D.P.C. (Damp Proof Course) is needed in all walls. Brick veneer will require damp proof course 300mm to 350mm in width. Measure the plan lengths of walls and add together for total length.

Brick veneer walls = m x 350mm.
Garage and free standing walls = m x 110mm or 230m.

Garage walls will require D.P.C. (Damp Proof Course) the width of the wall 110mm to 230mm.

Veneer ties work out at approximately 5 per m2 of wall area.

The calculation you carried out to estimate number of bricks, i.e wall areas less openings = brickwork area.

Straps are usually built into walls or piers to hold down roof members.

The rafters on the brick veneer frame are fastened to the top plate so straps are not required in the brickwork.

Garage or car port walls are different and straps must be built into wall, normally at attached piers at least 14 courses down from top plate.

Equipment provided by bricklayer

Most bricklayers have a mixer as it makes the job of mixing mortar easier than by hand.

The bricklayer normally (but not always) includes the mixer as part of the cost of the job.

For your information, check with a hire firm for daily rates for mixers, you can then work out how much the mixer is worth to you each day.

Mixers are either driven by petrol or electricity. Usually you provide the electricity (if it is available) and the bricklayer provides the petrol.

More bricklayers now carry a bricksaw on their ute or trailer - extruded bricks are easier to cut with a bricksaw and produce no waste.

Some jobs require practically no cut bricks, but all jobs will require some. Bricksaw blades cost between $500.00 to $1000.00 to buy, so obviously if you want a quality job with good square cuts, you have to pay for cut bricks.

Again, try your local hire firm to get an idea of bricksaw hire daily rates. The bricklayer may charge per cut, or a fixed figure per day while the job is being carried out.

This should form part of the cost structure of your sub-contract with the bricklayer.

Every job requires scaffolding, so this will form part of the cost. Most bricklayers have single lift scaffold sufficient for single storey cottages.

A lot have scaffolding that enables them to construct two-storey work and this scaffold represents a sizeable investment which has to be maintained and replaced.

Some bricklayers only rent or hire scaffolding for each job and the cost is added to laying cost. Some use the builders scaffold and do not provide any themselves.

As you can see the scaffolding position is very fragmented, but again check with a local hire firm because you will need scaffolding at various stages, so it will be useful to know costs of hire.

Scaffolding generally is an on-cost to the bricklaying costs, so check with bricklayers. If prices for your work vary, one may include scaffolding costs, the other may not, but will charge you for scaffolding after the job is finished, or inform you to obtain scaffolding from the local hire firm.

The three items mentioned above should be discussed during the initial talks with your sub-contractors.

You need to know all the costs involved in selecting your bricklayer. The last thing you want is unknown extras which affect your budget.

Advice

Advice is usually easy to get, especially after the event. With brickwork, much of the appeal is the effect you create with the brick, mortar colour, joint finish and workmanship.

Mortar colour can be important as flush joints represent 18% of wall area, and mortar appearance can be quite pronounced. With recessed or raked joints it is slightly less, the shadow effect also reducing the effect of mortar colour.

The range of bricks available covers a variety of colours, surface finishes and sizes. Any wall shape or architectural feature can be easily formed in brickwork, only requiring the necessary skills and knowledge by the bricklayer.

Manufacturers are happy to advise customers on the use and availability of bricks. Different grades of bricks are produced for various applications; exposure grade, general purpose, above D.P.C. and internal. Bricks are rigorously tested to determine the gradings - exposure grade being the most durable.

Cleaning of brickwork should only be carried out with care, as a great deal of harm can be done to good work by an inexperienced or untrained brickcleaner with high pressure equipment.