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Freshly laid red facing brick wall with mortar joints, trowel and spirit level on top course | bricklaying in King's Lynn by Humphries Construction
Bricklaying · West Norfolk

Bricklayerin King's LynnCavity walls, garden walls, piers and brick matching

Bricklaying is a trade you notice when it's wrong, bowing courses, inconsistent joints, mismatched mortar, weep vents in the wrong place. We build brickwork to gauge, on plumb, with clean pointing that stays true through frost and rain.

£1M public liability insured Free site survey within 7 days Owner-managed by Jason, 25+ years on the tools
25+
Years experience
£1M
Public liability
7 days
To free survey
3 days
Written quote*
Fixed
Written pricing
Service overview

What's involved,
explained plainly.

What it is

Bricklaying and blockwork covers everything from the DPC-level brickwork on an extension shell, to a full cavity wall, chimney rebuild, boundary wall, gate pier or matching-in of a new opening to an existing elevation. The trade includes cutting, jointing, cavity detailing, insulation setting, cavity trays and pointing.

Who it's for

Homeowners planning an extension, garden wall or repair work, developers needing cavity-wall shell packages on new builds, and anyone who needs a repair or match-in on existing brickwork done well enough that the join disappears.

When you need it

Once foundations and DPC are in on new work, or as soon as you're planning a repair, boundary wall, chimney rebuild, or infill on an old opening.

Why professional help matters

Brickwork is permanent and visible. Sloppy work stays visible for the life of the wall. Mortar mixed wrong, cavity trays missed, wall ties badly spaced or insulation compressed, none of it can be fixed later without pulling the wall down. Getting it right first time is the only sensible approach.

Ignore it and…

The cost of
getting it wrong.

The two most common bricklaying complaints on West Norfolk properties are 'the new work doesn't match' and 'the wall is bowing/cracking'. Both are avoidable, but only with a bricklayer who understands both the aesthetics and the structural rules of the trade.

Cavity trays missed

Missed or badly-formed cavity trays over openings mean water tracks down the inside of the cavity and shows as damp on the internal wall within a couple of years.

Wall ties wrong spacing

Under-spaced wall ties cause the inner and outer skins of the cavity to move independently, you get cracking, bulging and, over time, structural concern.

Efflorescence and staining

Wrong mortar mix, poor weather protection during build, or protected weather removed too early, you get white salt staining that's hard to remove and a wall that looks tired from day one.

Mismatched brick and mortar

Poor brick selection or wrong mortar colour on a match-in job draws the eye straight to the join. Once built, only a total rebuild fixes it.

Common mistakes we see
  • Using the wrong mortar mix strength for the brick and exposure
  • Missing weep vents above every cavity tray
  • Compressing cavity insulation with badly-set wall ties
  • Building through frost without protection
  • Not tinting mortar to match the existing wall on a repair
  • Skipping expansion joints on long walls
Our process

A predictable path
from enquiry to handover.

Talk to Jason
  1. 01

    Free survey & sample

    the owner looks at the job, takes a brick sample where matching is required, and discusses mortar colour, jointing style and course lines.

  2. 02

    Fixed written quote

    Itemised quote in 3 working days, brick supply and delivery, mortar, insulation, cavity detailing, ties, weep vents and pointing all listed.

  3. 03

    Materials & set-up

    Bricks ordered from a local merchant, mortar mixed on site to the right strength and colour, scaffold set (where required) and mixer plumbed in.

  4. 04

    Build to gauge

    Brickwork built to gauge on plumb, courses run true, cavity trays formed correctly, ties bedded at the right spacing, insulation set without compression.

  5. 05

    Point & hand over

    Joints struck and pointed to the agreed profile, wall protected in adverse weather, site swept, workmanship guarantee confirmed in writing.

Benefits

What you actually get
for your money.

Courses true and level

Brickwork built to gauge with a spirit level in constant use, no drifting course lines or wavy top edges.

Correct cavity detailing

Cavity trays, weep vents, insulation and wall ties all installed properly, the details that decide whether the wall stays dry.

Mortar tinted to match

On repair and match-in work, mortar mixed and tinted to blend with the existing wall so the join disappears.

Weather-safe building

Frost protection, weather covers and rescheduling when the weather demands it, no mortar going down that won't set properly.

Clean pointing

Joints struck and finished to the agreed profile, flush, weather-struck, bucket-handle or recessed, consistent across the whole wall.

One accountable trade

The same bricklayer prices, orders and lays every course. If a question comes up, one person owns the answer.

In detail

Materials, methods
and the situations we cover.

Cavity walls on extensions and new builds

Cavity wall construction is standard for residential extensions and new builds, an outer facing skin, insulation, a cavity, and an inner block skin. Correct wall tie spacing, cavity tray installation, DPC continuity and insulation continuity are what make the wall perform.

  • Facing brick outer skin to match specified brick
  • Full-fill or partial-fill cavity insulation to Part L
  • Wall ties at correct centres per NHBC/regs
  • Cavity trays and weep vents over every opening

Brick matching and repair

Matching new work to old is part science, part judgement. We source bricks from local reclamation yards or match through merchants, mix mortar to the existing colour and strength, and build in a way that respects the original bond and course lines.

  • Brick matching from local merchants and reclamation yards
  • Mortar tinted with pigments to match existing
  • Bond respected, Flemish, English or stretcher as existing
  • Weathering and staining considered before finalising match

Garden walls, piers and boundary work

Garden walls, gate piers and boundary walls need proper foundations, correct pier reinforcement, expansion joints on long runs and a suitable coping to shed water. We build to spec, not as an afterthought.

  • Strip footings to correct depth
  • Piers reinforced where wall height requires it
  • Expansion joints on long walls
  • Coping stones or brick-on-edge tops bedded on DPC

Chimney and specialist repair

Chimney rebuilds, repointing, flaunching and lead flashing at the roof abutment are specialist work. Access is via scaffold, and materials have to suit exposure, chimneys take more weather than any other part of the building.

  • Chimney rebuilds above roof line
  • Repointing in appropriate mortar for age of building
  • Flaunching to chimney tops
  • Lead flashing coordinated with roofer
FAQ

The questions
homeowners actually ask.

Straight answers on cost, timelines, guarantees and how the job runs. If yours isn't here, call Jason on 07880 333321.

How much does bricklaying cost in King's Lynn?
Bricklaying is normally priced per thousand bricks laid plus materials, or as a fixed price for defined works (garden wall, extension shell, chimney). Rather than guessing, we survey free and returns a written itemised quote within 3 working days.
Can you match my existing brickwork?
In almost every case, yes. We take a sample, source through local merchants and reclamation yards, and tint mortar to match. A perfect match on very old weathered brick is impossible, but a sympathetic match that reads as one wall is the standard we aim for.
How long does an extension shell take?
A single-storey extension shell of typical size is usually 2–3 weeks of brickwork from DPC to wall plate, subject to weather and scaffold. Larger and double-storey shells run longer, your quote will include a target programme.
Do you build in winter?
We build all year, but we don't lay bricks in freezing conditions without proper frost protection, and mortar going down in wet weather is covered. If the weather won't allow safe building, we reschedule rather than lay work that will fail.
What guarantee do I get?
Written workmanship guarantee on all brickwork, backed by our £1M public liability insurance. Bricklaying that forms part of an extension is also covered under our 10-year structural warranty.
Can you build a garden wall or boundary wall?
Yes. Garden walls, gate piers, boundary walls and small retaining walls are regular work. We build on proper foundations, with the right coping and expansion joints.
Do you rebuild chimneys?
Yes, chimney rebuilds above the roof line, repointing, flaunching and coordinating lead flashing with a roofer are all part of what we do. Scaffold is included where required.
Do you supply the bricks or do I?
Either. Most clients let us supply bricks through our local trade accounts (which is usually cheaper and coordinates delivery with the programme). If you've already sourced bricks or have reclaims, we're happy to lay client-supplied materials.
How quickly can you start?
Free survey within 7 days, written quote within 3 working days, and typical start on site 4–8 weeks from contract signing depending on the season and workload.
Next step

Brickwork built to gauge, matched to your existing wall, guaranteed in writing.

Free site survey within 7 days. Written, itemised quote within 3 working days. Owner-managed by Jason personally, no call centre, no middlemen.

Related services

Works well with

ExtensionsFoundations & FootingsGeneral BuildingGarage ConversionsNot sure which service you need? Ask Jason.
Call Jason Free Quote