Providing bricklaying, pointing, paving & alterations to the Monkseaton, Whitley Bay, Tynemouth, North Shields, Wallsend, Gosforth & Heaton areas.
Bricklaying & Brickwork
For many years now I have completed a variety of projects related to brickwork, ranging from house extensions to alterations, brick repair work to pointing garden walls, retaining walls and paving.
When constructing any kind of brickwork for clients I always recommend using the same style brick throughout the property. I do this to maintain the character of the house and avoid a patchwork effect which can spoil the appearance of the property.
I always use a good quality brick on all my jobs, and would strongly recommend new foundations if the existing foundations are insufficient for the work to be carried out.
Paving
Paving areas to the property can give your home a smarter appearance and greatly reduce the amount of garden maintenance you need to carry out, while giving you an all-weather surface outside your home.
Preparing the site and digging out the surrounding area is the first stage. Once this is completed the base is then laid using dolomite, which is then compressed using a vibrating plate until compact. The paving is then laid using a mortar mix, once laid it is left to set and then either brushed in using a dry kiln sand or pointed using a semi-dry mix.
Read more about my Paving Service...
Pebble-Dashing
When in a good state of repair pebble-dashing and other renders can transform the look of any building.
My Pebble-Dashing service includes: removing any old render, applying the new pebble-dash, and finally cleaning up after the job is finished.
See an example of my Pebble-Dashing Service...
Pointing
When done properly, pointing brickwork is a dusty and messy process, but once complete will improve the look of your property and give it protection against the elements.
I do not do "flash pointing". This process offers only a short-term repair and is highly susceptible to both frost and water damage.
When re-pointing brickwork, first the existing mortar is ground out using a grinder to a depth of 15mm to 20mm. Once this is completed, the site is cleaned and then hosed down, which takes care of any loose dust and gives a good key for the new pointing work. The mortar mix I prefer is 3 parts sand, 1 part cement and 1 part lime. Depending on the style of brick used on a client's house the brickwork will be rubbed down using a dry sponge to give a nice clean finish.
RSJ (Lintel) Work
When removing parts of a supporting wall within a building, it is necessary to install a lintel or "RSJ" to evenly distribute the load that the original wall was supporting, providing support for the ceiling joists and the remaining brickwork above.
One of the most popular reasons for doing this is to create a large through lounge from an existing living room and dining room. I have extensive experience of this type of building work, both in my time as a sole trader and as part of a team on larger projects.
Alterations & Repair Work
I have completed many alterations to people's property, ranging from widening driveways to suit the household's vehicles, bricking up doorways and forming new doorways and windows.
I am experienced at taking down interior walls to give you a more spacious area within your home, including any necessary steel work, RSJs and lintels.
Chimney stacks may be reduced or taken down, manholes created and drainage gullies redirected around the property to prevent any water flooding the surrounding areas.
I have also completed many repair jobs including frost damage, which itself can lift any loose mortar out of the brickwork, ridge tiles re-laid , roof valleys re-pointed, damp proof courses replaced, concrete paths and dipped driveways, block paving re-laid, also weather damage to rendering and pebble-dashing.