G.C Bricklaying & Building services LTD

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A throwback to this one, but this time from the outside angle too. This was an old external kitchen door that had stoppe...
26/08/2026

A throwback to this one, but this time from the outside angle too.

This was an old external kitchen door that had stopped earning its keep, so we closed the opening up for good.

➡️ Outside, the new brickwork gets toothed into the existing wall so it's properly tied in rather than just sat against it, with insulation going in behind and the right brick used below the damp course to keep moisture doing what it should.

➡️ Inside, the same opening gets filled and blocked up ready for finishing, so the room stays solid and draught free from every angle.

Once it's all rendered and settled in, you'd struggle to tell a door was ever there 👌

Got an old opening in your home that's not doing much for you anymore? We'd love to help sort it.

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Not all brick walls are laid the same way, and once you notice the difference you'll start spotting it everywhere.Most m...
23/08/2026

Not all brick walls are laid the same way, and once you notice the difference you'll start spotting it everywhere.

Most modern homes use stretcher bond, bricks laid lengthways in simple overlapping rows. It's quick and cost effective, which is why it became standard for cavity walls once the outer leaf only needed to be half a brick thick. Older and more decorative properties often use Flemish bond instead, alternating long and short faces in the same row for that distinctive chequered look you see on a lot of Georgian buildings.

➡️ On older solid walls, the bond genuinely mattered for strength. On a modern cavity wall it's mostly down to looks, since the structural work happens on the inner leaf. Still takes a sharper eye to lay Flemish bond properly though.

Next time you're walking past a brick wall, have a proper look 👀

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Short answer, you really shouldn't.❌It's tempting to just smear fresh mortar over the top of old, especially if it looks...
20/08/2026

Short answer, you really shouldn't.❌

It's tempting to just smear fresh mortar over the top of old, especially if it looks fine on the surface.

➡️ The trouble is new mortar needs something to actually key into, and a thin skim over old crumbling joints has nothing solid to hold onto. Give it a year or two and it starts lifting away again, sometimes worse than before because now there's two failing layers instead of one.

✅ Proper repointing means raking the old mortar out to a decent depth first, usually two to two and a half times the joint width, then filling back in properly so the new mortar bonds with the brick itself rather than just sitting on top of something already falling apart.

It takes longer and it's more effort, but it's the difference between a repair that lasts decades and one you're doing again in a few years.

Seen quotes that skip this bit? Worth asking why before you agree to anything.

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Chris put in a new doorstep for this client and replaced some missing mortar nearby while he was at it, using proper wea...
16/08/2026

Chris put in a new doorstep for this client and replaced some missing mortar nearby while he was at it, using proper weatherproof materials so it's built to last rather than just look tidy for a season. Details like that are easy to skip but they're usually what makes the difference years down the line.

Always good to know the work's holding up and being noticed 🙏

Got a step or bit of brickwork that needs sorting before winter creeps in?
Get in touch and we'll take a look.

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Half the job's done before a single brick goes down.People tend to picture bricklaying as just stacking bricks in a line...
14/08/2026

Half the job's done before a single brick goes down.

People tend to picture bricklaying as just stacking bricks in a line, but the bit that actually determines how good the finished wall looks happens beforehand. Getting the site level, checking the bricks are the right batch and colour, mixing mortar to the right consistency, working out the coursing so everything lines up neatly by the time you reach the top.

Skip or rush any of that prep and it tends to show later, even if the first few courses look fine on day one. It's not the glamorous part of the job and it rarely gets talked about, but it's genuinely where most of the skill lives.

Next time you walk past a wall going up, spare a thought for the bit you didn't see happen before it 😄

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If you've had new brickwork done recently and noticed a chalky white film appearing on the surface, don't panic, it's al...
09/08/2026

If you've had new brickwork done recently and noticed a chalky white film appearing on the surface, don't panic, it's almost certainly efflorescence rather than anything gone wrong.

