Bricklaying & Masonry in Edinburgh

Yes. Our brick and stone work is backed by our own workmanship guarantee, covering the laying, bonding, pointing, and structural integrity of what we build. Any load-bearing or structural masonry is built to comply with Scottish Building Standards, and where a building warrant applies the work is inspected and signed off through that route. When the masonry is complete we walk the finished work with you, checking the courses, joints, and pointing so you can see it has been done properly before we leave site.

They are. The materials we build with carry the warranties set by their manufacturers, which run alongside the guarantee we give on the workmanship itself. Frost-resistant brick, natural stone, and lime mortar are all selected and laid in line with the supplier specifications so those warranties hold good in the Scottish climate, and we pass on the relevant product details and paperwork once the work is finished.

We can match older mortar by analysing the aggregate type and using specific lime or tinted cement mixes. For brickwork, we source facing bricks that match the size, colour, and texture of the original as closely as possible so the new work does not stand out against the existing building.

That depends on the scale of the job, the condition of the existing structure, access, and weather. A small repair can be dealt with quickly, while a rebuild or larger structural job will take longer and needs to be carried out in the right stages.

Costs vary depending on whether simple concrete blocks, facing bricks, or natural dressed sandstone are being used. Simple blockwork starts from a lower price point than premium face brickwork or stonework. We provide a full cost breakdown once we have seen the site and reviewed the specific plans.

For load-bearing work such as a new cavity wall, a structural opening, or an inner-leaf shell, the masonry is built to the Building (Scotland) Regulations and Eurocode 6, and we work from the engineer beam and padstone calculations where they are required. We set out movement joints and bed-joint reinforcement so the new wall stays sound as the structure settles.

Simple repairs or direct like-for-like replacements usually do not require a building warrant. If new structural openings are being cut, load-bearing walls altered, or substantial new masonry built, a building warrant from Edinburgh City Council or the relevant local authority will be needed before work starts.

Freezing temperatures can ruin wet mortar before it sets. We do not lay brick when temperatures drop below three degrees Celsius, and we cover newly laid masonry with insulated hessian sheets to protect it from frost and rain while it cures.

Kingsknowe Building & Landscaping strike and tool every joint to a consistent profile as the wall goes up, which keeps new masonry weather-tight and gives the elevation a clean, even finish matched to the property. If an older wall instead has failed mortar that needs raking out and repointing, that remedial repointing sits with our Garden Walls & Retaining service.