Structures & Masonry
Brickwork Contractor in Cumbria
Facing brickwork, piers, boundary walls and matching-in work with attention to bond, joint and colour.
Brickwork is visible for the life of a building, so bond, gauge, joint profile and mortar colour matter as much as structural soundness. Poorly matched brickwork on an extension is one of the most obvious signs of a badly executed job.
SHS carries out facing brickwork, structural brickwork and matching-in work on properties across Cumbria, from new build elevations to boundary walls and repairs to existing buildings.
Applications
Where this work applies
- House extensions matching existing brickwork
- New build elevations
- Garden, boundary and retaining brick walls
- Chimney and parapet rebuilds
- Repair of storm or frost damaged masonry
Project types
Typical projects
- Extension elevation matched to a Victorian property
- Brick boundary wall with piers and coping
- Rebuild of a damaged garden wall
- Feature brick detailing on a new build
From site
Brickwork — genuine SHS photographs
Genuine photographs of SHS work. They are individual site photographs from different jobs and do not represent a single project.
Method
How SHS approaches it
01
Matching starts before laying: sourcing the closest brick available, agreeing mortar colour and joint profile, and building a small sample area where the match is critical. Weathered brickwork never matches new perfectly, and it is better to discuss that honestly at the outset.
02
Mortar is specified to suit the masonry. Hard cement-rich mortars on soft older bricks cause damage over time, so weaker, more permeable mixes are used where the existing fabric requires it.
Plant
Equipment used
- Mixers, cutting equipment and access scaffolding coordination
Support
Professional input
- Structural engineering where openings, lintels or rebuild works affect stability
Specialist input is provided by independent professionals SHS works with, not by in-house departments.
Cumbria
Local considerations
- Cumbria has far more stone than brick in its older building stock, but brick is common in town properties in Carlisle, Penrith, Workington and the industrial west of the county, and in later twentieth-century housing throughout.
- Driving rain and frost cycles are hard on brickwork here. Correct mortar, coping and weather detailing make a substantial difference to how a wall ages.
Frequently asked questions
SHS will source the closest available match and agree the mortar and joint with you. On older properties an exact match is rarely possible, and reclaimed brick is sometimes the better option.
Related services
Structures & Masonry
Blockwork
Cavity walls, foundation blockwork and loadbearing internal walls built plumb, level and to specification.
Structures & Masonry
Stonework
Natural stone facing, feature walls and rebuilds in the local idiom rather than a generic stone finish.
Structures & Masonry
Heritage Masonry
Sympathetic repair and alteration of traditional solid-wall buildings, working with appropriate materials.
Buildings
Extensions
Extension groundworks, foundations, drainage, masonry and steel through one accountable contractor.
Next step
Need brickwork in Cumbria?
Tell SHS what you are building, repairing or preparing. Upload photographs, drawings or plans and the project can be reviewed before a site visit is arranged.