Rates are UK national (non-London): central London and constrained urban sites typically run dearer — adjust the labour, plant and access lines in the build-up accordingly.
140mm dense 7.3N blockwork
per m² · supply & lay
£81 – £139 / m²
What is it
The supply and laying of a single skin of 140 mm dense aggregate blockwork of 7.3 N/mm² grade to a vertical wall, priced per m² of wall face. At 140 mm the dense aggregate block gives a thicker, heavier leaf than the 100 mm skin — specified for higher loadings, party and separating walls, and below-DPC substructure where mass, strength and a durable face matter. One finish is priced:
Standard — a common-face block, to be plastered, rendered, painted or dry-lined; the usual choice and the default rate.
Rate range by wall complexity
Simple£81 – £105 / m²
Standard£92 – £119 / m²
Complex£108 – £139 / m²
Budget rate per m².
3 key cost drivers
Wall complexity
Openings, returns, piers and reveals slow the gang and add cutting waste. It is a key driver of the rate.
Wall thickness
This rate is for a 140 mm block. A thicker block is a dearer, heavier unit, beds in more mortar and is laid more slowly than the 100 mm leaf of the same grade. Thickness is a key driver of both material cost and laying speed.
Location
London and the South East typically add around 20% to labour.
Estimator
Budget rate generator
£92 – £119 / m²
Covers 140 mm dense 7.3N aggregate blocks, bedding mortar, the laying gang and O&P · excl. prelims, scaffold & VAT
Exclusions
Lifting & material distribution — telehandler / forklift, hoist and site-distribution labour (an attendance, in main-contractor prelims)
DPC, lintels, wall ties & cavity insulation, movement joints
Wall finishes — plaster, render or dry-lining
Scaffold supply (usually in preliminaries)
Preliminaries — main-contractor site set-up, management & welfare