With Australia's property market exhibiting record-low interest rates, the demand for construction workers is considerably greater as consumers invest in homes and properties that they can rent or lease out, or flip. Among these workers, a bricklayer proves to be an essential member of the building team.
A bricklayer is a professional who is trained and experienced in the construction of all kinds of structures using bricks or blocks which are held together with mortar.
Some of the basic skills that every bricklayer must possess are the ability to mix concrete, haul bricks around, and build scaffolding. Once these have been learned, they are then taught to pile the bricks in lines that are perfectly straight as well as structurally sound — which is no mean feat, as each brick or block can weigh between 2 and 3 kilograms.
With these skills, bricklayers are then able to create all kinds of structures in homes, commercial buildings, offices, and others. These can include fences, foundations, retaining walls, staircases, internal and external walls, fireplaces, and other property features, in varying degrees of simplicity or detail.
So how will you be able to find the right bricklayer for your building project? Here are important things to remember:
Look at their qualifications. The right bricklayer for the job is one that has undertaken the necessary training to become a qualified professional. See if they were able to complete an apprenticeship spanning 36 months, as well as an accredited Construction Safety Awareness Training Course.
Check for their offered services and previous professional experience. Common services provided by bricklayers include brick or block laying, construction of brick retaining walls, laying concrete footings for the brickwork to rest on, cutting bricks to fit requirements, and working in a residential or commercial environment. It's also a good idea to see if they have worked with local home builders or established building companies.
See if they have the right insurance. To protect your property and your family, it's crucial that the bricklayer you hire has public liability insurance against damages. Income protection insurance is also important in protecting you from becoming liable if the workers injure themselves while working on your structure. Request a copy of their certificates of insurance so that your interests can be protected.
Get in touch with previous clients. Ask for the bricklayer's references so you can personally contact their former clients and find out if they were satisfied with the service provided and the result of their building project. Firsthand accounts are always more reliable than testimonials that you can find in websites or marketing materials.
Determine the costs of hiring a specific bricklayer. Approach the bricklayer that you are considering for a consultation wherein you can provide all the details of your project and ask for their free quote. This quote should include everything: labour, materials and clean-up. Be sure to get multiple quotes so you can compare and determine the fair average estimate for the services you need. Then select the bricklayer that you believe is fair in their provided quote and has a solid track record of delivering good quality work.