Brickwork & Blockwork in Godalming — New Builds, Walls & Restoration
From neat garden walls to full superstructures, our brick and blockwork is set out accurately, built true and finished cleanly. We establish solid foundations, string tight lines and keep courses level so the work reads straight from every angle. Cavities are detailed correctly with trays, closers and ties; movement joints are planned, not guessed. Openings, arches and lintels are formed to spec, then finished with crisp reveals and durable copings. For heritage projects in Godalming and across Surrey, we match bonds, bricks and lime mortars so additions and repairs look original, not patched.
Setting Out & Foundations
Good masonry starts long before the first course. We pick up site datums, mark corners and centres, then check diagonals so the footprint is truly square. Foundations are excavated to engineer’s detail and ground conditions, poured to consistent levels and left properly cured. We install DPM/DPC interfaces and starter bars where required, ensuring load paths and damp control are correct before we build up. The result is a reliable base that keeps courses level and doors, windows and floors landing where the drawings intend—something especially important in Godalming’s mix of period and modern properties.
Lines, Levels & Damp-proof Courses
We run taut lines, set laser levels and use profiles at corners so beds stay consistent and perps align. DPCs and cavity trays are lapped and stepped to the weather, linked to door thresholds and weeped out at intervals. Around garages and patios we detail changes of level carefully so damp protection and aesthetics both work. Every course is checked—no creeping joints, no wavy bed lines. This disciplined approach is why homeowners in Godalming trust us for both small and large-scale brickwork.
Walling & Cavity Construction
Cavity walls are built clean and clear. We keep cavities free of droppings with guards, fit ties to the specified pattern, and install closers and insulation snugly without cold gaps. Returns, corners and junctions are toothed or tied with approved systems so the bond continues naturally. We record materials and tie patterns for Building Control and future reference, giving peace of mind whether it’s a garden wall or a full extension in Godalming.
Bonds, Profiles & Ties
Whether stretcher, Flemish or English bond, we centre openings so halves and quoins land elegantly. Profiles keep corners plumb; gauge rods maintain even bed joints. Wall ties are stainless, correctly embedded and staggered to schedule, with extra ties at openings and movement joints as specified. It’s the discipline that makes brickwork look calm and stay strong.
Openings & Support
Openings are formed square and true with lintels sized to load and bearing. We set accurate reveals for windows and doors, keep head heights consistent and leave straight, plumb jambs for tidy frames. Soldier courses, arches or feature heads are set out in advance so cuts are minimal and symmetry is maintained across the elevation.
Lintels, Arches & Padstones
Steel or concrete lintels are bedded on full mortars with correct end bearings; padstones are cast or installed where beams land. For arches, we use formers, cut voussoirs cleanly and strike joints evenly to the centre. We back up decorative work with structural support that prevents sagging or cracking as the building settles.
Retaining Walls & Reinforcement
Retaining walls are engineered for soil load and drainage. We build on suitable foundations, integrate reinforcement and concrete cores where designed, and install waterproofing and protection to the retained face. Step foundations and changes of direction are tied carefully so the wall works as one unit, not a series of stitched pieces.
Drainage, Weeps & Copings
Behind retaining walls we add land drains, free-draining backfill and geotextiles to keep fines out. Weep holes relieve pressure and are spaced to detail. Copings or cappings are bedded and throated to throw water clear of the face; joints are sealed appropriately so staining and efflorescence are reduced from day one.
Repointing & Heritage Match
For restoration, we match brick size, colour and texture, then repoint in sympathetic mortars that let the wall breathe. We cut out failing joints to depth, clean arrises and finish profiles to suit the period—flush, recessed or weatherstruck. Where bricks are spalled we source close matches or turn/replace discreetly so repairs blend in. This is particularly valued in Godalming’s conservation areas, where sympathetic detailing ensures new work blends seamlessly with the old.
Lime Mortars & Cleaning
Lime mortars (NHL or hot-lime as appropriate) accommodate movement and reduce trapped moisture. Mixes are matched for colour and aggregate, and curing is protected from frost and rapid drying. Cleaning is conservative: gentle washing and poultice methods—not aggressive jetting—so surfaces aren’t etched and salts aren’t driven in.
Why Choose DM Jones Contractors
- ✓ Accurate set-out with datums, tight lines and laser-checked levels.
- ✓ Clean cavities with correct trays, closers, ties and movement joints.
- ✓ True openings with properly sized lintels, arches and neat reveals.
- ✓ Engineered retaining walls with drainage, weeps and throated copings.
- ✓ Heritage-sensitive brick matching and lime repointing that breathes.
- ✓ Clear communication, tidy sites and photographed stages for records.
- ✓ Building Control coordination and itemised, sensible pricing.
Request Brickwork Pricing
Send a sketch or drawings, a few photos and rough dimensions. Tell us the bond, brick type (if known) and whether retaining or heritage work is involved. We’ll confirm set-out, foundations and details, then provide a clear, itemised quotation with programme and options for materials and finishes. Based locally, we regularly deliver brickwork and blockwork projects in Godalming and throughout Surrey.
