Brickwork in Dunstablebuilt level, finished neat,guaranteed to last.
Garden walls, small builds and brick repairs carried out by Francis with guaranteed workmanship. Send a photo and get a free, clear quote.
£100k Insured
Public liability cover
Licensed Waste Carrier
EA licence CBDU430346
Guaranteed Work
Brickwork workmanship guaranteed
Free Photo Quotes
No site visit needed
Brickwork overview
Brickwork that looks right and stays put
Brickwork covers building and repairing walls, piers, steps and small structures, as well as replacing damaged or crumbling bricks in existing walls. Crown Property Services carries out brickwork for homeowners in Dunstable, Houghton Regis, St Albans, Harpenden, Redbourn and the surrounding towns.
This service is for homeowners who want a new garden wall, bin store or planter, people with a wall that is cracking, leaning or losing bricks, and anyone who needs damaged bricks replaced to match the rest of the house.
Brickwork is usually needed when frost has blown the faces off bricks, when tree roots or ground movement have cracked a wall, after accidental damage, or when you are improving your garden or front of house.
Doing it properly matters because a wall is only as good as its footing and its first course. Bricks laid out of level or without proper foundations show it quickly. Francis takes care over the basics and the finish, and brickwork is one of the services where his workmanship is guaranteed.
The cost of waiting
What happens when damaged brickwork is ignored
Brick and mortar fail slowly, then suddenly. Small cracks and blown bricks get worse every winter.
Frost damage spreads
Water gets into cracked or porous bricks, freezes and expands, breaking off more of the brick face every cold snap.
Walls become unsafe
A leaning or cracked garden wall can collapse, which is a real risk to children, pets, cars and passers-by.
Damp gets inside
Damaged brickwork on the house lets water into the wall, leading to damp patches and damage indoors.
Repairs get bigger
Replacing a few bricks is a small job. Rebuilding a whole section after years of neglect is not.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Building a garden wall without a proper footing.
- Using a hard cement mortar on older, softer bricks, which pushes damage into the brick itself.
- Using bricks that do not match, leaving an obvious patch.
- Filling cracks with sealant without finding out why the wall cracked.
How it works
The brickwork process, step by step
- 1
Photos or site visit
Send photos or arrange a visit. Francis looks at the wall, the ground, the bricks and what caused any damage.
- 2
Clear quote
A straightforward, free price including materials and waste removal.
- 3
Preparation
Damaged bricks are cut out, or footings prepared for new work.
- 4
Build or repair
Bricks are laid level and in line with mortar suited to the job, then joints are finished neatly.
- 5
Clean finish and guarantee
The site is cleared, waste removed legally and the workmanship guaranteed.
What you get
The benefits of doing it properly
Guaranteed workmanship
Brickwork by Francis is guaranteed.
Safer walls
Unstable or damaged walls are put right before they become a hazard.
A neat match
Bricks and mortar chosen to blend with existing work wherever possible.
Built on proper footings
New walls start with the groundwork that keeps them standing.
Insured
£100,000 public liability insurance on every job.
One trusted person
The person who quotes your job builds it.
Pricing explained
What affects the cost of brickwork
Every job is priced on what it actually needs, so there is no fixed price list. These are the things that make the biggest difference. Send photos and you will get a clear, free quote before any work starts.
Get a Free Price- Size of the job
- Replacing a handful of bricks costs far less than building a new wall. Length, height and thickness all affect the price.
- Foundations
- New walls need a footing. Digging and pouring footings is a significant part of the work on a new build.
- Choice of bricks
- Bricks vary in cost, and matching an older or unusual brick can take more time to source.
- Demolition and waste
- Taking down a damaged wall and removing rubble adds to the job, but it is all covered by Francis's waste carrier licence.
- Finishing details
- Copings, piers, caps and decorative features add to both cost and appearance.
In detail
Brickwork jobs, materials and methods
From a low front-garden wall to replacing a handful of blown bricks, these are the jobs that come up most.
