Brick and AAC block masonry: what to state for a fair price
The material decides both the price and the method
Laying different materials is a different technique. AAC blocks and similar blocks go on a thin layer of adhesive, and the whole wall depends on how level the first course is. Bricks, especially facing bricks, are laid in mortar with staggered joints, and neatness and looks matter. For external walls, thickness depends on the design: for example 150, 200 or 230 mm for blocks, or a 4.5-inch, 9-inch wall in brick.
So always write the material and the wall thickness in your request: these details change the estimate straight away.
What to put in your request
- What to build — the shell of a house, individual walls, partitions, a compound wall, columns.
- Material — AAC block, concrete block, brick (common or facing), block size.
- Quantity — in m³, or the dimensions of the building and wall height.
- Related work — reinforcement of the masonry, tie beams, lintels over openings, waterproofing.
- Materials — blocks and adhesive yours or the contractor's.
- Site conditions — electricity, water, access, whether materials must be lifted to a height.
- Address, timing, budget, for example a rate per m³.
Example: “Makati, private plot. I need the shell of a single-storey house, 30×36 ft, built with 200 mm AAC blocks: first course in mortar, tie beam and lintels. Blocks and adhesive are mine, electricity and water are on site. To be finished before the rainy season.”
How to choose a mason
Compare more than the price per cubic metre. Look at photos of finished work: walls should be straight vertically and horizontally, with even joints. Ask about the warranty, the size of the crew and the timelines. Check separately who is responsible for defects and who corrects the masonry to the design geometry.
- Whether the price includes the first course on a damp-proof layer and the reinforcement of the masonry.
- Who buys and delivers the blocks, adhesive and steel bars.
- Whether lifting material to the first floor and scaffolding are counted.
- How the work is paid for: per m³ or per stage.
How to search on BlaBlaPrice
You create a request on the home page, and masons and crews in your region reply in chat. You don't need to look for them in classifieds: they compete for your request and see where their offer stands, so they often improve the price or the timeline. Contacts stay hidden until you choose. More in the section How it works.
Common mistakes
The most common mistake is a poor first line: if the first course isn't level, the whole wall will “drift”. The second is not reinforcing the masonry where the design requires it. The third is saving on openings: without lintels over windows and doors the wall will crack. And don't leave fresh masonry in heavy rain or hot sun without protection: ask how the crew handles this.
When the walls are ready, move on to finishing work or see turnkey construction.
