Bricklayers Greenwich

When you're implementing building tasks around the house and garden in Greenwich never be be lured by the temptation to cut any corners and imagine that bricklaying is a simple and straightforward process, which can be done on the cheap. The truth is that there are lots of nuances and tricks of the trade which must be mastered by any novice "bricklayer" before considering tackling even a modest brickwork task like a garden wall for example.

There are numerous other reasons to emphasise why it is generally not a good idea to hire a novice or untrained bricklayer for your brickwork assignment. It is not just a case of getting the bricks laid but also of understanding each of the variables that go along with the process. A couple of examples of this could be that an expert will understand the significance of airtightness, ventilation and the thermal properties of particular materials, will be aware of all of the available materials, and which of those would be best suited to any job, and will pay attention to humidity regulation, environmental considerations, and waterproofing.

Because he/she will likely not know about all of these points, a typical novice bricklayer in Greenwich is likely to turn out inferior brickwork that is not suitable for its purpose at all. A trained tradesperson will automatically allow for all circumstances and will not even need to spare a thought for just what's the right way to accomplish any individual bricklaying task. You need someone you're able to trust to do this kind of job and choosing any old "cowboy" bricklayer is never a good plan. When the chips are down you'll not be sorry that you used an experienced bricklayer, provided that you are able to pay a mutually acceptable price to employ them.

You'll soon find that qualified bricklayers in Greenwich will have gone through all the required training to complete your brickwork in the proper way with regard to any relevant health and safety laws and should possess all the necessary tools and equipment required for the process. This means you can sit by and watch your bricklaying project comes together, with no reason to panic.

Experienced Greenwich bricklayers will have gone through intense training to get where they are today. This may have included starting as apprentice bricklayers, gaining day to day experience on site, attending a local college on day release, and finally taking exams to achieve the necessary qualifications (NVQ's or City & Guilds). Prior to any work commencing they'll visit your house to evaluate just what is involved, get back to you with an estimate for what has been discussed, set your mind at rest by providing guarantees for all work undertaken, and provide photographs of work previously accomplished.

To create the foundation and structure of buildings in construction, bricklayers play an essential role. A sharp eye for detail and the capacity to accurately follow architectural plans and blueprints are necessary traits for bricklayers. Stamina, physical strength and dexterity are important attributes for bricklayers, given the physically demanding nature of the job.

Several steps constitute the process of bricklaying. Cleaning and levelling the surface where the bricks are going to be laid is the initial process for bricklayers to prepare the work area. Bricklayers must mix mortar, which is a combination of cement, sand and water, to ensure that the bricks stay in place. The laying and leveling of each brick by bricklayers, one by one, results in a straight and strong structure. Skill and precision are required of bricklayers to cut bricks to fit into confined spaces.

There are certain risks involved in the skilled trade of bricklaying. Chemicals and dust from the mortar, hazardous materials that bricklayers may be exposed to, can result in breathing problems. Working at heights on ladders or scaffolds puts bricklayers at risk of falls and injury. To reduce these risks, bricklayers must use protective gear, such as gloves, health and safety goggles and hard hats, and adhere to stringent safety regulations.

Try looking for membership of professional bodies like the Federation of Master Builders, the National Federation of Builders (NFB), the Fair Trade Association, the British Standard Institute and the Guild of Builders and Contractors. Should you have any concerns about a particular craftsman, whether it be in regard to his claimed experience and qualifications or his standard of workmanship, then you can contact the Guild of Builders and Contractors to see if there are actually any ongoing complaints against them. Taking these precautions should hopefully make certain you select the perfect Greenwich expert for your bricklaying project.

House Extensions

House extensions are one of the primary jobs that bricklayers are required to do. With the steady need to have extra room, the interest in property extensions is prevalent. The vast majority of the work required for a home extension, other than the floor and the roof, is carried out by a bricklayer. Your "brickie" may be working as an employee of a larger building firm or alone, subject to who exactly hire to do the job. When the foundations have been put in, the bricklayer will soon start work laying the blocks and bricks and creating windows and doorways as detailed on the plans. It's important that the bricklayer lays bricks which match up with those of the current house building, in doing this the completed new extension should appear as if part of the principal structure.

