Structure & Site
Masonry Estimating Services in New Zealand
Block, brick and stone quantities by unit and wall type, with grout, reinforcing, ties and lintels counted alongside.
Masonry is counted in units, but it is priced on walls. A reinforced concrete block retaining wall involves blocks, bond beams, vertical steel, grout fill and drainage. A brick veneer involves bricks, mortar, ties, cavity flashings and lintels. Missing any of those turns a good price into a bad one.
We measure masonry by wall type and convert areas into unit counts using the block or brick specified, allowing for openings, corners and special units such as bond beam and lintel blocks. Grout volumes, reinforcing and accessories are measured with the wall, so everything needed to build it is in one place.
We cover concrete block construction, brick veneer cladding, stone veneer, schist and natural stone walls, and masonry retaining walls.
Scope
What we measure in a masonry takeoff
| Item | Unit | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Concrete block walls | m² / no. | By block series and thickness, with special units counted. |
| Grout fill | m³ | Full or partial fill as specified. |
| Block reinforcing | t / lm | Vertical and horizontal bars, bond beams. |
| Brick veneer | m² / no. | Brick count from face area, net of openings. |
| Ties and fixings | no. | Veneer ties at the specified spacing. |
| Lintels and flashings | lm / no. | Steel angle lintels, cavity trays and sill flashings. |
| Stone and schist | m² | Natural or manufactured stone by type. |
| Control joints | lm | Vertical joints at the spacing shown. |
Deliverables
What you receive
Masonry quantities include a unit count by type, which you can send straight to the block or brick supplier for pricing.
| Itemised quantity sheet | Excel + PDF |
| Marked-up plans | Colour-coded PDF |
| Material and labour schedule | Excel |
| Assumptions and exclusions list |
Who it is for
Built for the people who price the work
- Builders
- Price brick veneer on a new home with ties and lintels included.
- Subcontractors
- Blocklayers and bricklayers can quote by wall type and height.
- Developers
- Compare the cost of block party walls between townhouses against framed alternatives.
- Architects
- Check the cost impact of specifying stone feature walls.
Process
How a masonry estimate runs
STEP 01
Upload plans
Upload plans, elevations and structural details for the masonry elements.
STEP 02
Scope confirmation
We confirm unit types, fill and finish specifications and any proprietary systems.
STEP 03
Takeoff and review
Walls are measured by type and converted into unit counts, then checked against wall area.
STEP 04
Delivery
You receive the quantity sheet, unit schedule, PDF and marked-up elevations.
New Zealand context
Standards and practice
Concrete masonry buildings that do not require specific engineering design can be built to NZS 4229, while engineered masonry is designed to NZS 4230. Materials and workmanship are covered by NZS 4210. We measure to the standard or engineering design noted on the drawings.
Brick veneer is a common cladding in New Zealand and has specific requirements for ties, cavity width and height limits in NZS 3604 and E2/AS1. In higher earthquake zones, veneer tie spacing can be closer, which changes tie counts.
We measure and price to the drawings. Design compliance and building consent remain with your designer and building consent authority.
Cost drivers
What drives the cost of masonry work
01
Wall height and access
Low walls can be built from the ground; higher walls need scaffolding and slower lifts. Height bands help price labour realistically.
02
Reinforcing and grout
Fully filled and heavily reinforced blockwork takes much longer than partially filled walls. The engineer's specification controls this cost.
03
Unit type
Standard grey block, architectural block, clay brick and natural stone differ greatly in material and laying cost. We count each type separately.
04
Openings and details
Lintels, sills, corners and control joints add time. A wall with many openings costs more per square metre than a plain one.
Where masonry estimates go wrong
Masonry estimates often miss the special units: bond beam blocks, lintel blocks, half blocks and corner units. They cost more than standard units and have to be ordered separately.
The other common miss is accessories. Veneer ties, cavity trays, weep holes, control joint fillers and lintels are all small items, but a brick veneer cannot be built without them, and they add up across a whole house.
Scaffold for higher walls is also commonly overlooked. Once walls pass a certain height, blocklayers need scaffold to keep working safely and efficiently, and the cost of hiring and moving it should be included.
FAQ
Masonry Estimating questions
How do you calculate block numbers?
We measure net wall areas by block series and convert them to unit counts, then count corners, bond beam and lintel units separately.
Do you include grout and steel?
Yes. Grout volume and reinforcing are measured alongside each wall type.
Do you estimate retaining walls?
Yes, including drainage, backfill and waterproofing behind masonry retaining walls when shown.
Can you estimate brick veneer?
Yes. We count bricks, ties, lintels and cavity flashings from the elevations.
Do you include waste?
A waste allowance is shown separately. Breakage and cutting rates vary by unit type.
Related services
- Concrete Estimating
Concrete volumes in m³, formwork in m² and reinforcing in tonnes, measured element by element from your structural drawings.
- Reinforcement and Rebar Estimating
Reinforcing steel quantities by bar diameter, shape and element, plus mesh, laps, chairs and accessories, in tonnes and counts.
- Landscaping Estimating
Hard and soft landscaping quantities: paving, walls, fencing, planting, mulch and irrigation, measured from the landscape plan.
- Structural Estimating
Structural quantities measured straight from the engineer's drawings and schedules, across concrete, steel and engineered timber.
Get a quote
Send your plans for a masonry estimate
Upload your drawings and we will reply with a fixed fee and turnaround before any work starts. No obligation.
- — PDF, DWG and ZIP accepted
- — Fees in NZD, excluding GST
- — Prefer email? Use the link in the footer