➡️ It happens when moisture inside the brick or mortar evaporates and leaves salt deposits behind on the surface as it dries out. Completely normal on new work, especially after a spell of warm weather followed by rain, which sums up most British summers rather well.

➡️ The good news is it's temporary in the vast majority of cases. A dry brush and a bit of patience usually sorts it, and it tends to fade on its own within the first year or two as the brickwork fully cures. Where it's worth keeping an eye on is if it keeps returning heavily in the same spot, which can point to a moisture source that needs looking into.

Had this on your own new brickwork and not sure if it's normal? Send us a photo and we'll take a look.📸

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Why do old boundary walls start crumbling in the first place? Old garden and boundary walls don't just fall apart for no...
31/07/2026

Why do old boundary walls start crumbling in the first place?

Old garden and boundary walls don't just fall apart for no reason, there's usually a clear cause ⬇️

Most older walls were built with lime mortar rather than cement, which is actually a good thing when it's maintained properly. Lime is soft and flexible, letting the wall move slightly and moisture escape rather than getting trapped.

➡️ The problem starts when that mortar wears thin over the decades. Once it fails, water gets into the bricks themselves, and repeated freezing and thawing causes the brick faces to crack and flake away.

Fixing it properly isn't just a case of slapping fresh mortar over the top. Damaged bricks need cutting out individually and replacing, and any repointing has to use a lime mix that matches what's already there. Use the wrong mortar and you're often storing up the exact same problem for a few years down the line.

It's one of the more satisfying repairs we do because the wall genuinely gets a second life rather than needing to come down entirely.

Wondering whether your own wall needs this kind of attention? Feel free to ask.

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Gave this old boundary wall in Hatfield a second life 🌿The bricks and mortar had taken a real battering over the years, ...
28/07/2026

Gave this old boundary wall in Hatfield a second life 🌿

The bricks and mortar had taken a real battering over the years, cracked, crumbling and letting damp creep in where it shouldn't. Because it's a lime mortar wall we couldn't just patch it with anything to hand, lime needs matching carefully or it starts causing problems all over again.

We cut out the damaged bricks one by one, replaced what needed replacing and repointed the whole wall from top to bottom. What was looking pretty tired now stands strong and looks the part again, hopefully for a good few decades yet.

Always a good feeling bringing an older wall back rather than watching it get torn down and started from scratch.

Got a boundary wall on its last legs? Worth getting it looked at before it gets any worse. 👋🏼

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Choosing the right bricklayer isn’t just about finding the cheapest quote.❌In the UK, there isn’t a general licence requ...
25/07/2026

Choosing the right bricklayer isn’t just about finding the cheapest quote.❌

In the UK, there isn’t a general licence required to work as a bricklayer, so it’s always worth checking experience, previous projects and the quality of someone’s work before starting your build.

Before agreeing to anything, ask to see recent examples of their work. Ideally, look for projects similar to yours and don’t be afraid to ask questions.👋🏼

Make sure you understand exactly what’s included in the quote too. A clear breakdown of labour, materials and any potential extras helps avoid surprises later on.

And don’t forget to ask about insurance. A professional tradesperson should always be happy to provide details.📝

Taking a little extra time at the start can make a huge difference to the finished result.
Planning a brickwork project? Get in touch with the team at G.C Bricklaying.

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There's something satisfying about a job that just makes a room work better 🙂This kitchen had an old external door that ...
22/07/2026

There's something satisfying about a job that just makes a room work better 🙂

This kitchen had an old external door that had stopped being useful years ago, mostly just letting in cold air and eating into wall space that could be put to better use. Rather than patch around it, we closed the opening up completely and made it part of the wall again.

It's not a flashy transformation and it doesn't need to be. Sometimes the best result is a room that simply feels warmer and a bit more practical than it did before.

If there's a door or opening in your home that's stopped earning its keep, we'd be happy to talk through the options.

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Cambridge

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+447375359035

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