Brick and Flint Walls Greenwich

For your boundary or garden wall in Greenwich, an eye-popping alternative to a standard brick wall could be a brick and flint wall. Used since the times of the Romans for all forms of building projects, knapped flint is certainly worth thinking about if your heart is set on a wall in Greenwich that stands out from the crowd.

Brick and flint walls typically comprise a standard brick surround with knapped flint panels which add extra colour and character to the finished product. Naturally this sort of wall is more popular in regions where flint is plentiful, but can be built anywhere so long as a decent supply of flint can be found.

Not all Greenwich bricklayers will be trained in the construction of brick and flint walls, thus before employing a professional for this type of work, you should always ask if you can see evidence of walls they've previously built, because this is a fairly specialist craft. (Tags: Brick and Flint Walls Greenwich, Flint Walls Greenwich, Brick and Flint Boundary Walls Greenwich).

Brick Cleaning Greenwich

Before you begin cleaning your brick walls in Greenwich, ensure that you're using the correct cleaning solution. Muriatic acid can cause serious damage to bricks, and must be used with care. Always follow manufacturer directions for dilution ratios. Also, you should never use high-pressure washers or metallic brushes, as these can alter the look of the brick. If you aren't sure about how to clean brick walls, consult a professional Greenwich bricklayer.

Before starting, make certain that you have goggles, gloves and other safety equipment. A boric acid cleaner can be applied using a sponge or brush. After you've mixed the acid cleaner, you should thoroughly rinse the brickwork with water. Do not let the solution sit on the brickwork for too long, and scrub them with small, circular movements until the bricks are clean.

The use of a bleach mixture is another effective method for cleaning brick. A bleach solution will get rid of any moss, mildew and mould that has built up on the brick. Any hard-to-reach areas can be cleaned with a sponge. You can also use a natural-bristle brush to remove the obstinate staining.

Whilst you can use a standard garden hose and spray nozzle to clean the outside of the brick, you should avoid applying a bleach solution to areas that get hardly any sunlight. Moss and mould will be more likely to adhere to a brick surface if it hasn't been exposed to sunlight, so you should soak the brick before applying the bleach solution to it. It's also important to use a natural-bristle brush to clean the brickwork. Wire brushes can leave scuffs and scratches behind that can damage the brickwork and discolour it. If unsure always seek the help of a professional.

Brickwork Steps

So that visitors to your home in Greenwich get a good first impression, you can have a set of stylish brick steps installed. If you already have brickwork steps that have become worn and unsightly, you might be looking to remove and replace them, or if you don't already have steps you might want to install a whole new set. Whichever applies to you, you'll have to get in touch with a professional bricklayer in Greenwich to give you a price and tell you what materials are needed. Helping you with a design for your new brick steps, a decent bricklayer will also be able to advise on the best materials.

While brick steps come in a wide range of styles and designs, these may not all be suited to the project you have planned. You can discover what's possible by having a discussion with your bricklayer, and studying pictures of previously built steps, may help you to decide.

If you are competent at DIY and have some bricklaying experience, you could save a bit of cash by purchasing the materials and creating your own brickwork steps. Nonetheless, for the steps to be sturdy and safe, it's vital that the foundations and build are finished properly.

Block Paving Greenwich

Driveways, patios and garden paths are common applications for the highly sought-after block paving hardscaping. Blocks made of clay or concrete are arranged in eye-catching patterns to form an attractive and functional surface. The key to achieving a polished and enduring block paving surface lies in properly following a series of essential steps during installation.

Careful preparation of the area is crucial before laying block paving. The laying of a crushed stone sub-base requires the removal of any existing grass or paving and the levelling of the ground. A compacted sub-base provides the necessary solid foundation to support the blocks.

After the sub-base is in place, sand can be spread over the area and compacted. The bed for the blocks, which is provided by the foundation, helps to stop any movement or settling from taking place over time. The pattern is established by laying the blocks, taking care to leave spaces for the jointing material. The surface is made level by applying jointing material to fill the gaps between the blocks.

Re-compacting the surface once again is a necessary step after the blocks have been laid to ensure their proper placement and stability. Cleaning and sealing the surface protects it from the elements and improves its appearance.

Block paving can last for a fair few years and create a functional and visually appealing surface for exterior spaces with proper installation and maintenance. Due to its durability, versatility, and low maintenance, block paving is a widely chosen option for outside surfaces. A skilled bricklayer's input is necessary for the proper installation of block paving in Greenwich.

