Edinburgh · Midlothian · The Lothians
Bricklayers in Edinburgh & the Lothians
Garden walls, retaining walls, repairs and repointing from a local team that builds on proper foundations.
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- 14+ years in the trade
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Our bricklayers in Edinburgh build, rebuild and repair garden walls, retaining walls and boundary walls and repoint tired brickwork – using the right materials and proper foundations so the work lasts.
Bricklaying is the trade the business was built on. John McDaid has spent more than 14 years laying brick and block across Edinburgh and Midlothian, and the same care goes into a low front-garden wall as into a long retaining wall holding back a slope.
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Experienced bricklayers in Edinburgh for walls, repairs and openings
One of the biggest bricklaying jobs we've taken on shows how we work. A customer in Edinburgh had a 27.5-metre double-skin brick wall, part of it retaining the ground behind, collapse along its length. We took the old wall and its failed foundations out, put new foundations in and rebuilt the whole run in two weeks with a team of six.
That job brings together most of what we do: assessing why a wall failed, sorting the ground and foundations, then building something that will stand for decades. Below are the bricklaying services we offer, each with its own page.
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Our bricklaying services
Garden walls
New brick and block boundary walls, dwarf walls, raised beds and feature walls, finished in facing brick, render or stone to suit the house.
Garden wall repairs and rebuilds
Leaning, cracked, bulging or collapsed walls assessed, taken down where needed and rebuilt on new foundations.
Retaining walls
Walls that hold back soil on sloping gardens, built with footings and drainage matched to the height and the load.
Repointing
Failed or crumbling mortar raked out and replaced on garden walls, boundary walls, patios and paths, so the joints keep water out again.
Slap throughs and structural openings
Knocking through internal walls, new doorways and widened openings are covered in our building services section.
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How we build a wall that lasts
Most walls that fail in Edinburgh gardens fail from the bottom.
The footing was too shallow, too narrow or missing, or water was left to sit behind the wall until frost and pressure pushed it over. The brickwork above is often fine; it's what's under the ground that let it down.
So every wall starts with the foundation. We dig down to firm ground, below the depth that frost reaches, and pour a concrete footing wide enough for the wall's height and thickness. Brick or block goes up level and plumb, with a damp-proof course where it's needed and wall ties or piers on longer runs for strength. Copings or caps go on top to shed rainwater, because a wall that soaks up water from the top is a wall that will need repointing early.
Where a wall holds back ground, drainage goes in behind it: free-draining stone backfill and weep holes so water has a way out rather than building pressure.
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Bricks, blocks and finishes
Facing brick
The classic choice for boundary and garden walls. We'll match an existing brick where we can, or help you pick one that suits the house.
Concrete block, rendered
A cost-effective option for longer walls, finished with render to a clean, modern look.
Block with a stone or brick face
Block strength behind, a decorative face in front. Useful for retaining walls.
Natural stone
Common on older Edinburgh properties.
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Where we work
We take on bricklaying across Edinburgh, from older stone-built streets in Morningside and Leith to post-war bungalows in Corstorphine and Liberton, and newer estates on the edge of the city. We also cover Midlothian, East and West Lothian and the northern Borders, including Dalkeith, Bonnyrigg, Penicuik, Musselburgh and Livingston.
Bricklaying FAQs
Can you match my existing brick?
Usually, yes. Many common bricks are still made, and for older or discontinued bricks we can often find a close match from a reclamation yard. Bring it up at the site visit and we'll tell you how close we can get.
Is it worth repairing a wall, or should it be rebuilt?
If the foundation is sound and the damage is limited to a section, repair is usually the sensible option. If the wall is leaning along its length or the footing has failed, patching it only delays the inevitable. We'll explain what we see and give you both options where both make sense.
How long does a new garden wall take?
A short garden wall can be done in a few days, including time for the foundation to set. Longer or taller walls take longer, and we'll give you a realistic timescale with the quote.
Do you work in winter?
Yes, but we won't lay brick in hard frost because mortar needs to cure above freezing. If the weather turns, we'll pause and protect the work rather than rush it.
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Talk to a local bricklayer
Send a photo of the wall or the space and we'll come out to measure up and quote. Call or text 07426 792387 or request a free quote.
Bricklaying services
Garden Walls
Garden Walls in Edinburgh by a local team. New brick and block garden and boundary walls, built on proper foundations. Free quotes: 07426 792387.
Find out moreWall Repairs & Rebuilds
Garden Wall Repairs in Edinburgh from a local Loanhead team. Leaning, cracked or collapsed walls taken down and rebuilt safely. Free quotes: 07426 792387.
Find out moreRetaining Walls
Retaining Walls in Edinburgh from a local Loanhead team. Retaining walls for sloping gardens, designed with drainage in mind. Free quotes: 07426 792387.
Find out moreRepointing
Repointing in Edinburgh from a local Loanhead team. Brick and stone repointing for walls, patios and paths. Free quotes: 07426 792387.
Find out moreFree quotes
Get a free, no-obligation quote
Call or text 07426 792387, or send photos through the quote form.