1. About These Terms
These terms govern the use of this website and the supply of brickwork services by RWD Brickwork Limited, a contractor operating from 22 Warren Avenue, Rawmarsh, Rotherham - S62 7JQ, United Kingdom (GB). By browsing the site, sending an enquiry or accepting a quotation, you agree to the terms that apply to that activity. Please read them before you commit to anything.
The terms are written in plain English and are meant to be read, not merely filed. Where a term limits what the Company will do, it is stated openly. Nothing in these terms is intended to remove a right that a consumer has under the law of England and Wales, and if any term is found to be unfair or unenforceable it will be read down to the extent needed while the rest continues to apply.
The Company may update these terms from time to time. The version that applies to a job is the version in force when the contract is formed, unless both parties agree otherwise in writing. The date at the top of this page shows when the current version was published.
2. Definitions
To keep the terms clear, a few words are used in a fixed way throughout this document.
- Company means RWD Brickwork Limited, including its yard staff and crews.
- Client means the person or organisation that commissions work or sends an enquiry.
- Site means the property or land where the work is to be carried out.
- Work means the brickwork, repointing, chimney, fireplace or paving services described in the accepted quotation.
- Quotation means the written price and scope issued after a survey.
- Contract means the agreement formed when a quotation is accepted.
- Working Day means Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays.
The singular includes the plural and the plural includes the singular where the sense requires it. A reference to writing includes email and any message that can be kept for the record.
3. Using This Website
The website provides general information about the services of the Company and a way to make contact. It may be used for lawful purposes only. You must not attempt to interfere with the site, introduce malicious code, probe the server for weaknesses or use the contact form to send spam, unlawful material or content that infringes the rights of another person.
The information on the site is provided in good faith and is believed to be accurate at the time of publication. Brickwork is a practical trade and every wall is different, so the descriptions on the site are general guidance rather than a promise that a particular method will suit a particular property. A survey is always required before a price is fixed.
The Company aims to keep the site available, but it does not guarantee uninterrupted access. Maintenance, hosting faults or a change of provider may cause a short interruption. The site has been written so that the content remains readable without scripting, which means the essential information is available even when a feature is unavailable.
4. Enquiries and Surveys
An enquiry can be made by telephone, email or the contact form. The Company will acknowledge an enquiry within a reasonable time and will ask for the information it needs to decide whether a survey is appropriate. An enquiry does not create a contract and does not reserve a slot in the schedule.
The first survey within Rotherham is free. A survey involves a foreman visiting the site, measuring the work and assessing the condition of the brickwork or paving. Where a test patch is needed for repointing, the patch is agreed with the client before it is cut. The findings are recorded and used to prepare a quotation.
Where a site is outside the usual travel area, a survey fee may be quoted in advance. Any fee is confirmed in writing before the visit and is credited against the cost of the work if the quotation is accepted, unless the parties agree otherwise.
5. Quotations and Estimates
A quotation sets out the work, the materials, the price, the expected duration and any assumptions on which the price depends. It remains open for acceptance for thirty days from the date it is issued unless a different period is stated. After that period the Company may revise it, particularly if the price of brick or lime has changed.
An estimate is a reasoned guess rather than a fixed price and is described as an estimate in the document. Where the Company issues an estimate, the client is told which elements may vary and why. The Company prefers to issue a fixed quotation wherever the condition of the wall can be established with reasonable confidence.
A quotation assumes that the work can be carried out in the manner described and that the access conditions set out in the document are met. If a concealed condition is discovered, such as a failed lintel behind plaster or a footing that is shallower than expected, the Company will stop and discuss a variation before proceeding.
6. Formation of the Contract
A contract is formed when the client accepts a quotation in writing and, where the quotation requires it, pays any agreed deposit. Acceptance may be by email, by a signed copy of the quotation or by a clear written instruction that refers to the quotation. A verbal acceptance is binding once it is confirmed in writing by either party.
The contract consists of the accepted quotation, these terms and any written variation that is agreed later. If there is a conflict, the accepted quotation takes priority for the description of the work and these terms take priority for the general conditions of supply.
