• Home
  • DIY
    • Self build
    • Projects and advice
      • Bathroom
      • Building, brickwork and masonry
      • Ceilings
      • Cleaning
      • Concrete work
      • Damp, rot and infestation
      • Drains
      • Electrical
      • Fireplaces
      • Floors
      • Garden
      • Heating
      • Insulation
      • Kitchen
      • Lighting
      • Lofts
      • Painting and decorating
      • Plasterwork
      • Plumbing
      • Roof and guttering
      • Safety
      • Security
      • Tiling
      • Walls
      • Windows
      • Woodwork
    • Glossary
    • Know your tools
    • Know your materials
  • Cost guides
  • News
  • Community
Facebook Twitter Instagram
lets-do-diy.com
  • Home
  • DIY
    • Self build
    • Projects and advice
      • Bathroom
      • Building, brickwork and masonry
      • Ceilings
      • Cleaning
      • Concrete work
      • Damp, rot and infestation
      • Drains
      • Electrical
      • Fireplaces
      • Floors
      • Garden
      • Heating
      • Insulation
      • Kitchen
      • Lighting
      • Lofts
      • Painting and decorating
      • Plasterwork
      • Plumbing
      • Roof and guttering
      • Safety
      • Security
      • Tiling
      • Walls
      • Windows
      • Woodwork
    • Glossary
    • Know your tools
    • Know your materials
  • Cost guides
  • News
  • Community
lets-do-diy.com
You are at:Home»Projects and advice»Average cost of bricks

Average cost of bricks

Summary: How much do bricks cost, factors to consider when buying bricks and costs to consider when buying bricks.


Bricks, like most things in life there’s more to them than meets the eye. Bricks come in different makes, sizes and for a variety of purposes. But they are all made from clay as they have been for centuries. Clays used in brick manufacture are excavated from sites across the country and different clay beds give different hues. For example Suffolk bricks are a sandy red while London bricks can run to a rich shade of plum. Certain clays have come to characterise particular regions, such as the Staffordshire Blue brick, commonly found in the Home Counties. At the last count there were over a thousand types on the market at varying prices.

After it’s dug up and mixed with water to give the right consistency, the clay has to be shaped. Bricks are either pressed or cut by a mechanical wire before being sent to the kiln. You can tell them apart as pressed bricks have recessions called frogs on either side while wire-cut bricks have three or four holes through them.


Average Cost

JobAverage CostUpdatedQuote
Bricks (Per thousand) £250 – £450 (Per thousand) 2019n/a


Factors to consider

We can classify the finished product into three categories. Firstly there are ‘above ground’ bricks, also known as ‘facing brickwork’ as they are visible. ‘Below ground’ bricks differ from ‘above ground’ bricks in that they are suitable for damp proofing courses, as well as frost resistance. Increasingly popular are reclaimed bricks, in other words second-hand bricks from demolished buildings. These tend to be cheaper and have a traditional feel to them. Using reclaims can instantly age a new house to give character.

Are there any legal issues effecting brickwork? Yes, your property may be subject to planning laws. For example if your house is in a zoned conservation area you may have to match your brickwork to the rest of the street. Even if you live in an ordinary house on an ordinary street there are still legal considerations. This is where it can get complex. Take outbuildings for example. The laws states that they must be no higher than 4 metres with a ridged roof or 3 metres for a regular roof. They have to be situated 5 metres away from the main building otherwise they will be classified as an extension. They are not allowed to be nearer the road than the house itself. And of course you must have the owner’s consent. If you have any concerns at all check with your local council whether you need planning permission. The governments own planning service website goes into these issues in great detail and is worth a visit.

On top of planning permission you may face building regulations. These regulations cover erecting a new building or extending an existing one. The regulations also apply to structural alterations like removing a chimney breast, or altering a load-bearing wall. Wall ties, levels and concrete foundations are all subject to building approval. Although some builds are exempt you ought to check the Building Regulations Act 2000, located on the government’s web site, to be sure.

For a small backyard project you may wish to build yourself. However, bear in mind bricklaying is a skilled trade. A professional bricklayer can lay between 250-500 bricks a day. There might be public liability issues, for instance if you’re building something that borders on a public road or footpath. A trained bricklayer should have an awareness of all current regulations and arrive on the doorstep complete with professional indemnity insurance.



Costs to consider

We can classify the finished product into three categories. Firstly there are ‘above ground’ bricks, also known as ‘facing brickwork’ as they are visible. ‘Below ground’ bricks differ from ‘above ground’ bricks in that they are suitable for damp proofing courses, as well as frost resistance. Increasingly popular are reclaimed bricks, in other words second-hand bricks from demolished buildings. These tend to be cheaper and have a traditional feel to them. Using reclaims can instantly age a new house to give character.

Are there any legal issues effecting brickwork? Yes, your property may be subject to planning laws. For example if your house is in a zoned conservation area you may have to match your brickwork to the rest of the street. Even if you live in an ordinary house on an ordinary street there are still legal considerations. This is where it can get complex. Take outbuildings for example. The laws states that they must be no higher than 4 metres with a ridged roof or 3 metres for a regular roof. They have to be situated 5 metres away from the main building otherwise they will be classified as an extension. They are not allowed to be nearer the road than the house itself. And of course you must have the owner’s consent. If you have any concerns at all check with your local council whether you need planning permission. The governments own planning service website goes into these issues in great detail and is worth a visit.

On top of planning permission you may face building regulations. These regulations cover erecting a new building or extending an existing one. The regulations also apply to structural alterations like removing a chimney breast, or altering a load-bearing wall. Wall ties, levels and concrete foundations are all subject to building approval. Although some builds are exempt you ought to check the Building Regulations Act 2000, located on the government’s web site, to be sure.

For a small backyard project you may wish to build yourself. However, bear in mind bricklaying is a skilled trade. A professional bricklayer can lay between 250-500 bricks a day. There might be public liability issues, for instance if you’re building something that borders on a public road or footpath. A trained bricklayer should have an awareness of all current regulations and arrive on the doorstep complete with professional indemnity insurance.

Recent Comments
  • Vic on Is Christmas a good time for DIY?
  • Anonymous on Average air source heat pump cost (2022)
  • Reggie on Prepare your home for moth season
Latest News
0

Potential DIY home improvement trends for 2023

1

Is Christmas a good time for DIY?

0

Design trends for 2022 and 2023

0

Product Review: Handsaws

Popular Guides

Average cost to install a toilet

Average tennis court cost

Average patio cost

Average wind turbine cost

Popular Projects

Skirting boards

Fitting and wiring an electric shower

Fixing mosaic tiles to a wall

Brick calculator

DIY Categories
Bathroom
Building, brickwork and masonry
Ceilings
Cleaning
Concrete work
Damp, rot and infestation
Drains
Electrical
Fireplaces
Floors
Garden
Heating
Insulation
Kitchen
Lighting
Lofts
Painting and decorating
Plasterwork
Plumbing
Roof and guttering
Safety
Security
Tiling
Walls
Windows
Woodwork

Self Build Guide
How to find a building plot
Evaluating a building plot (2023)
How to get a self build mortgage
Self build construction options
Self build architect and design considerations (2023)
Self build planning permission and legal consents
© 2023 lets do diy ltd | ebuild
  • Home
  • About
  • Contact us

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent.
Cookie SettingsAccept All
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT