Bricklayers Lee-on-the-Solent

If you're thinking of getting bricks laid you shouldn't try and get things done on a shoestring, because you need it done competently. Even though it is sometimes entirely possible to get a decent brickwork job completed in Lee-on-the-Solent by a handyman type person, it's usually best to use the services of someone who is a seasoned bricklayer who can be relied on. Doing it this way you can be assured that the work will be top notch.

There are additional reasons why it's not a wise idea to use a novice or untrained bricklayer for your upcoming brickwork project. It is not just a case of laying the bricks but also of understanding the whole set of variables that relate to the process. A couple of examples of this could be that a specialist will know about the importance of ventilation, airtightness and the thermal attributes of particular components, will be aware of the currently available materials, and which of these are best suited to any specific job, and will take note of waterproofing, environmental considerations, and humidity regulation.

The average rookie "bricklayer" will likely churn out sub-standard brickwork that's not what you want, since he/she won't understand about all these details. Where when it comes to a seasoned tradesperson, he or she will automatically understand the right way to perform any particular bricklaying job, and will automatically allow for all situations and circumstances that occur. You will need a person you're able to trust to do this kind of work and bringing in just any cowboy is never sensible. Pay a decent price and employ a skilled tradesman and you'll not be sorry in the end.

Competent bricklayers in Lee-on-the-Solent won't only be specifically trained to do the job correctly and safely, but they'll also have the knowledge of up to date construction techniques, have all of the right tools and equipment, and be familiar with the relevant work-related safety and health conditions to ensure that all work is done safely and properly.

Professional Lee-on-the-Solent bricklayers will probably have completed rigorous training to reach their current level. This may possibly have included commencing as an apprentice bricklayer, gaining day to day experience on site, going to a local college on day release, and ultimately sitting exams to gain the required qualifications (NVQ's or City & Guilds). Prior to any work commencing they will call at your house to appraise precisely what is needed, give you peace of mind by offering guarantees for all work carried out, show you photos of work they have previously completed, and provide you with costings for the work discussed.

When you are trying to find a local Lee-on-the-Solent bricklayer, it should be seen as an additional bonus if you're able to find one who is associated with a relevant professional body, such as the Federation of Master Builders, the Fair Trade Association, the British Standard Institution (BSI), the National Federation of Builders (NFB) or the Guild of Builders and Contractors. Having such an affiliation should confirm your confidence in your choice of bricklayer, and prove that they do have the necessary qualifications and experience. It also provides you with somebody to complain to, should things don't go to plan.

Stonemasonry

Whilst being on a par with bricklaying in many ways, stonemasonry entails the laying and shaping of natural stones instead of man-made ones. Stonemasonry as a profession has been practiced for 100's of years and stonemasons in Lee-on-the-Solent principally concentrate on the restoration, reparation and preservation of churches, bridges, buildings and monuments which are made from natural stone. If you've got a home which needs renovation or repair work and it's made from stone rather than brick, you will want to speak to a stonemason in Lee-on-the-Solent, and maybe not a bricklayer. There aren't actually any official there are not any official qualifications required to enter the trade. needed to get into the trade, even though stonemasonry is an incredibly skilled occupation. The required skills are normally mastered on the job and you'll find two types of stonemason doing this work of this sort; fixer stonemasons and banker stonemasons. Fixer stonemasons work on-site while banker stonemasons are based in a workshop. (Tags: Stonework Lee-on-the-Solent, Stonemasonry Lee-on-the-Solent, Stonemasons Lee-on-the-Solent)

Chimney Maintenance Lee-on-the-Solent

Considering the fact that your chimney stack is at the mercy of various different weather situations and can easily get damaged or become unstable, it is actually advisable to keep a close eye on its condition. Keeping on top of this situation will allow you to avoid the need for expensive reconstruction further down the line. Maintenance chores that frequently need doing on chimney stacks include things like; bricking up unused chimneys and flues, securing or replacing chimney pots and gas cowls, the repointing of mortar joints, or flashing repairs. All of these things can be achieved by your helpful local bricklayer. (Tags: Chimney Maintenance Lee-on-the-Solent, Chimney Repair Lee-on-the-Solent, Chimney Renovation Lee-on-the-Solent)

Lee-on-the-Solent Bricklayer Apprenticeships

Numerous individuals in Lee-on-the-Solent decide to persue bricklaying as their career and for the younger generation the preferred route into such a profession is to gain an apprenticeship. Those that are not able to get an apprenticeship are still able to learn bricklaying by signing up for a college course such as City & Guilds Introduction to Bricklaying and Plastering Entry Level, City & Guilds Diploma in Bricklaying Level 2, CSkills Building Craft Occupations Level 1, City & Guilds Diploma in Brickwork Level 3, NVQ Diploma in Trowel Occupations and City & Guilds Bricklaying Diploma Level 1. Another possibility which takes 2 years and entails on-the-job training and attending college, is an intermediate bricklaying apprenticeship. You can also start as a labourer on-site and attend college during the evenings.

