Brickwork
Bricklaying, brickwork repairs and repointing
We are bricklayers working across the Bromley, Croydon and Lewisham boroughs on new brick construction, brick repairs and repointing. Much of it is external and domestic: piers, steps, planters, porches, outbuilding walls and making good after other trades.
Matching existing brickwork is the part customers care about most. Brick colour, bond, mortar mix and joint profile all have to line up, or a repair announces itself from the pavement.
Brickwork services
Typical domestic brickwork we take on includes:
- New brick construction — piers, planters, steps, porches and outbuildings
- Brickwork repairs where bricks have spalled, cracked or been damaged by impact
- Repointing failed or cement-hard mortar joints in a suitable mix
- Rebuilding brick chimneys stacks and parapets where safely accessible
- Cutting in air bricks, cills and openings, and making good
Repointing done properly
Bad repointing does more damage than none. Older solid-wall London properties were built with soft lime mortar so that the mortar, not the brick, takes the movement and moisture. Filling those joints with a hard cement mix traps water in the brick face, which then spalls in frost. We rake out to a proper depth and repoint in a mix suited to the wall, finishing the joint profile to match the original.
Matching brick and mortar
We source reclaimed or blended bricks to match yellow London stocks, red stocks and common facing bricks, and we mix mortar to match the existing colour rather than defaulting to grey. Weathering means a repair is rarely invisible on day one, but it should look right and blend within a season or two. If a genuine match is not achievable, we tell you before we start.
Options we install
Repointing
Raking out and repointing in a mix and profile that suit the wall.
Brick repairs
Cutting out and replacing spalled, cracked or damaged bricks.
Piers and pillars
New or rebuilt gate piers and structural piers with correct footings.
Steps and thresholds
Brick and stone steps rebuilt to safe, consistent riser heights.
Outbuildings and porches
Small-scale brick construction to match the main building.
How the job runs
- 1Free on-site estimateWe inspect the brickwork and identify the underlying cause, not just the symptom.
- 2Brick and mortar matchSamples agreed before we order.
- 3PreparationRaking out, cutting out or excavating footings as the job requires.
- 4BrickworkLaid to line, level and bond with consistent joints.
- 5FinishingJoints struck to match, brickwork brushed down and the site cleared.
Brickwork by area
Each area page covers the ground conditions, council rules and property types that actually affect brickwork there.
Brickwork guides
The detail behind the quote — materials, build-up, drainage, rules and maintenance.
Repointing brickwork: when it is needed and how it is done
How to tell when brickwork needs repointing, why cement mortar damages soft Victorian brick, and what a proper rake-out and repoint involves.
Matching existing brickwork
How new brickwork is matched to an existing wall: brick sourcing, bond, mortar colour and joint profile — and why the joint matters.
Brickwork — frequently asked questions
How do I know if my brickwork needs repointing?
Look for mortar that is recessed, crumbling, cracked or can be scraped out with a key, and for damp patches inside on that elevation. Small isolated areas can be patched; a whole elevation that has failed is usually better done in one go so the finish matches.
Can you match my existing bricks?
Usually. We match on colour, size, texture and bond, using reclaimed or blended bricks where needed, and mix the mortar to suit. Exact matches on weathered Victorian stock are not always possible and we will tell you that up front.
What causes bricks to crumble on the face?
Spalling is normally frost damage: water gets into the brick, freezes and blows the face off. It is often made worse by hard cement pointing or sealants that stop the wall drying out. The fix is to replace the damaged bricks and correct whatever is holding moisture in.
Do you do structural brickwork?
We take on domestic structural work such as piers, footings and openings where the design is straightforward or where a structural engineer's details are provided. For anything requiring calculations or building control sign-off, we work to the engineer's drawings.
Related services
Thinking about brickwork?
Free on-site estimate, written itemised quote, no pressure.