Brickwork & Masonry in Staines, Surrey
Brickwork & Masonry Services in Staines and Surrey
At Nelhams & Sons Ltd, brickwork and masonry is at the core of everything we do – and has been since we started in Staines in 1977. We carry out general brickwork and masonry for homeowners, landlords, and contractors across Staines, Shepperton, Sunbury-on-Thames, Walton-on-Thames, Weybridge, Esher, and the surrounding areas of Surrey. Whether you need new brickwork for an extension, chimney repairs, block work for a garage, brick repairs to an existing elevation, or a new feature built in brick to complement your property, we have the skills, the experience, and the knowledge of local brick stocks to deliver work that is structurally sound and visually right for your building. Nearly five decades of working across Surrey’s varied housing stock means we understand the bricks, bonds, and mortar specifications that suit the properties in this area – and we bring that knowledge to every job.
Our Brickwork & Masonry Services
From new build brickwork and extension walls to repairs, chimneys, and feature details – we handle the full range of brickwork and masonry needs across Surrey. At Nelhams & Sons Ltd we specialise in:
New Brickwork & Extension Walls
External and internal brickwork for house extensions, new build projects, garages, outbuildings, and structural alterations across Staines and Surrey. We work from architect or structural engineer drawings where provided, or advise on appropriate construction details where we are managing the project ourselves. Brick selection and mortar specification are always matched to the existing property and local vernacular – new brickwork that sits incongruously against an older Surrey property is a poor result regardless of how structurally sound it is. We take both seriously on every job.
Brick Repairs & Patching
Replacement of damaged, spalled, or mismatched bricks on existing elevations across Surrey – including repairs following impact damage, water ingress, frost attack, or poorly specified previous work. Matching existing brickwork accurately requires a good knowledge of what is available from current stock and reclaimed sources – and the experience to know which will give the better match for the property in question. We source from both and bring samples to site where colour and texture matching is critical. Invisible repairs are what we aim for – brickwork that does not draw the eye to where it was done.
Chimney Repairs & Rebuilding
Chimney stack repairs, partial and full rebuilds, flaunching replacement, pot setting, and lead flashing work for properties across Staines and Surrey. Chimneys are among the most exposed elements of any Surrey property – subjected to the full force of wind, rain, and frost at height, and often neglected until the problem becomes visible indoors. Spalled brickwork, cracked flaunching, and failed mortar joints on a chimney stack allow water into the structure and down into the property below. We carry out chimney repairs safely and correctly, with appropriate scaffolding and a thorough assessment of the full stack condition before any work begins.
How We Work
Good brickwork starts with the right assessment – of the existing materials, the structural requirements, and what the finished result needs to look like. We never start laying before we are confident we have the right brick, the right mortar, and the right approach for your specific job.
| Step | What to Expect |
|---|---|
| Initial Assessment | We visit your property across Staines or Surrey, assess the existing brickwork, identify the scope of work, and discuss what you need the finished result to achieve |
| Brick & Mortar Analysis | For repair and matching work, we identify the existing brick type, bond pattern, mortar colour, and joint profile before proposing materials – matching comes first, not as an afterthought |
| Structural Assessment | For new brickwork, extensions, and structural repairs we assess the foundation requirements, loading, and any structural engineering input needed before work begins |
| Material Sourcing | We source appropriate bricks from current stock or reclaimed suppliers – bringing samples to site where a close match is critical to the visual outcome |
| Detailed Quotation | Comprehensive fixed-price quote covering all brickwork, materials, access requirements, and any associated groundwork or structural elements |
| Access & Preparation | Scaffolding erected where required for safe access at height – chimney work, upper elevations, and gable ends always require a proper scaffold platform |
| Foundation Work | Where new brickwork requires new foundations, we excavate and pour to the correct specification for the wall type and ground conditions at your Surrey site |
| Brickwork Construction | Brickwork laid to the correct bond, with consistent bed and perpend joints, accurate coursing, and mortar joints finished to match or complement the existing work |
| Quality Check | We review the finished brickwork for consistency, alignment, and visual match against the existing structure before scaffolding comes down |
| Site Cleanup | Full removal of all brick waste, mortar droppings, and construction debris – site left clean and tidy on completion |
48 Years’ Brickwork Experience
Nearly five decades of brickwork across Surrey’s varied housing stock – we know the bricks, the bonds, and the mortar that suit properties in this area
Accurate Brick Matching
Current stock and reclaimed sources – samples brought to site before work begins so you can see the match before we commit
Full Range of Work
New builds, extensions, repairs, chimneys, garden walls, and feature brickwork – all handled by the same experienced team
Structurally Sound
Correct foundations, proper mortar specification, and appropriate bond for every type of brickwork we build
Why Choose Nelhams & Sons Ltd for Brickwork & Masonry in Surrey?
