies far more than people expect. Plain, straight walling in a common bond goes up much faster than facework with lots of cuts, curves, piers, arches or decorative detailing. Repair work, where old bricks are carefully cut out one at a time, is slower again. That is why comparing day rates on their own tells you little about the final cost.

Materials

Bricks range from basic commons to handmade and reclaimed facing bricks, and the choice makes a real difference. Matching an older house can mean searching for a reclaimed brick or a close modern match. The bond affects quantities too: decorative bonds and double-skin garden walls use more bricks than a simple stretcher bond. Mortar, sand, cement or lime, wall ties, damp-proof course, copings and lintels all add to the materials list.

The job itself

The height and length of the work, the number of corners and openings, and whether foundations or footings are needed all affect price. A new garden wall needs a footing; a repair to an existing wall may need the old brickwork taken down carefully and cleaned for reuse. Structural work, such as openings needing a lintel or steel, may also need an engineer's design and Building Regulations sign-off.

Access, waste and weather

Brickwork that can be reached from the ground is quicker than work needing scaffolding. Narrow side passages and back gardens reached only through the house slow down the delivery of bricks and the removal of spoil. Skips and waste removal are a real cost, and so is protecting drives and lawns. Mortar should not be laid in frost or heavy rain, so winter jobs can take longer and may need covers.

Quality and finish

Good brickwork has consistent joints, level courses, plumb corners and a clean finish with no mortar smears on the face. That takes time, and the cheapest price often reflects corners being cut. Ask to see examples of a bricklayer's work, check what joint finish they plan to use and make sure the quote states the bricks, mortar and any footings included.

Comparing quotes

To compare quotes fairly, give every bricklayer the same description of the work, the same brick choice and the same drawings if there are any. Check whether each quote includes materials, footings, scaffolding, waste removal and cleaning down. Our guide to hiring a bricklaying contractor covers the questions worth asking.

We are local bricklayers based in Bidwell, Dunstable and offer free estimates after looking at the job. Our bricklaying service page explains the work we carry out.

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