Bricklaying Courses Lee-on-the-Solent

There are often courses accessible in local colleges and through private training classes in the Lee-on-the-Solent area, for anybody who would love to master a new skill. There may very well be some travelling required since there aren't always bricklaying courses that are available locally. To provide an example, a basic City & Guilds Bricklaying Course (Level 1) could be accomplished in an intensive three week course whereby you will master • Building cavity walls in brick and block, • Construction of brick walling (English bond), • Health and Safety in construction, • Constructing a half-brick corner, or you can sign up for evening classes which would obviously take longer than 3 weeks. An outlay of roughly £1500 will likely be required to procure a course like this.

Raised Brickwork Ponds Lee-on-the-Solent

An unusual project that Lee-on-the-Solent bricklayers are sometimes asked to do, is the construction of a brick garden pond. This would normally be in the form of a raised brick or stone wall lined with a pond liner, which eliminates the need for digging a hole, and can be accomplished with much less disturbance and mess.

Lee-on-the-Solent gardens boasting raised brick ponds with stone cappings can be very beautiful, and will undoubtedly turn the heads of anyone passing by. No one would argue the fact that a pond can give you a great amount of pleasure, even though it will need a bit of looking after, and by adding a fountain or waterfall you can get pleasure from the calming effect of running water while chilling in your garden.

When thinking about a design for your raised brick pond in Lee-on-the-Solent, you can actually have more or less any shape you want, although most of the ponds that you will notice in people's gardens are fairly regular in shape. Therefore, be imaginative and have a conversation with the bricklayer to see what is possible.

If you are looking to have a brick or stone pond installed on your property, it is better to use a craftsman with experience in this field, so ask to see evidence that they have done this sort of work before.

Mortar Joints

Among the various types of mortar joint that are used in stonemasonry and brickwork, the most common ones are the vee joint, the bucket handle joint (or concave), the extruded joint, the recessed joint, the flush joint, the gravevine joint, the beaded joint and the weather struck joint. In the UK the most commonly used is the concave (or bucket handle joint in which the joint face is compacted by means of a concave jointing tool to produce the most robust profile.

Brickwork Arches Lee-on-the-Solent

Employed for both architectural and cosmetic reasons, brick archways have been used in building construction for many hundreds of years. There are a number of different types of brick arch, such as Venetian, segmental, Roman, horseshoe, jack, gothic, multicentred, semicircular, bullseye, tudor and others. It will be necessary to hire a highly competent bricklayer if you are hoping to include brick arches in your project, so always make sure that whichever bricklayer you hire knows exactly what he is doing, and has previous experience of the sort of arch that you need.

For brick-effect which are much simpler to install, but still look like the real thing, it's now possible to buy ready-prepared kits, or pre-formed arch units. Brick arches come as loose cut packs, structural kits or pre-formed units providing the desired effect, but with substantially less work involved. With the pre-formed units, real brick slips (22mm or 25mm) are attached to concrete lintels or light backing blocks to create an instant arch. Pre-formed arches can be made to suit any size of structural opening and in an assortment of thicknesses.

Garden Walls

The addition of a brick garden wall can improve the visual appeal of your outdoor space while also serving as a practical property boundary. The efficacy of your project rests entirely on the capabilities of the professional you enlist. Follow these tips to identify the most suitable professional for your project:

• Before hiring, confirm that the candidate has obtained all necessary licenses, insurance cover and certficiations.
• To compare quotes effectively, request a detailed, written quote from each bricklayer. Comparing quotes will assist you in determining the best value for your money.
• Don't settle for a mediocre candidate; instead, take your time and research to find the best person for the job.
• Evaluating their previous work can help you determine if they have experience working on similar projects and assess the quality of their craftsmanship.
• Choose a bricklayer who is punctual, reliable, and takes pride in their work.
• Ask for recommendations from those in your network who have recently completed similar projects.
• Have the professional visit your property to assess the site and provide an accurate quote.