Garden and boundary walls
Low front walls, retaining walls and boundary walls need a proper footing and, for taller walls, piers or other support. Coping along the top keeps rain out of the core of the wall.
Brick replacement
Spalled or cracked bricks are cut out and replaced with matching bricks, then pointed in. This stops water getting into the wall and keeps it looking tidy.
Crack repairs
Cracks can come from ground movement, tree roots, failed lintels or simple age. Finding the cause first means the repair holds.
Small builds
Bin stores, planters, barbecue areas, steps and piers for gates are all practical brickwork jobs that add use and value to a property.
Matching old and new
Bricks vary in colour, size and texture. Taking time to match bricks and mortar colour stops a repair standing out.
Mortar choice
Mortar should usually be a little weaker than the brick so that any movement or moisture damage happens in the joint, which is easy to repair, rather than in the brick.
Brickwork and repointing
Where bricks are sound but joints are worn, repointing may be all that is needed. Francis also carries out repointing, so you get the right job rather than the bigger one.
Planning a new wall
Before building, think about what the wall needs to do: mark a boundary, retain soil, screen bins or add a feature. Height, thickness, bricks and copings all follow from that. Check with your neighbour if the wall sits on a shared boundary. Francis can talk through the options when he quotes, so the finished wall suits the house and lasts.
Brickwork on older homes
Many homes around Dunstable, St Albans and Berkhamsted were built with softer bricks and lime-based mortars. Repairs on these properties need a gentler approach so new work does not trap moisture or damage the original bricks around it.
Related services
Brickwork across Beds & Herts
When you book brickwork with Crown Property Services, you are not booking a company with an office, a sales team and a rota of subcontractors. You are booking Francis McDonagh. He is the person who answers the phone, looks at your photos, gives you the price and turns up to do the work. If you have a question halfway through the job, the person who knows the answer is standing in your garden.
Francis spent many years as an HGV driver before setting up the business. Throughout that time he was renovating and maintaining his own properties and helping family and friends with their repairs. That practical, hands-on experience is what Crown Property Services is built on: real work on real homes, not theory.
Every job is covered by £100,000 public liability insurance. Francis is a registered waste carrier with the Environment Agency (licence CBDU430346), which means old materials and waste from your job are removed and disposed of legally; you will not find them dumped down a country lane with your address on them. Workmanship on roofing, fencing and brickwork is guaranteed.
Quotes are free and can be given from photos or a site visit. Francis works Monday to Saturday, 08:30 to 18:30, across Dunstable, Houghton Regis, Leighton Buzzard, Toddington, Hemel Hempstead, Berkhamsted, St Albans, Harpenden and Redbourn. Payment is by bank transfer (BACS) or cash; card payments are not accepted.
Questions answered
Brickwork FAQs
How much does a new garden wall cost?
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It depends on the length, height, bricks chosen and groundwork needed. Send photos and measurements for a free quote.
How long does brickwork take?
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Small repairs are quick; new walls take longer depending on size. You will get a realistic timescale with your quote.
Is your brickwork guaranteed?
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Yes. Workmanship is guaranteed on all brickwork projects.
Can you match my existing bricks?
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Bricks and mortar are matched as closely as possible so the repair blends in.
My garden wall is leaning. Is it dangerous?
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A leaning wall can collapse. Keep people away from it and get it looked at. Send Francis a photo.
Do you take away the old bricks and rubble?
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Yes. Francis is a registered waste carrier with the Environment Agency (licence CBDU430346).
Are you insured?
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Yes, £100,000 public liability insurance.
Do you work in St Albans and Harpenden?
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Yes. Francis covers Dunstable, Houghton Regis, Leighton Buzzard, Toddington, Hemel Hempstead, Berkhamsted, St Albans, Harpenden and Redbourn.
How do I pay?
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Payment is by bank transfer (BACS) or cash. Card payments are not accepted.
Get your brickwork sortedby the person who quotes it.
Send a photo today for a free, no-obligation quote. Insured with £100,000 public liability cover, with guaranteed workmanship, and you deal with Francis from start to finish.