Bricklayers in North Shropshire

Brickwork across North Shropshire

North Shropshire is a largely rural area of market towns, villages and farmland stretching from the Welsh border towards Cheshire and Staffordshire. Its main towns are Whitchurch, Market Drayton, Wem and Ellesmere. Until 2009 it had its own district council. Since then it has been part of the Shropshire Council unitary authority, which handles planning and building control across the whole county.

We cover North Shropshire from our Welshpool base. The nearer towns, such as Ellesmere and the villages north of Oswestry, are a straightforward run. Whitchurch and Market Drayton, on the far side of the area, are a longer journey, so we plan those jobs around the travel.

Services we offer here include new-build housing, large-scale projects on bigger phases, industrial and agricultural blockwork, retaining walls built to an engineer's design, and general brickwork.

Building regulations in North Shropshire

North Shropshire is in England, so building work follows the Building Regulations for England and the Approved Documents published by the UK Government. That's worth stating plainly because many of the contractors and developers working here also work in Wales, a few miles west, where the Welsh Government's Approved Documents apply instead. The two sets of guidance have diverged since building regulations were devolved to Wales in 2011, particularly on energy (Part L) and on fire suppression in new homes.

We build to the approved drawings and specification, and the designer is responsible for compliance. We do check which regulations a scheme has been designed to, because we work on both sides of the border.

Housing and building in the area

The market towns of North Shropshire have seen new housing on their edges, typically two-storey detached and semi-detached homes and bungalows in facing brick, along with smaller schemes in villages and single self-build plots. The area's farming economy also means a steady run of agricultural buildings, where blockwork walls, dwarf walls under cladding and yard walls are common, as are barn conversions and extensions to farmhouses.

On rural sites there's often more to plan: access for brick and block deliveries, where materials can be stored, welfare facilities, and how far everything is from the road. We talk this through before we start so the job runs smoothly.

Older brickwork and repairs

Many of the older buildings in North Shropshire's towns and villages are brick, and extensions or repairs to them need the new work to match. That means sourcing bricks of the right colour, texture and size, matching the mortar and joint profile, and continuing the existing bond, which on older houses is often something other than modern stretcher bond. Kris's NVQ Level 3 includes repairing and maintaining masonry, matching existing materials and continuing existing bonding. Where a building is listed or in a conservation area, check with Shropshire Council about consents before work starts.

Cold, exposed sites

Open rural sites can be cold and exposed in winter. We follow the NHBC Standards and the specification: no bricklaying when the air temperature is below 2°C and falling, no frozen materials, and new work protected from frost. We warn you early if weather will affect the programme.

Pricing a North Shropshire job

Send the drawings, the brick and block schedule and the start date for housing or agricultural work, or photos and a description for extensions and repairs. We'll ask about access and storage on rural sites before we price.