Mortar Joint Profiles

There are a number of distinct profiles for mortar joints used in stonemasonry and bricklaying, including the recessed joint, the flush joint, the weather struck joint, or the bucket handle joint (or concave), you might have heard of other ones (ie: vee, beaded, or extruded), but the first four are the most widely used ones. The most resilient profile of them all, and the one that is most favoured in the United Kingdom, is the concave (or bucket handle joint whereby the joint face is compressed using a concave jointing tool.

Brick Ponds

Some Greenwich bricklayers enjoy the challenge of designing something interesting, and one example of a project that may match that need is the installation of a brick garden pond. Perfect in situations where it's not possible or is inconvenient to dig a hole, and avoiding that kind of disruption and mess, this will typically be in the form of a raised brick wall lined with a pond liner.

A raised brick pond with a striking capping will surely catch the attention of your neighbours and friends, and can be an incredibly attractive feature for your garden in Greenwich. A pond can give you a great amount of enjoyment, however you need to bear in mind that ponds do require a certain amount of maintenance.

When looking at a design for your brickwork pond in Greenwich, you can have more or less any shape you can think of, even if many of the ponds that you'll notice in folk's gardens are fairly regular in shape. So, put together a unique idea that will be the envy of your friends, by putting your thinking cap on and having a chat with the bricklayer about all the possible options.

When having a raised brick fish pond built in your garden, you will be wanting use a local Greenwich bricklayer with a fair amount of experience in this area, so ask to see pictures of recent projects, and hire somebody who knows exactly what they are up to. Brick ponds can also be built in Welling, Southfields, Polthorne Estate, Vanbrugh Park, Maze Hill, Surrey Quays, Royal Arsenal, Isle of Dogs, Silvertown, Newlands, Lee, North Greenwich and in Greenwich, Greater London.

Brick BBQ's Greenwich

When we get hot summer evenings it's very nice to be able to spend a bit more time out in the open, and not surprisingly the frequent thinking for many homeowners in Greenwich, as soon as the weather is decent, is to get the barbie going. The probability is that when you uncover your old barbie you will find that it has somewhat deteriorated throughout the cold, wet winter months and is falling to bits and rusty. Does that sound familiar? Now, how much nicer would it be to own a solid brickwork BBQ simply sat there ready every summer whenever you feel the need to throw on a few burgers? Not surprisingly the cost factor could put a lot of folks off this notion, and clearly forking out for the materials and labour is not going to be cheap. On the upside, the weather conditions will have minimal impact on it, your sturdy brickwork structure will look terrific and give excellent service for many years to come, and whenever you want to have a barbie, it will be sat there. Brick BBQs can also be built in Welling, Southfields, Polthorne Estate, Vanbrugh Park, Maze Hill, Surrey Quays, Royal Arsenal, Isle of Dogs, Silvertown, Newlands, Lee, North Greenwich and in Greenwich itself.

Brick Parapets

Trained Greenwich bricklayers may also be able to assist with the building of stone or brick parapets, when needed. A parapet is a barrier that is an extension of the wall at the edge of a walkway, terrace, balcony, roof or other structure. Where extending above roof level, a parapet could just be the section of an outside wall which continues above the edge line of the roof surface, or could be an extension of an upright feature below the roof, for instance a fire wall or party wall. Nowadays parapets are mainly used as guard rails, to reduce wind loads on the roof, to conceal equipment on rooftops and to reduce the spread of fires, although in the past they were used to protect structures from military attack. (Tags: Brick and Stone Parapets Greenwich, Parapet Installation Greenwich, Parapets Greenwich, Brick Parapets Greenwich).

Repointing Greenwich

Whilst the majority of bricklayers in Greenwich are involved in laying new brickwork for new-builds, extensions and walls, others concentrate on repairing old and damaged brickwork, so as to bring it back to its former glory. Re-pointing is one of the chief ways in which they can accomplish this. A brick structure that's been subjected to the weather for years and years can quite easily end up damaged and worn, especially the mortar joints. Repointing is when such crumbling joints are chipped out and repaired with a new mortar mix. You'd be wise to employ a competent bricklayer rather than a handyman type person, when you've got repointing work that needs to be done in Greenwich. This isn't work that ought to be taken on lightly, since improperly repointed brickwork will look horrendous and is not simple to rectify if it isn't carried out correctly. (Tags: Brickwork Repointing Greenwich, Brick Repointing Greenwich, Pointing Greenwich, Repointing Greenwich).