The Company may decline a commission if the work cannot be carried out safely, if the requested method would damage the building, or if the schedule cannot accommodate the job. A refusal will be explained, and where possible an alternative approach will be suggested.
7. Scope of Work
The Company carries out the work described in the accepted quotation. Anything not described is outside the scope, even if it is mentioned in conversation or appears on a drawing that was not attached to the quotation. The scope is written to be specific so that both parties know what is included.
Typical scope descriptions cover the area of wall, the bond, the brick, the mortar mix, the joint profile, the treatment of openings and the removal of waste. Where the work includes a chimney, the scope states whether the pots and cowl are supplied and whether scaffold is included. Where the work includes paving, the scope states the sub-base depth and the edging detail.
Making good after the work is limited to the immediate area of the brickwork unless the quotation says otherwise. Plastering, decorating, joinery and electrical work are not part of the service and should be arranged separately, although the Company will coordinate with another trade where the schedule allows.
8. Access, Power and Water
The client is responsible for providing safe access to the site for the crew and for any delivery. This includes keeping a parking space free where one is needed, unlocking gates and making sure that the area around the work is clear. Where access is shared, the client should obtain any permission needed from a neighbour or a building manager.
The Company will normally need a supply of water and a standard electrical supply for cutting and mixing. If these are not available, the crew will bring what it can and the cost of any temporary supply will be added by agreement. The client should tell the Company in advance if a supply is not available.
The client should also tell the Company about any known hazard, such as asbestos, a fragile roof, a gas appliance, a hidden service pipe or an aggressive dog. This information allows the crew to plan the work safely and to avoid a delay on the day.
9. Schedule and Weather
The Company will use reasonable efforts to start and finish on the dates given in the quotation. Those dates are estimates, not guarantees. Brickwork is weather dependent: frost, heavy rain and high wind can stop laying and can affect the curing of lime mortar. A delay caused by weather is not a breach of the contract.
Where a delay is likely, the Company will tell the client as soon as it becomes apparent and will offer a revised date. The Company will not leave a site in an unsafe condition during a pause and will make the wall weathertight before stopping if the work is at a stage where that matters.
The client is asked to keep the site clear on the agreed dates and to be available, or to name a person who can make decisions, so that questions can be answered without stopping the crew. A crew that arrives to find the access blocked may have to leave and return, and a wasted journey may be charged.
10. Price and Payment
The price is the amount stated in the accepted quotation. It includes the labour, the materials described and the removal of waste described. It excludes anything listed as an exclusion and anything that is added by an agreed variation.
Unless the quotation says otherwise, payment is due as follows: a deposit on acceptance for jobs over a stated value, a stage payment when the work reaches an agreed point, and the balance on completion. Invoices are payable within seven days. The Company may charge interest on late payment at a reasonable rate set out in the invoice.
Where the work is for a consumer, the deposit will not be set at a level that is unfair or that leaves the consumer without protection. Where the work is for a business, the terms of payment are those agreed in the quotation. The Company will provide a receipt for every payment and will keep a clear record of the account.
VAT is charged where it applies and is shown separately on the invoice. If the VAT position changes during the work, the invoice will reflect the position at the date of supply.
11. Variations and Additional Work
A variation is a change to the scope, the materials or the schedule after the contract has been formed. A variation is agreed in writing before the extra work is carried out, except where a delay would cause danger or further damage, in which case the Company may act to make the site safe and will report the action as soon as possible.
A written variation records the change, the effect on the price and the effect on the schedule. The client is asked to confirm the variation so that there is no dispute later. If the client asks for a change that the Company cannot accommodate, the Company will say so and will suggest an alternative where one exists.
Where extra work is discovered, such as a corroded wall tie or a soft lintel, the Company will explain the options and the cost before proceeding. The client is free to decline the extra work, in which case the Company will complete what can be completed safely and will note the outstanding item in the handover record.
