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Trade 2 of 33Updated June 2026

A research dossier · 260 trade-region files across 8 states & territories · AS 3700 + 4773 verified

Hiring a Bricklayer
is buying the mortar mix.

Brickwork looks identical until you check three things: mortar joint thickness + consistency, the joint finish itself, and the brick ties hidden in the cavity. The cheap brickie skimps on one or more. Five years later you find efflorescence streaks, cracked joints, and walls that move when the wind blows.

1000

Bricks priced per thousand laid.

10mm

Standard mortar joint thickness. Consistent across the wall.

AS 3700

Masonry Structures — the Australian Standard.

In a hurry? Start here

I've got quotes

Compare them properly

Most bricklayer quotes price different scopes. See what a real quote contains, line by line.

I need someone now

Handle it urgently

Make-safe price first, full quote second — and verify the licence before anyone starts.

Is this one legit?

Verify this tradie

The free 60-second routine: licence, insurance, ABN, history — before you pay a deposit.

My state

Check your state rules

Licensing, deposit caps and the common gotcha for your state and territory.

Or grab the four printable buyer checklists →

90-second briefing

Read this first

Before you hire a bricklayer, know this.

  1. 1

    Brickwork is priced per 1,000 bricks or per m² — get the rate and the brick count, not a lump sum.

  2. 2

    Confirm whether the quote includes materials, scaffolding and clean-up, or labour only.

  3. 3

    Ask to see recent jobs in person — bond pattern, joint finish and lintel work show the skill.

  4. 4

    Structural work (retaining, lintels, piers) may need an engineer’s detail — confirm who provides it.

  5. 5

    Get the licence number, ABN and a written scope before any deposit.

How this page was built

A research dossier, not a referral page.

Sources

Reddit + Whirlpool + ProductReview, AS 3700 (Masonry Structures), AS 4773 (Masonry for small buildings), Think Brick Australia.

Verification

Pricing cross-checked. Mortar mix specs verified. State licensing thresholds per residential building work.

Funding

No brickie pays for placement. Funded by the supply-side flyer service at tradies.needatrade.com.au/flyers/.

Before we start

The bricks are the same brand.
The mortar + the joints are not.

Two brickies can buy bricks from the same yard + lay them on the same job + the walls look entirely different in five years. The difference is mortar mix consistency, joint finish + thickness, and the hidden cavity work (ties, weep holes, flashing). All invisible after handover.

Walk past their last job. Look at the joint thickness — is it consistent? Look for efflorescence — is the wall clean?

01

How much should it really cost?

Brickwork priced per 1,000 bricks laid. Plus mortar + scaffolding (high walls) + cleaning + jointing. Decorative bonds (English, Flemish) add cost.

Indicative ranges · AU 2026

Bricks laid (stretcher bond · per 1000)$1,400 – $2,200
Premium bond (English / Flemish)$1,800 – $2,800
Garage wall (6m × 2.4m · 1500 bricks)$3,500 – $5,500
Boundary brick fence (per linear m · 1.8m high)$280 – $480/m
Repointing (per m²)$80 – $180/m²

Ask this, exactly

"What's the price per 1000 bricks, what mortar mix (e.g. M3), what bond pattern + jointing finish — in writing?"

02

How to tell a real one from a cowboy.

Red flags

  • !

    Inconsistent joint thickness

    Standard = 10mm consistent. Sloppy mortar joints = sloppy mortar mix = walls that fail.

  • !

    Wrong mortar mix

    M3 standard for residential. Cheap mixes (more sand / less cement) save material cost + halve the wall's life.

  • !

    No mention of brick ties / weep holes

    Cavity walls need brick ties (every 600mm typically) + weep holes at base. Skipped = wall fails AS 3700.

  • !

    Cash payment

    Standard pattern. No invoice = no warranty trail.

  • !

    Laying in heavy rain

    Mortar washes out before cure. Top of wall must be covered overnight. High-risk operators lay anyway to hit a deadline.

