Looking to hire bricklayers that will do the job professionally while working within the proper health and safety guidelines is a decision that any smart homeowner will choose to make. Hiring a local bricklayer makes sense as it is easier to coordinate logistically and thereby enable continuous work. Below are a few helpful pointers on how to hire a bricklayer near you.
Bricklayer Overview
While it is tempting to believe that you can do simple brickwork yourself, especially when it comes to small projects, it is always wiser to hire a professional bricklayer, as they understand structural and design elements. They also handle essential work such as cutting bricks to size, mixing mortar, waterproofing and ensuring that the necessary access holes for utilities such as electricity, water and others are maintained according to the designs.
At its most fundamental bricklaying is setting the bones and stability for the entire structure of a building. The tradespeople who specialise in bricklaying has the training and know-how to ensure enduring strength and stability. When it comes to house building or renovation work then it is smarter to enlist a qualified bricklayer. You can possibly enlist other tradespeople for work on garden walls and such non-vital areas.
Other works handled by bricklayers include decorative stonework, chimney stacks, wall repairs, tunnel linings.
How to choose a bricklayer near you
For obvious reasons, local bricklayers are most ideal when dealing with house building or renovations. It makes the logistics simpler to handle and costs easier to maintain within budgets. First-hand recommendations are a great way to find local bricklayers. If, however, you cannot find any bricklayers on personal recommendations, you can use reliable and dedicated online platforms to find bricklaying services near you. These sites will also post first-hand reviews so that you can look for bricklayers that have high recommendations.
You can request a no obligations quote from multiple bricklayers which will help you make an informed decision. For instance, if you find a bricklayer that offers a significantly lower price, it may be an indicator that he/she wants to win the job but may catch up the cost through add-ons as the actual work progresses. Be very specific and accurate about the work involved and do not be afraid to question what the quote entails and if you will have to incur any additional costs later.
The typical cost for bricklayer jobs
Bricklayers usually charge either a per brick rate or an hourly rate. Larger jobs are usually charged on a per brick basis with the rate varying according to the type of brick being used and the complexity of the work involved. Again, logistics will play an important role on the cost factor, as will the availability of needed material. See which option you are more comfortable with, whether you prefer payment according to the days worked or the number of bricks laid. Paying for bricks laid will help avoid the worst-case scenario of paying a full day’s wage, for half a day’s work. As mentioned above, also beware of any tradespeople offering rates that are significantly below the normal rates.
A professional bricklayer will charge about £130 per day. If an assisting labourer is required, a further £90 per day will be added to the cost. Some bricklayers will charge an overall rate for every 1000 bricks laid, usually somewhere between £350 to £400.
Best questions to ask a bricklayer before hiring
Asking questions is the best way to ensure that you are hiring the correct person for the job. You are after all trusting this person with integral structural work and it will give you a basis on which to judge the approach each tradesperson takes towards a project. Some of the best questions to ask are about previous experiences on similar projects, asking for references and how they conduct a typical workday. It is also important to ensure that they do not take shortcuts or cut costs when handling a project as it could affect the structural integrity of the build. Further, find out about their actual qualifications and work experiences.
Checking qualifications
There are certifications for qualifying bricklayers such as Certificate III in Bricklaying and Blocklaying. Another way a bricklayer can qualify is through an apprenticeship. Make sure the bricklayer you are planning on hiring has a valid CSCS card that certifies him/her as qualified to do construction work and that they have the required safety and health knowledge to work according to regulation standards.
Hiring a local bricklayer for a home build or home improvements is a practical way to get the work done without too much hassle. As mentioned before, if personal recommendations are hard to come by, use dedicated sites to find highly recommended professional bricklayers to ensure that your required work gets done smoothly and professionally.