12. Materials and Brick Matching
The Company uses brick, lime, sand and ties from established suppliers. Where a brick is matched to an existing wall, the match is made by eye and by sample, and the client is shown the candidate brick before an order is placed. A match can be close but cannot be perfect, because bricks vary from batch to batch and weather differently over time.
Natural variation in brick and mortar is not a defect. A new repair may look slightly lighter or darker than the surrounding wall for the first season, and the difference usually softens as the new work weathers. The Company will explain this at the survey so that the client knows what to expect.
Where a specified brick becomes unavailable, the Company will propose an alternative of similar size, colour and texture and will not substitute without agreement. Any material left over after the work remains the property of the Company unless the quotation says it is to be left with the client.
13. Cancellation and Postponement
A consumer has a statutory right to cancel a contract made at a distance within fourteen days of formation, unless the work has started with the agreement of the consumer. Where a consumer asks for the work to start within the cancellation period, the consumer may be asked to pay for the work carried out up to the point of cancellation.
Beyond the statutory period, either party may cancel in writing. If the client cancels after materials have been ordered or a slot has been reserved, the Company may charge for the materials that cannot be returned and for the time lost, provided the charge is reasonable and is explained.
If the Company has to cancel, it will give as much notice as possible and will refund any payment for work not carried out. The Company will also help the client find another contractor where the schedule cannot be restored, although it cannot guarantee the price of another firm.
14. Defects and Warranty
The Company takes pride in work that lasts. A warranty period is stated in the quotation and is normally one year for general brickwork labour, with a longer period for structural work where that is agreed. The warranty covers faulty workmanship by the Company and does not cover damage caused by others, by movement in the building, by blocked drainage or by a lack of maintenance.
If a defect appears, the client should tell the Company promptly and allow access for an inspection. The Company will inspect within a reasonable time and will carry out a repair where the defect is covered. Where the defect is not covered, the Company will explain why and may offer a repair at a separate price.
Repointing and paving are affected by how a property is maintained. A wall that is allowed to sit in standing water or a paving bed that is not swept may fail sooner than one that is looked after. The Company will give simple maintenance advice at handover and will answer questions about it at any time.
15. Exclusions and Liability
The Company does not accept liability for loss that was not reasonably foreseeable when the contract was formed, for loss of profit or business opportunity, or for damage caused by a third party. Nothing in these terms limits liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence, for fraud, or for any other matter that cannot be limited by law.
The Company is not responsible for pre-existing defects that were not visible at the survey and that were not caused by the work, such as a chimney flue that was already breached or a footing that was already failing. Where such a defect is discovered, the Company will report it and will discuss the remedy.
Where the client supplies materials or arranges another trade to work in the same area, the Company is not liable for the quality of that material or that work. The Company will cooperate where it can, but responsibility stays with the person who supplied or arranged it.
16. Insurance and Safety
The Company holds public liability insurance and employer liability insurance at levels appropriate to the work it carries out. A certificate can be provided on request. Scaffold is erected and inspected in line with current guidance, and the crew works to a method statement appropriate to the job.
The site remains the responsibility of the client for the safety of visitors, animals and children. The client should keep people and pets away from the working area while the crew is present and should not move barriers or ladders that the crew has set up for safety.
Any accident or near miss should be reported to the foreman immediately. The Company keeps a record of incidents and will cooperate fully with any investigation by an insurer, a local authority or the Health and Safety Executive.
17. Subcontractors
The Company may engage a specialist subcontractor for a task such as scaffold erection, stove installation or structural work. A subcontractor is told the scope and is expected to work to the same standard as the Company. The client is informed in advance where a subcontractor will attend the site.
The Company remains the single point of contact for the client on a subcontracted element that forms part of the overall job. If a subcontractor fails to attend, the Company will manage the rearrangement and will not leave the client to chase the matter alone.
A subcontractor may hold its own insurance and may require its own access arrangements. The Company will coordinate these details so that the client is not asked the same question twice.
18. Property, Waste and Neighbours
The client is responsible for confirming that the work is permitted for the property and that any necessary consent has been obtained, for example where a wall adjoins a boundary or where a chimney is on a shared stack. The Company can advise on common issues but cannot give legal advice.