The decision to choose the right tradesperson to construct your brick garden wall is crucial. Consider their reputation, experience, and portfolio of previous work. It's essential to ask questions and negotiate terms to ensure you are satisfied with the service.

Brick Cleaning Lee-on-the-Solent

Before you begin cleaning your brick walls in Lee-on-the-Solent, make sure that you're using the right cleaning solution. Muriatic acid can cause severe damage to brickwork, and must be used cautiously. Always follow the manufacturer's instructions 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're not sure about the best way to clean brick walls, speak to a professional.

Before starting, ensure that you have gloves, goggles and other safety equipment. A boric acid cleaner can be applied using a sponge or brush. After you have mixed the acid cleaner, you should thoroughly rinse the bricks with water. Don't allow the solution sit on the bricks for too long, and scrub them with small, circular motions until the brickwork is clean.

The use of a bleach mixture is another efficient technique for cleaning brick. This solution will remove any moss, mould and mildew that has built up on your brickwork. Any hard-to-reach areas can be cleaned with a sponge. A natural-bristle brush could also be used to remove the obstinate stains.

Whilst you can use a standard garden hose and spray nozzle to clean the outside of the brickwork, you should avoid applying a bleach solution to areas that get little to no sunlight. Mould and moss 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 for cleaning the brick. Wire brushes can leave scuffs and scratches behind that can damage the brick and leave unsightly marks. If in doubt always get advice from an experienced bricklayer.

Ashlar Walling Lee-on-the-Solent

Identifiable by their smooth, even faces and clean, square edges, Ashlar blocks can be utilized to create a convincing looking stone wall at a fraction of the cost of a traditional quarried stone wall. Ashlar blocks can look virtually seamless because the joints can be as small as 3mm. Aslar walling is just the ticket for use on renovation projects in Lee-on-the-Solent and can be made in any colour needed. Consequently, there are two major advantages to the use of Ashlar walling; the final result tends to be more precise than if it was done with quarried stone, and the overall project can be accomplished at a much more reasonable cost.

Block Paving Lee-on-the-Solent

An additional service that is often offered by bricklayers in Lee-on-the-Solent is block paving for driveways, paths and patios. This kind of service will also be offered by a number of landscapers and gardeners, but you should usually expect that a bricklayer will do a better job with a greater understanding of materials and construction, and organized approach to their work.

It's crucial to lay down a subbase of no less than 100mm, and a layer of sharp sand of at least 50mm depth, with both needing to be rigorously compacted using a plate compactor. When the blocks are laid, paving brushing sand has to be brushed well into the joints. The entire thing ought to be treated with a high quality sealer after the blockwork has been allowed to settle down for three or four months.

This preparation should result in an area of paving that will endure for many years.

Coming Next:

Bricking-up doorways - article 132.

Bricklaying Tasks Lee-on-the-Solent

Lee-on-the-Solent bricklayers can usually help you with brick repointing, Ashlar walling, conservatory bases, architectural bricklaying, glass blockwork Lee-on-the-Solent, brick buttresses, brick exterior walls, brickwork boundary walls, chimney breast removal, brick chimneys, damaged brickwork replacement, brick bay windows, garage conversions Lee-on-the-Solent, RSJ installation in Lee-on-the-Solent, brick fireplaces, brick and flint walls, brick arches, brick steps, bricking-up doorways, domestic bricklaying, brick barbecues, curved brick walls in Lee-on-the-Solent, Flemish bond brickwork Lee-on-the-Solent, brick cornices, brick corners, concrete blockwork, brick pedestals, brick piers, brickwork ponds in Lee-on-the-Solent, brick cleaning, installing cavity trays, structural alterations, brick walkways, herringbone brickwork in Lee-on-the-Solent, brick fence pillars and other bricklaying tasks in Lee-on-the-Solent, Hampshire. These are just an example of the tasks that are carried out by bricklayers. Lee-on-the-Solent companies will keep you informed about their full range of services.

Bricklayers Near Lee-on-the-Solent

Also find: Rowner bricklayers, Hardway bricklayers, Knowle bricklayers, Hill Head bricklayers, Titchfield bricklayers, Bridgemary bricklayers, Elson bricklayers, Browndown bricklayers, Brockhurst bricklayers, Alverstoke bricklayers and more. All these locations are served by local bricklayers. Lee-on-the-Solent householders can get tree surgery estimates by clicking here.

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