Black & White Facilities / Service brief
Brickwork and Masonry
Open joints, loose bricks, eroded faces and staining on external walls should be inspected before a repair method is chosen. Note when the defect first appeared and whether it is confined to one area, keeps returning or followed another change on the site. That distinction separates the immediate repair from any investigation or later programme.
What the work can include
- Inspection of the affected walls and joints.
- Repointing where needed and replacement of failed bricks, blocks or stone.
- Making good around windows, doors, copings and other weathering details.
A written scope records which elevations are included, what stays untouched and what is handed over at the end. On a multi-site contract, tag each item with its site and location so cost and follow-on action trace to the right wall.
Our full service catalogue, including every individual service, is available across every listed sector and location. For one site or several, we agree the scope, access and programme around the buildings concerned.
Important decisions
New mortar and replacement units should match the existing wall in strength, colour and profile, or the repair accelerates wear around it. Widespread cracking, or any sign of movement, needs investigation before cosmetic work is priced. Group recurring defects by block or asset reference so urgent repairs and planned renewals are budgeted separately.
Before we visit
Send photographs of the walls, the building's approximate age, earlier repairs and any history of movement. Add the asset register entry, the effect on operations and the spending limit. Name the site contact and the windows in which access equipment can be used without interrupting critical activity.
How the work proceeds
The enquiry fixes the outcome required and gathers what is already known. Inspection then confirms the masonry's condition and the boundaries of the instruction. Method, sequence, protection and access are agreed in writing before work starts on site.
At completion the work is recorded against the site or elevation reference, the result noted and any outstanding item separated from what has been closed. That record feeds the next maintenance cycle and its budget.
What affects cost and timing
Joint depth, masonry type, working height, sourcing matching materials and the amount of unstable work are the main drivers. Together they set labour, plant, sequence and duration; a photograph or a rough area figure rarely fixes the full scope.
For a programme across several sites, compare equivalent tasks and access assumptions before rolling them into one instruction. Agree temporary arrangements for the areas below and the point at which further work needs a fresh approval.
Applications across sectors
An office block may need access phased around tenants, a school needs work sequenced around playgrounds and entrances, and hospitality or industrial sites have their own expectations on appearance, cleaning and hours. The sectors pages cover the full range.
Local coverage
Black & White Facilities works across North East England, covering Northumberland, Tyne and Wear, County Durham and Tees Valley. Give the postcode and access details when you enquire, whether the building is in Newcastle, Gateshead, Durham, Middlesbrough or elsewhere in the area. The location directory shows the full coverage.
Frequently asked questions
Can damaged brickwork simply be repointed?
Repointing renews the mortar joints and nothing else. It will not fix a bulging wall, a failed lintel or bricks whose faces have broken away. Cause and condition decide whether the fix is new pointing, new units or a structural detail behind them.
What information helps define brickwork and masonry?
Wall photographs, the building's approximate age, earlier repairs and any movement history give a sound start. Say what result you want and whether access is tied to particular dates. Existing reports prevent assumptions about what has already been checked.
What most affects the price and programme?
Joint depth, masonry type, working height, matching materials and the quantity of unstable work are the starting variables. The agreed scope should list the preparation, access and completion tasks included, so proposals are compared like for like.
How should the finished work be recorded?
Log the site and work order reference, the elevations treated or units replaced, and any action still open. Keep limitations separate from completed items so the estate record stays reliable.
Guides and useful reading
The building fabric planning guidance explains the decisions that sit behind this service. Repair versus replacement shows how to weigh condition, cost and disruption when an element needs attention.
HSE construction guidance gives the wider working context.
Related services and your enquiry
The Building Fabric hub lists every service in this family. Closely related pages are Building Envelope and Facade Repairs, Ceilings and Partitions and Cladding and Curtain Walling. All services, maintenance, projects, sectors and locations describe the wider requirement.
Contact Black & White Facilities and quote the site reference, priority, authorised contact and any records held. Wall photographs, building age, earlier repairs and movement history, where held, let the next step be scoped around the actual wall.
Discuss the scope
Tell us what needs attention.
Share the site, the issue and any access requirements so we can discuss the next step.