Going back on the trowel after 20 years

[Markbon]

Hello. Im thinking of going back on site as a Bricklayer after a long time of doing other things. I thought id get opinions of how to approach it. Im bound to be slower from lack of practice and there will be a lot of things that have changed.. Ill be honest and let them know im out of practice and i'm prepared to take a pay cut until im up to speed. I understand its through agencies a lot these days. And ive got to get a new CSCS and I presume CIS card.
So any thoughts?

 

[Ian H]

How about building someone a kitchen, garden wall or something first? Get the wrist back in action before you go on site.

 

[HERTS P&D]

Get the wrist back in action.

No problem with the wrist, us men make sure its well used.



Andy

 

[Notch7]

Hello. Im thinking of going back on site as a Bricklayer after a long time of doing other things. I thought id get opinions of how to approach it. Im bound to be slower from lack of practice and there will be a lot of things that have changed.. Ill be honest and let them know im out of practice and i'm prepared to take a pay cut until im up to speed. I understand its through agencies a lot these days. And ive got to get a new CSCS and I presume CIS card.
So any thoughts?

theres a shortage of bricklayers -or at least proper brickies that can set out.

did you want to work on new build or with a local builder doing extensions etc.

In my area in mid Sussex, there is a shortage of good tradesmen generally, builders struggle to get skilled workers

 

[Bodd]

How's your Polish.

 

[Notch7]

How's your Polish.

Wax Polish

 

[Markbon]

Sorry people I didn't see the email to notify your replies.
I was thinking of going on site (new build) I never liked it before but it's regular and straight forward to get started.
A private job or two would help to start but I'd probably have to advertise and round here that rarely works. I've heard it's done through Facebook now but I know nothing about FB.
On the other point raised I got out just before the economic border control was relaxed. In my day blockwork was £10 a metre. I heard stories of £4 a couple of years later.

 

[bobasd]

you dont give dates or your age or qualifications (if any) and years of experience doing what kind of bricklaying?
do you have a basic set of brickie tools?

anyway, i'd suggest that you try at any local small sites doing extensions or refurbs etc.
be honest and just ask for a shot.
be ready to work there and then.
if they want a laborer then be it - get your foot in the door, & keep your mouth shut.

as suggested you could practice in your backyard:
get a couple of bags of sand, and a bag of lime (L&S allow you to clean off the bricks easy) and pull some bricks from a skip, & then start on the line and later start racking.

 

[Deleted member 174758]

On the bigger sites you will absolutely need a CSCS card (blue for level 2, gold for level 3) together with basic PPE (boots - many sites insist on S1P or S3 as they have sole protection, hi viz, hard hat, etc).

To get a CSCS card you'll need to do the H&S test (£21 if you apply directly to the CITB - avoid third party firms to book the test as they will just rip you off) then apply for a card (£36, again direct from CITB CSCS - needs proof of relevant NVQ and passport photo, takes a couple of weeks although many places will let you on if you have a copy of the test pass sheet and can show that you've applied for a card). Don't be tempted to go for a green (labourer) card - you now need to do a 1 day course as well as the H&S test before applying for a green card (which costs a lot more than just getting a trade card) and more and more bigger sites are refusing to take trades who turn up with a green card.

CIS is no longer a card - just ring Customs & Revenue and request your UTR (unique tax reference) which will take them a couple of weeks to post out to you.

And yes, a lot of work these days is through agencies who will pay you through a payroll company, but avoid any that want to put you through an umbrella scheme (unless you thoroughly investigate it - it's all too easy to get rinsed) and any that insist you go PAYE only. Expect to pay £25 to £20 a week (this is deducted pre tax) for the services of the payroll firm. The one good thing you can say for these arrangements is that you get paid a week in hand by almost all of them and that if the client goes belly up you are still going to get paid.

Good luck!

 

[bobasd]

what an excellent post J&K, full of the right stuff and bang up to date.

 

[Thomasthepiperson]

I heard that bricklayers can earn £40 an hour? Is that still true

 

[Deleted member 174758]

Cloud cuckoo land.. Not even sparkies get that much on day rate. AFAIK (so please bear in mind that I'm a joiner, not a brickie) in Yorkshire and the North West typical agency rates would be more in the order of £18 to £25 with direct sub potentially being a couple of quid higher, although a lot of bricklaying work is done on measure (I.e pricework). The higher the rate, though, the shorter the job as a rule

A couple of other details for hoq that I missed: basically if you go through an agency or direct on CIS and you inform them that you have applied for a UTR but don't yet have it they will be obliged to deduct 30% tax withholding at source on all payments until the UTR comes through. At that point the rate goes down to 20%. Note that unlike PAYE all tax deductions are on 100% of your gross income, they are not cumulative (so any over deductions can only be claimed back at the end of the tax year) and unlike PAYE you do not get any tax free allowances (so during the year your tax code is effectively zero). . Also note that you will need to arrange to pay NICs yourself (they are not automatically deducted) to ensure your pension entitlement when you reach that point in your life

 

[James45632]

Hello. Im thinking of going back on site as a Bricklayer after a long time of doing other things. I thought id get opinions of how to approach it. Im bound to be slower from lack of practice and there will be a lot of things that have changed.. Ill be honest and let them know im out of practice and i'm prepared to take a pay cut until im up to speed. I understand its through agencies a lot these days. And ive got to get a new CSCS and I presume CIS card.
So any thoughts?

This is the fastest way to get back into it:

1. Buy the City&Builds or NVQ 2 and 3 bricklaying textbooks (amazon sells them). They will get you updated on the current regs and teach you how to build walls/bonds you might have forgotten. Plenty of videos on youtube showing you how to do it if you need to see a demonstration
2. Buy bricks and sand from merchants, build a small wall to practise techniques
3. Follow the advice already mentioned by others on getting the papers/card/qualifications if you need them

Done.

 

[HERTS P&D]

This is the fastest way to get back into it:

1. Buy the City&Builds or NVQ 2 and 3 bricklaying textbooks (amazon sells them). They will get you updated on the current regs and teach you how to build walls/bonds you might have forgotten. Plenty of videos on youtube showing you how to do it if you need to see a demonstration
2. Buy bricks and sand from merchants, build a small wall to practise techniques
3. Follow the advice already mentioned by others on getting the papers/card/qualifications if you need them

Done.

Does it have the qualifications at the back of the books?



Andy

 

[bobasd]

James45632,
thanks for your post - you gave well helpful info to the OP, who's man-up, smart & honest enough to ask the right questions for what he hopes to do. well done mate.
and well done to the OP.

the fool who feels superior is the kind of fool that stopped learning at the age of seven or so - the kind of guy that admires an actor who exposes his groin to a circular saw ... go figure.