Brickwork looks straightforward from the outside, but the difference between brickwork done well and brickwork done adequately shows itself over time. Consistent bed joints, accurate perpends, proper mortar specification, correct bond for the structural situation, and a visual match to the existing property – these are the details that separate a result you are proud of from one you quietly wish had been done differently. We have been laying bricks across Surrey since 1977 and we care about all of them. We also know this part of Surrey’s housing stock well enough to source the right bricks – the specific red, buff, or multi-coloured facings that predominate in Staines, Shepperton, Sunbury, and Walton are not always straightforward to match, and that knowledge comes from decades of working in this area, not from a catalogue.
- 48+ years’ brickwork and masonry experience across Staines, Surrey, and West London
- New brickwork for extensions, new builds, garages, outbuildings, and structural alterations
- Brick repairs and matching – current stock and reclaimed sources, samples brought to site
- Chimney stack repairs, rebuilds, flaunching, pot setting, and lead flashing
- Block work, cavity wall construction, and structural masonry for all building types
- Full public liability insurance (£2 million) and Which? Trusted Trader accredited
Best Surrey Business Award
Areas We Provide Our Brickwork & Masonry Service
Based in Staines, we carry out brickwork and masonry across a wide area of Surrey and South West London. We regularly work in the following towns and villages:
Frequently Asked Questions About Brickwork & Masonry in Surrey
Can you match existing brickwork on my Surrey property?
In most cases yes – or we can get close enough that the difference is not obvious once the new mortar has weathered in. The bricks most common across the Staines and Spelthorne area – including the red facings typical of inter-war and post-war housing, and the buff and multi-coloured stocks found on Victorian and Edwardian properties – are bricks we have sourced and matched many times across the area. Where a current stock brick gives a good match we will use it. Where reclaimed is the better answer – particularly on older period properties – we source from specialist reclaimed suppliers. We always bring samples to site before committing to a material, so you can see the comparison against your existing brickwork in natural light before work begins.
How do I know if my chimney needs repair?
The most common signs are visible from ground level with binoculars – spalled or missing bricks, cracked or missing flaunching (the mortar haunching around the chimney pots), crumbling mortar joints, or pots that are leaning or missing altogether. Less visibly, damp patches on chimney breast walls internally, staining on ceilings near the chimney, or a musty smell in rooms with chimney breasts can all indicate water ingress through a failing stack. If your property is more than 20-25 years old and the chimney has not been inspected recently, it is worth having it assessed – catching deterioration early is significantly cheaper than dealing with full stack rebuilds or internal damp damage. We offer free assessments and will tell you honestly what needs doing and how urgently.
What brick bonds do you use and does it matter?
Bond – the pattern in which bricks are laid – matters both structurally and visually. Stretcher bond (all bricks laid lengthways) is used for cavity walls and single-skin walls. English bond and Flemish bond (alternating stretchers and headers) are used for solid single-brick or thicker walls and are common on older Surrey properties. Garden wall bond variations appear on – as the name suggests – garden walls and boundary structures. Using the wrong bond for a new section of wall alongside existing work looks wrong immediately and permanently. We always match the bond of the existing brickwork on repair and extension jobs, and specify the structurally appropriate bond for new work.
Do you carry out brickwork as part of larger construction projects?
Yes – and this is actually how the majority of our brickwork is delivered. Most house extensions, new builds, and structural alterations we carry out across Surrey involve significant brickwork as part of a wider construction package. Having our own bricklaying capability in-house means we control the quality and scheduling of the masonry element directly, rather than subcontracting it out. This makes for a better result and a smoother programme overall. We are also happy to take on standalone brickwork jobs – repairs, chimneys, garden walls, and individual features – where no wider construction project is involved.
What mortar should be used for brickwork on a Surrey property?
Mortar specification depends on the age and type of your property and the specific brickwork involved. For most modern brickwork on post-1930s properties across Surrey, a standard cement:sand mortar in the appropriate mix ratio is correct. For Victorian, Edwardian, and Georgian properties – which make up a significant proportion of the housing stock across Staines, Shepperton, Walton, and Weybridge – a lime-based mortar is usually more appropriate, particularly for repairs and repointing. Lime is softer and more permeable than cement, which is important on older soft bricks where a hard cement mortar can cause spalling. We always specify the correct mortar for the property age and brick type, and we are happy to explain our reasoning if you want to understand the choice.
How long does brickwork typically take?
Timescales vary considerably with the scope of work. A chimney repair with existing scaffold might take 1-2 days. A section of brick repairs to an elevation could be done in a day. A garden wall of 10-15 metres takes 3-5 days including foundations. Brickwork for a house extension runs alongside the wider construction programme and typically takes 1-3 weeks depending on the scale of the build. We give you a realistic timeline specific to your project at the quotation stage, and we factor in concrete curing time for any foundations before brickwork begins – we never build on green concrete to save time.