Verification — 5 min, free

  1. ✓
    State licence above threshold (NSW $5k+ / QLD $3.3k+ / VIC $10k+).
  2. ✓
    ABN + Public liability certificate.
  3. ✓
    Two reference walls at year 5+. Drive past + check joint consistency + efflorescence.
  4. ✓
    Structural engineering certificate for retaining + load-bearing work.

Ask this, exactly

"What mortar mix, what joint finish + thickness, what brick ties + spacing, and is engineering needed?"

03

Licence + structural rules.

Bricklayer — licensing & compliance by state

Choose your state:
NSW $5,000

Regulator

Building Commission NSW

Common gotcha

Written quote/contract; licence details where applicable

VIC $10,000

Regulator

Building and Plumbing Commission (BPC, formerly VBA)

Common gotcha

Written quote/contract; licence details where applicable

QLD Licensed

Regulator

QBCC

Common gotcha

Bricklaying and blocklaying

WA Licensed

Regulator

Building Services Board (Building and Energy)

Common gotcha

Written quote/contract; licence details where applicable

SA Licensed

Regulator

Consumer and Business Services (CBS)

Common gotcha

Written quote/contract; licence details where applicable

ACT Licensed

Regulator

Construction Occupations Registrar (Access Canberra)

Common gotcha

Written quote/contract; licence details where applicable

NT Licensed

Regulator

Building Practitioners Board

Common gotcha

Written quote/contract; licence details where applicable

TAS Licensed

Regulator

CBOS (Consumer, Building and Occupational Services)

Common gotcha

Written quote/contract; licence details where applicable

Half-time

Walk past their last job. The joints tell the truth.

Quote anatomy, the cowboy test, the licence. The first three sort the working brickies from the operators with sloppy joint lines. The next seven are how working brickies tell themselves apart.

04

When can they fit you in?

Brickies 4–8 weeks out. Weather sensitive — mortar doesn't cure properly in heavy rain or 38°+. Working brickies work around weather.

Ask this, exactly

"What's your start date + your rule for rain or extreme heat days?"

05

What happens next, step by step.

  1. 1Step

    Set out + footing

    Wall position marked. Footing inspected (or built first by concreter / builder). DPC layer down.

  2. 2Step

    First course + alignment

    First course laid level + plumb. Critical for the whole wall. Re-checked before continuing.

  3. 3Step

    Courses + ties + weep holes

    Bricks laid in chosen bond. Mortar joints consistent 10mm. Wall ties at spec. Weep holes at base.

  4. 4Step

    Lintels + openings

    Steel lintels above doors + windows. Engineering certificate if structural.

  5. 5Step

    Jointing + clean-up

    Joints finished (struck / flush / raked / ironed). Excess mortar removed. Wall cleaned with acid wash if needed.

  6. 6Step

    Cap + cure

    Wall capped (overnight rain protection). Photos taken. Final clean after cure.

06

New wall, extension, or repointing?

Option A

New wall

Boundary wall, garage wall, retaining. Standalone job. Engineering for structural.

Option B

Extension to existing

Match existing brick + bond + joint finish. Specialist sub-trade if heritage or unusual brick.

Option C

Repointing

Removing old mortar + replacing. Specialist heritage skill. Wrong mortar mix = damaged historic bricks.

07

Warranty — cracking vs efflorescence.

  1. Layer 01

    Statutory structural

    6 years (NSW · VIC) / 6.5 years (QLD) on structural masonry.

  2. Layer 02

    Workmanship

    1–5 years. Settlement cracks at lintels are common + not a defect. Joint failure or wall lean = defect.

  3. Layer 03

    Brick manufacturer

    Brick itself warranted 10+ years against defects. Quality variation between batches sometimes a real issue.

  4. Layer 04

    Efflorescence

    First 6 months = normal. Persistent after a year = workmanship + materials defect (claimable).

