9 March 2026
One of the first questions people ask is how long the brickwork will take. The honest answer is that it depends, but the things it depends on are predictable once you know what to look for.
A bricklayer lays a certain number of bricks a day, and that number moves with the job. A long straight wall goes quickly. A wall full of corners, openings, piers and detail goes slower because the setting out and cutting take time. Things that affect the rate:
Laying brick is only one stage. Before a brick goes down there is setting out, mixing, and often a footing or slab that has to be ready and cured. After the last brick there is cleaning down, raking or finishing the joints, and sometimes sealing. A small job can carry a day of preparation and a day of finishing around the actual laying.
Mortar does not like extremes. In a Melbourne winter a cold, wet stretch can stop work because mortar will not set properly and fresh work needs protecting from rain. In a heat spike the mix dries too fast and has to be managed. We would rather lose a day to weather than rush brickwork that has to last decades. Plan for the season and build in some slack.
A tight site slows everyone down. If a barrow cannot get to the wall, the bricks and mortar get carried, and that adds hours. On a new build the bricklaying also has to slot in around the frame, the roof and the other trades, so the timeline is rarely about the brickwork alone.
Rather than a fixed number, think in ranges and stages: preparation, laying, then finishing. A small garden wall might be a few days. A full house of brickwork runs into weeks. The best estimate comes from someone looking at your actual plans and site.
If you want a real timeline for your job, send through a photo or your plans and your suburb. We will walk you through the stages and give you an honest range.