Masonry
Blocks, bricks, sand, cement, lime, and mortar for the walls and below-DPC groundwork of a domestic extension — the raw materials your bricklayer will use every day.
Building Sand: The Complete Guide for UK Homeowners
Everything you need to know about building sand for bricklaying and blockwork: mortar mix ratios, quantities, colour matching, delivery logistics, and common mistakes. UK 2026.
100mm Aerated Concrete Blocks: The Inner Leaf Workhorse Explained
Everything a UK homeowner needs to know about 100mm aerated blocks: specs, brands, weight, thermal performance, mortar mix, fixings, and the below-DPC rule that trips everyone up.
100mm Dense Concrete Blocks: The Below-DPC Workhorse Explained
Everything a UK homeowner needs to know about 100mm dense concrete blocks: specs, weight, blocks per m², where to use them, and the most common beginner mistake.
140mm Concrete Blocks: When Your Structural Engineer Upgrades from 100mm
Why structural engineers specify 140mm blocks, when the 1m foundation depth rule kicks in, how to handle 27kg blocks safely, and what to pay in 2026.
Engineering Bricks: Class A vs Class B, Where They Go, and How Many You Need
UK homeowner guide to engineering bricks: Class A vs B specs, mortar requirements, quantity calculations, and what building control will check below DPC.
Facing Bricks: How to Choose, Match, and Order for Your Extension
The complete UK homeowner guide to facing bricks: brick types, frost ratings, matching existing brickwork, quantity calculations, and what to pay. Covers common beginner mistakes.
Hydrated Lime in Mortar: What It Is, Why It's Used, and When to Choose It
The complete guide to hydrated lime for UK construction: mix ratios, lime vs plasticiser, safety, storage, and why it's not the same as hydraulic lime.
Plastering Sand: What It Is, How to Use It, and How Much You Need
The definitive UK guide to plastering sand (rendering sand): particle sizes, mix ratios, render coverage calculations, and where to buy. From £2.50 per 25kg bag.
Portland Cement: What It Is, How to Use It, and How Much You Need
The definitive guide to Portland cement for UK homeowners: CEM I vs CEM II, mix ratios for mortar and concrete, how many bags per m², storage, safety, and current prices.
Premixed Mortar Bags: When to Use Them and When to Skip Them
UK guide to premixed mortar bags - coverage per bag, cost vs site-mixing, mortar classifications (M4/M6), when bags make sense, and the quantity trap that catches DIYers.
Sharp Sand: What It Is, What It's For, and How Much You Need
The definitive UK guide to sharp sand: concrete and screed mix ratios, quantity calculations by job type, bulk bag vs 25kg bags, and the beginner mistake that ruins floors.