Ask this, exactly

"What's your warranty + the rule on settlement cracks vs structural cracks vs efflorescence?"

08

Heritage, structural, retaining.

  • Heritage building

    Lime mortar (not modern cement). Original-pattern bricks. Specialist heritage brickie.

  • Structural / load-bearing

    Engineering certificate + builder's licence required. Not standalone bricklayer work above threshold.

  • Retaining wall

    Over 600mm height = engineering + structural. Many bricklayers refuse retaining work — engineering risk too high.

  • Coastal

    Salt-resistant mortar + bricks. Specialist coastal brickwork.

Ask this, exactly

"Have you done heritage / structural / retaining / coastal — and is engineering needed for this scope?"

09

Edge cases — get a second opinion for…

  • Heritage repointing

    Lime mortar specific to the building's era. Modern cement damages original bricks.

  • Arches + curves

    Specialist craft. Templates + careful set-out. Many brickies refuse arch work.

  • Piers + columns

    Engineering for load-bearing piers. Specialist sub-trade.

  • Stonemasonry

    Different trade entirely. Cut stone, natural cleft, dry stone walls.

  • Brick veneer extension

    Match existing brick. Sometimes original bricks discontinued — closest match + skill required.

  • Acid wash clean-up

    Done at end of build. Specialist sub-trade if heritage or unusual brick.

  • Below-ground / wet

    Brickwork below ground level needs waterproof barrier + specialist mortar.

  • Cyclonic + bushfire zone

    BAL + cyclone-rated install. Tie spacing + frame fixing tighter.

  • Strata common-property brick

    OC approval. Common-property wall touch needs body corporate involvement.

10

After they leave.

Mortar cures 28 days to full strength. Settlement cracks at lintels are normal in the first 12 months. Efflorescence (white salt streaks) is normal in the first 6 months — disappears as construction water dries out. Any of these persisting beyond those windows = call back.

Ask this, exactly

"Will you come back at 6 + 12 months to check efflorescence + settlement?"

If you've read this far

A bricklayer who names the mortar mix + the joint finish + the wall ties is not a unicorn. It's the bar.

The verification routine below is how you confirm any bricklayer you find — their licence number, insurance certificate, ABN, specialist endorsements, and references — before you sign or pay a deposit. We don't introduce, list or recommend specific tradies. No paid placement.

Verify any bricklayer's licence 60-second routine · 6 free checks

Editorial position: we don't list, rank or recommend tradies on this site.
The separate operator platform — members.needatrade.com.au — opens later this year.

The toolkit

Use these before you sign.

The four components below apply to every Australian trade contract. The trade-specific sections above add the layer on top.

42 homeowner quotes · Reg State trade regulator + work-safety regulator · AS AS 3700 · 9 operator quotes · Last reviewed June 2026

Quote anatomy

What a real quote should contain

01

Operator + ABN

Full legal name + active 11-digit ABN

Verify on the Australian Business Register before paying any deposit. If the ABN isn't active, the contract has no enforceable counterparty.

02

State trade licence

Licence number + class on the quote

Cross-check on the relevant state regulator (linked in the glossary licence-check section). Confirms they can legally do the work.

03

Public liability insurance

$10–20 million cover, still current (not expired)

This is what pays if they damage your home — or a neighbour's — or someone is injured during the job. Ask them to email you the insurance certificate; "I'm covered, mate" is not proof.

04

Workers' insurance

In place if they bring any workers onto your property

If a worker is hurt on your property and the operator has no workers' insurance, you can be the one left liable. A genuine sole trader with no employees may not need it — just ask.

05

Itemised scope of work

What's included, what's not, line by line

"Standard installation" means nothing in court. Specific scope items are what get enforced.

06

Materials specification

Brand, grade, quantity, AS standard where applicable

Prevents the "we used what was on the truck" substitution that turns up under failure inspections.

07

Variations clause

How changes get priced + agreed, in writing

No written variation = unenforceable. Verbal "we'll work it out" is how budgets blow out by 40%.