Brick Buttresses

What is a buttress? A buttress is a structural feature that's built against or projecting perpendicular to a wall and serving to reinforce or support the wall. A buttress can be functional, decorative or both of those, but is essentially built for strengthening purposes.

For property owners in Greenwich with tall boundary walls, it may be necessary to build buttresses at some point, for added support. Over time, tall walls can start to lean or even topple over, as they suffer the continual effects of strong winds and ground movement. If you have walls which are plagued with such issues, your local Greenwich bricklayer will offer advice and guidance on the best way to proceed, and to support any walls that are at risk, will be glad to build you some solid brick buttresses.

Bricking up Doors and Windows in Greenwich

Construction and renovation projects often involve the bricking up of doors and windows when these openings are no longer desired or needed. To create a seamless wall surface, the process includes the careful removal of the existing frame followed by filling the space with bricks and mortar. Bricking up windows and doors requires the skills of a professional bricklayer who can ensure proper structural integrity and a visually appealing result. Better utilisation of space, improved energy efficiency, and enhanced security are the outcomes facilitated by this process. It is essential to engage with a competent bricklayer in Greenwich for a successful bricking up process.

Enhancing the building's overall functionality and aesthetics, bricking up doors and windows offers a practical solution for eliminating unneeded openings. Meticulous work by a professional bricklayer is involved in this procedure, ensuring the new wall surface integrates seamlessly with the existing structure, achieving an attractive and cohesive finish. (24608)

Bricklayers Near Greenwich

Also find: Maze Hill bricklayers, Southfields bricklayers, Polthorne Estate bricklayers, Silvertown bricklayers, North Greenwich bricklayers, Surrey Quays bricklayers, Lee bricklayers, Royal Arsenal bricklayers, Welling bricklayers, Isle of Dogs bricklayers, Vanbrugh Park bricklayers, Newlands bricklayers and more. Most of these localities are served by experienced bricklayers. Property owners in these areas can get bricklaying quotes by going here.

Bricklaying Tasks Greenwich

Greenwich bricklayers can usually help you with installing cavity trays, bricking-up doorways in Greenwich, brickwork steps, stonework in Greenwich, retaining walls, brick exterior walls, brick interior walls Greenwich, stonemasonry, brick porches, opening-up doorways, bricking-up windows, brickwork fence pillars Greenwich, brick and flint walls, brick parapets, brick cleaning, brick landscaping, serpentine walls, renovation work, brick raised beds, honeycomb sleeper walls in Greenwich, brick driveways, waterproofing brickwork, brick extensions, stone cladding, brickwork cornices, helical pillars, damaged brickwork renovation, curved brick walls Greenwich, brickwork paths, brick walls, Flemish bond brickwork, brickwork restoration Greenwich, raised brickwork ponds, flintwork, block paving and other bricklaying tasks in Greenwich, Greater London. These are just a few of the tasks that are conducted by bricklayers. Greenwich companies will be happy to tell you about their whole range of services.

More Greenwich Trades: Okay, so you are currently trying to find a bricklayer in Greenwich, but you might also require a stonemason in Greenwich, a plasterer in Greenwich, roof cleaning in Greenwich, a kitchen fitter in Greenwich, solar panel installation in Greenwich, a flooring specialist in Greenwich, SKIP HIRE in Greenwich, a handyman in Greenwich, a plumber in Greenwich, a metalworker in Greenwich, a decorator in Greenwich, a tiling specialist in Greenwich, a carpenter & joiner in Greenwich, a builder in Greenwich, an electrician in Greenwich, scaffolding in Greenwich, waste removal in Greenwich, a damp-proofer in Greenwich, during the course of any home improvement work in Greenwich, Greater London.

Blockwork Greenwich - Brickwork Greenwich - Bricklayer Greenwich - Stone Cladding Greenwich - Chimney Building Greenwich - Bricklayers Greenwich - Stonemasonry Work Greenwich - Block Paving Greenwich - Bricklaying Greenwich