Waste from the work is removed and disposed of at a licensed facility unless the quotation says otherwise. Where the client wishes to keep rubble or reclaimed brick, this should be agreed in advance so that it can be set aside rather than loaded for disposal.
Brickwork can be noisy and can create dust. The Company will take reasonable steps to reduce disturbance, such as sheeting the working area and keeping cutting to sensible hours. Where a neighbour is likely to be affected, a word in advance usually prevents a complaint. The Company will not use a neighbouring property for access without permission.
19. Intellectual Property
The text, layout and images on this website belong to the Company or are used with permission. You may read, print or share a page for personal or internal business use. You may not copy the site for a commercial purpose, republish it as your own or remove a notice of ownership without written consent.
Drawings, surveys and specifications prepared by the Company for a job remain the property of the Company and are licensed to the client for the purpose of the job. They may not be used for a different project or passed to another contractor for a similar job without agreement.
Photographs of finished work may be used by the Company to illustrate its services. Where a client does not wish a property to appear, the client should say so and the images will not be used externally.
20. Personal Data
The Company processes personal data in line with its privacy policy, which is published on this site. The policy explains what is collected, why it is needed, how long it is kept and how a person can exercise their rights. By sending an enquiry or accepting a quotation, you acknowledge that the policy applies to the information you provide.
The Company will not sell your details or add you to a marketing list without agreement. It will share details with a supplier only where that is necessary to deliver the work, and it will keep records for the periods described in the privacy policy.
If you have a question about data that is not answered by the privacy policy, contact the office at brick@rwdbrick.lat. A named person will deal with the request and will explain the outcome in writing.
21. Force Majeure
Neither party is liable for a failure to perform that is caused by an event outside its reasonable control. Such events include severe weather, flooding, civil disruption, industrial action by a third party, a failure of a utility supply, and a shortage of a material that could not reasonably have been anticipated.
The affected party will tell the other as soon as it becomes aware of the event and will take reasonable steps to reduce the effect. The schedule will be adjusted by agreement. If the event continues for a prolonged period, either party may end the contract, and the Company will account for work done and materials ordered up to that point.
An event that merely makes a job less convenient or more expensive is not a force majeure event. The clause is intended for genuine disruption, not for ordinary commercial risk.
22. Complaints and Disputes
If you are unhappy with any part of the work or the service, please tell the Company as soon as possible. A concern raised early can usually be put right without cost or argument. The foreman who supervised the job is the first point of contact, and the office will keep a record of the conversation.
A written complaint will receive a written acknowledgement within five working days and a full response within a reasonable period after the site has been inspected. The Company will set out what it has found, what it proposes and the timescale for any remedy.
If a dispute cannot be settled by discussion, the parties may agree to use a mediation service. Mediation is voluntary and either party may decline it. Nothing in this clause prevents either party from going to court where that is appropriate.
23. Governing Law
These terms and any contract formed under them are governed by the law of England and Wales. The courts of England and Wales have exclusive jurisdiction over any dispute, except where the law gives a consumer the right to bring or defend a claim in the courts of the country in which the consumer lives.
If any provision of these terms is held to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions continue in full force and effect. A failure by the Company to enforce a term on one occasion is not a waiver of that term on a later occasion.
These terms are written in English and any translation is provided for convenience only. The English text prevails if there is a difference between versions.
24. Contact Details
RWD Brickwork Limited can be contacted at 22 Warren Avenue, Rawmarsh, Rotherham - S62 7JQ, United Kingdom (GB). The office email is brick@rwdbrick.lat and the telephone number is +14407901811. The office is generally open from eight in the morning to five in the afternoon, Monday to Friday, and on Saturday morning by arrangement.
Please quote the job reference or the property address in any correspondence about a live job. This helps the office find the file quickly and answer without delay. If you are contacting the Company about a new job, a photograph of the wall is always welcome.
The Company is grateful for the chance to be considered for your work and will treat every enquiry with the same care, whether it is a single patch of repointing or a chimney rebuilt from the roof line.