08

Deposit + progress

Within your state's legal cap (e.g. NSW 10%; VIC 10%/5% by threshold; QLD tiered 20%/10%/5% by job value)

Above-cap deposits are illegal. Caps differ by state — check your state's current regulator guidance. Progress payments should align with completed stages, not arbitrary dates.

09

Warranty terms

Workmanship period + manufacturer warranty pass-through

Statutory warranty applies regardless, but written terms accelerate enforcement.

10

Completion definition

What "practical completion" means for this job

Triggers final payment + starts the defects liability period.

11

Dispute path

Named regulator/tribunal for disputes (e.g. NCAT, VCAT, QCAT)

Knowing the path before signing makes you a less attractive target for a dispute.

If a quote you receive is missing any of these, ask for them before you sign or pay a deposit.

The working operator vs the cowboy

Where
✓ Working operator
✗ Cowboy

Quote

Written, itemised, with named scope + exclusions. Numbered + dated.

A number on a text. "I'll do it for $X."

Licence

Licence number on the quote; matches the name on the state register.

"I'll send the licence later." Never does.

Insurance

Emails you the insurance certificate the same day you ask.

"I'm insured, mate." Never actually sends the certificate.

Deposit

Within statutory limit. Held in their account, receipted.

Asks for cash up front. Above the legal limit.

Variations

Written. Cost + time impact. You sign before work changes.

Verbal "we'll sort it out". Surprise invoice at the end.

Warranty

Written workmanship period. Manufacturer cert handed over.

"My word's my warranty." No paper.

References

Three recent jobs with photos + contact for past clients.

"All my reviews are on Google."

Clean-up

Final clean defined in scope. Photos taken at handover.

Site left messy. Promises to "come back tomorrow".

Ask this, exactly

Could you send your state trade licence number, current Certificate of Currency for public liability, and ABN before I confirm — and please put the itemised scope, deposit terms, and variation clause in writing too?

Send via SMS or email before booking. A working operator replies the same day with all of it attached. A cowboy stalls.

Deposit checklist

Before you pay a bricklayer deposit, collect these

  • Licence number

    State trade licence + class, printed on the quote. Verified on the regulator register.

  • ABN

    Active 11-digit ABN, entity name matching the licence. Checked on abr.business.gov.au.

  • Certificate of currency

    Current public-liability certificate (and workers comp if they bring workers). The insurer’s one-page proof — not “I’m covered, mate”.

  • Written, itemised quote

    On letterhead, numbered and dated. Not a number in a text message.

  • Scope inclusions / exclusions

    What’s in, what’s out, line by line. “Standard installation” is not a scope.

  • Deposit amount

    Within your state’s statutory cap (NSW 10%; QLD tiered 20% / 10% / 5% by job value; VIC 10% / 5% by threshold; other states vary). Check your regulator before paying.

  • Variation clause

    How changes get priced and agreed — in writing, before the work changes.

  • Warranty terms

    Workmanship period + manufacturer pass-through, with year limits and what triggers a callback.

  • Compliance / handover paperwork

    The certificate or compliance document you’ll receive at completion (varies by trade and state).

  • Defects / callback process

    The defects-liability period and how you call them back for an obvious fault — in writing.

  • Brick count and rate (per 1,000 or per m²)

    Bricklayer-specific

  • Engineering detail for structural brickwork

    Bricklayer-specific
Collect every item before you transfer a deposit. If a tradie stalls on any of them, that is the answer.

Related references

Briefing

The 12 questions →

 Operational

Verify a tradie →

 Translation

Glossary →

 Provenance

Source ledger →
← Back to all 33 trades

Trade 2 of 33.

Standards

Standards often relevant to this trade

These are orientation references only — not a complete or job-specific list. Ask the licensed contractor to confirm the current standards, the NCC, and any state or territory requirements that apply to your job.

Plain-English definitions, who’s responsible, and an “ask this” for each → see the glossary.