Brick edging in Exeter
Professional brick edging services in Exeter and surrounding areas. Local, reliable handyman - no job too small.
Price Guide
£110-£210
Typical Duration
2-4 hrs
Location
Exeter, Devon
Brick edging installed properly - dug in, set on concrete, level and straight. Defines your garden beds, keeps gravel where it belongs, and gives that crisp finished look. Built to last.
The Difference Clean Lines Make
Your garden beds bleeding into the lawn? Gravel path spreading everywhere? Proper brick edging sorts it - one clean line that separates spaces and keeps everything contained.
💡 Pro tip: Brick edging doubles as a mowing strip. Set it flush with the lawn and you can run the mower wheels along it - cuts right to the edge with no strimming needed.
Brick Edging vs Other Options
| ✅ Brick on Concrete | ❌ Alternatives |
|---|---|
| Lasts decades without maintenance | Plastic lifts and cracks within years |
| Solid barrier that stays put | Metal rusts or bends |
| Can take mower wheels | Timber rots and warps |
| Suits traditional properties | Modern materials look out of place |
| Set at exact height you need | Flexible edging shifts and moves |
What You Get
🔧 The Full Service
| Stage | What Happens |
|---|---|
| Mark Out | String line set to show exact path, curves measured |
| Dig & Set | Trench dug, concrete bed laid, bricks set level |
| Point & Clean | Joints pointed if needed, excess concrete removed |
📦 You're Left With
- Crisp, level edging
- Gravel/bark/slate contained
- Mowing made easier
- Professional finish that lasts
Pricing Guide
| Run Length | Estimated Time | You'll Pay |
|---|---|---|
| 3-5 metres | 2-2.5 hrs | £110-£135 |
| 5-8 metres | 2.5-3 hrs | £135-£160 |
| 8-12 metres | 3-4 hrs | £160-£210 |
Based on £60 minimum (first hour) + £50/hr after. Includes labour and concrete. Bricks charged separately - typically £1-2 each (you need about 5 per metre for single row on edge).
Perfect For Your Project If...
✅ Gravel paths - stop stones migrating onto the lawn
✅ Raised beds - define the edge and retain soil
✅ Lawn borders - create a mowing strip to save strimming
✅ Traditional gardens - brick suits period Exeter properties perfectly
Why Choose Us for Brick edging in Exeter?
Bricks set on concrete for long-lasting stability
Level finish or matching existing contours
Clean lines that define your garden spaces
Mowing strip option for easy lawn maintenance
What to Expect
Step 1: Mark & Measure
I'll set string lines to show where the edging will run. You can see exactly what it'll look like and adjust before I start digging.
Step 2: Dig & Concrete
Trench dug to the right depth, concrete bed laid. Bricks get set on the wet concrete, tapped level and true to the line. Curves need more care than straight runs.
Step 3: Point & Finish
Once the concrete's set (couple of hours), I point between bricks if that's the look you want, clean off any concrete mess, and backfill the trench edges. Clean edges, job done.
🔧 DIY Tips
Brick edging is very DIY-friendly if you're methodical:
🔧 Tools you'll need
- Spade and bricklaying trowel
- String line and pegs
- Spirit level
- Lump hammer and rubber mallet
- Bucket for mixing concrete
- Pointing trowel (optional)
📐 Setting out
- Mark your line with string and pegs - this is your guide
- For curves, use a hosepipe laid on the ground to visualise the shape
- Measure along the string to work out brick quantities (5 per metre on edge)
🏗️ Installation process
- Dig trench about 150mm deep, 100mm wide
- Mix concrete (4:1 ballast to cement is fine)
- Lay 50mm concrete bed along bottom of trench
- Set bricks on wet concrete, tap level with rubber mallet
- Use spirit level to keep them consistent
- Point joints if desired once concrete has set
- Backfill soil behind the edging
⚠️ Common DIY mistakes
- Not digging deep enough (bricks tilt forward later)
- Setting bricks on soil instead of concrete (they shift)
- Inconsistent height (looks wonky, ruins the effect)
- Not checking level frequently enough
- Letting concrete set before bricks are perfectly placed
💡 Pro trick: For curves, use the brick itself to guide you - lay one brick, step back and eye it up, then lay the next. Small adjustments each brick create smooth curves. Trying to force a perfect radius with a string looks mechanical.
Rather leave it to a pro? No problem - that's what I'm here for. Give me a call.
Good to Know
🌱 Doing both sides of a path? Set them both at the same time so they match perfectly. Doing one side then coming back to the other later means heights never quite line up.
Choosing brick colour? Blue engineering bricks are classic and nearly indestructible. Red engineering bricks blend better with traditional garden settings. Reclaimed bricks look gorgeous but can be soft - not ideal for edging that gets traffic.
Old Exeter gardens? Your soil might have tonnes of rubble and roots. Digging can take longer than expected - I'll work around what's there and give you a realistic time once I see what we're dealing with.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the advantage of brick edging over plastic or metal?
Bricks look better, last longer, and don't shift or lift like plastic edging. They can take mower wheels running over them (plastic cracks), they don't rust like metal, and they suit traditional Exeter properties. More work to install, but you do it once and it's sorted for decades.
Can you match my existing house bricks?
I can try - bring a sample to the builder's merchant and we'll find the closest match. Engineering bricks are popular for edging because they're harder-wearing and frost-proof. They come in reds, blues, and buffs, so there's usually something that coordinates nicely.
Will the edging stop my gravel spreading onto the lawn?
Yes - that's exactly what it's for. The bricks create a solid barrier that contains gravel, bark, or slate. I set them at the right height so you can mow right up to them without the mower hitting the edge. Keeps everything tidy.
How long does a typical garden border take?
Depends on the run length. I can usually do 5-8 metres in 2-3 hours including digging, setting on concrete, and cleaning up. Curves or corners take longer than straight runs. I'll give you a better estimate once I know your layout.
Do I need to buy the bricks myself?
Either way works. If you know what you want, buy them yourself. If not, tell me how many linear metres you need and I'll work out quantities and pick them up. You'll need about 5 bricks per metre for a single row on edge.
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