How to order building work: masonry, plastering, screed
First decide the type of work and the quantity
Construction services are individual jobs, not a turnkey build: laying AAC blocks or bricks, plastering walls, a floor screed, concrete work, foundations. The crew needs specifics, otherwise it will quote “by eye” and change the price later.
Quantity is counted in the units the tradesman works in: square feet of plaster or screed, cubic metres of masonry or concrete, running metres. If you don't know the exact figure, write the dimensions of the walls or the plot, and the contractor will work it out.
How it works through BlaBlaPrice
You don't hunt for crews in classifieds. You write one request on the home page: what to do, where, when. The request is checked, anything extra is removed, and you are told which details are missing. Then crews and contractors in your region reply in chat with their offers.
They can see where they stand among the others, so they improve their terms and the price often turns out better. Nobody sees your phone number until you choose a provider. More on the page How it works.
What to put in your request
- Type of work — masonry, plastering, screed, foundation, concrete work.
- Quantity — m², m³ or running metres.
- Site and stage — new build, old house, which floor.
- Materials — yours or the contractor's, any preferred brand.
- Site conditions — electricity, water, access for machinery, height and scaffolding.
- Experience — years in the trade, size of the crew, portfolio.
- Address, timing, budget, if you want to state one.
Example: “Wellington, private house, ground floor. I need machine plastering of the walls, about 1,300 sq ft, walls of AAC blocks. Materials by the contractor, electricity and water on site. Start in two weeks, portfolio needed.”
What the cost depends on
- Type and difficulty of the work: laying AAC blocks on adhesive and brickwork with staggered joints cost different amounts.
- Height: on an upper floor you need scaffolding, and that is a separate line in the estimate.
- Access: if machinery can't get in, materials are carried by hand and the work gets dearer.
- Season: good crews are busy before and after the rainy season, and during heavy rain some jobs can't be done at all.
- Urgency: “needed yesterday” almost always costs more than a plan a month ahead.
How to compare offers and what to avoid
First make sure everyone is pricing the same quantity. Then check whether the price includes materials, delivery, debris removal, scaffolding hire and cleaning. Ask about payment stages: a sensible approach is a small advance and payment per completed stage. Reviews next to the offer help when two prices are close.
A typical mistake is not clarifying who buys the materials and not agreeing on timelines and a warranty for the work. Then the final bill differs from the first estimate. Write down what you agreed in the chat or in a written agreement.
Another trap is a very low price with no explanation. Ask what it is made up of: often part of the costs has simply not been counted, and they appear later.
If you need the whole process, look at turnkey construction. For the final touches there is finishing work.
