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Bricklaying across Milton Keynes, Bedford & Northampton

4.9★ on GoogleSince 2008MK · Bedford · Northampton
Bricklaying work by MK Landscaping Services
4.9Google rating
27Google reviews
2008Operating since
150+Projects completed

In short

Garden walls, retaining walls and general brickwork, built by the same contractor who digs and pours the footings underneath them.

That combination is the point: a wall is only as good as its footing, and a retaining wall is only as good as the drainage behind it. Steve does the groundwork and lays the bricks, so both halves are one job with one person responsible.

Site visit first, written quote after. Call 07735 348042 with what needs building, or rebuilding.

Same-week callouts often possible
Compact machines for tight access
Spoil handled as part of the job
Site left clean and walked round

What Steve handles

  • Garden and boundary walls built plumb on footings dug to suit the ground
  • Retaining walls with the drainage behind them done properly, so they hold instead of bow
  • Footings dug, poured and levelled as part of the same booking
  • Old leaning walls taken down, the footing assessed, and the wall rebuilt right
  • Brick edges, steps and piers that finish a landscaping job
  • Repairs and repointing where a full rebuild is not needed

Extension brickwork, before and after

Brickwork underway on a rear extension with scaffolding upBefore
Finished rear extension brickwork with bifold doors fittedAfter

Footings first, always

Walls fail from underneath. A garden wall leaning after a few winters almost always comes back to a footing that was too shallow, too narrow or sitting on soft ground.

So every wall Steve builds starts as a groundwork job: trench dug to suit the soil, concrete poured and levelled, and only then the first course.

Retaining walls get the same treatment plus drainage. Soil holds water and water pushes, so a retaining wall without proper drainage behind it will eventually fail.

The dig, the drainage and the brickwork are designed together because they are built together.

It is a slower way to build a wall and a much faster way to build one that stays put. If you have had a quote that skips straight to the bricks, ask what happens below the ground first.

Got a job like this? One call sorts it.Call 07735 348042WhatsApp

Common questions

Bricklaying FAQs

My garden wall is leaning. Repair or rebuild?

It depends what the lean is telling you. A failed footing means rebuilding from below, because straightening bricks on bad ground buys a couple of years at best.

Localised frost or mortar damage can often be repaired. Steve looks at the wall, tells you which it is, and gives you the honest answer when a repair is good enough.

What is different about a retaining wall?

It carries ground, not just its own weight. That means a heavier footing and proper drainage designed in from the start.

Get those right and the wall is set for decades; skip them and it bows within a few winters. It is a groundwork job and a bricklaying job in one, which is exactly Steve’s overlap.

Can you match my existing brickwork?

Usually close enough that visitors will not spot the join: brick type, colour, bond and mortar tone all get matched as near as supply allows.

Bring a photo to the site visit, and where a perfect match really matters, a reclaimed brick source is sometimes the answer.

Do I need planning permission for a garden wall?

Most garden walls fall under permitted development, with height limits that drop next to a highway, and exceptions in conservation areas and listed settings.

Checking with the council is your side of the job, but Steve will flag anything that looks like it needs checking when he sees the site.

How long does a wall take?

Footings are typically a day on garden walls, then the brickwork goes up at the pace the courses and curing allow. A straightforward boundary wall is days, not weeks; retaining work runs longer because of the dig and the drainage.

The quote comes with dates so you are not guessing.

Do you build in blockwork or stone too?

Yes, where the job suits it: block for the strength inside a rendered or faced wall, stone where the garden calls for it.

The rules stay the same underneath, a proper footing and proper drainage, whatever the wall is dressed in.

Before and after

Drag the slider

Garden before clearanceSame garden cleared and rotavatedBeforeAfter
Overgrown garden before machine clearance Same garden cleared and levelled to bare soil BeforeAfter
Overgrown bank with old stone retaining wall before removalSame bank dug out and cleared along the fence lineBeforeAfter

Why people book Steve

One man. His machines. No run-around.

Steve answers the phone

And drives the machines himself. No call centre, no crew roulette.

Quoted on site

After a proper look at access and ground, not down a phone line.

Machines that fit

Compact fleet chosen for side gates and shared paths.

Site left clean

Spoil handled, paving washed, gate latched, walk-round done.

What our clients say

Rated 4.9★ by local customers

★★★★★ 4.9 on Google · 27 reviews
★★★★★

“Steve completed preparation work for a building project in Chapel Brampton , excellent work and on time ,I will be using Steve again on the next phase of the project, we were very pleased with his work .”

Paul LilfordGoogle review, July 2026
★★★★★

“Just had Steve over to clear a front and rear lawn over 200sqm with his digger. He was very prompt and professional worked tirelessly to ensure all work was completed. His attention to detail was spot on and did a great job I will be using him again”

Oliver MaslinGoogle review, July 2026
★★★★★

“Steve did a great job in digging out my front lawn and grassy area by the side of my driveway and loading the mess into the skip. Tidied up the surrounding area well and would recommend if you need any digging done.”

Cameron MulliganGoogle review, April 2026
★★★★★

“Steve has just finished adding a soak away for us and I fully recommend him. He was professional, very helpful and took time to understand what we needed. He’s prompt to get back to questions, punctual, considerate of neighbours and careful to clean up. No added charges or complications and very easy to work with.”

Phil S.Google review, March 2026
★★★★★

“Had my entire patio completed with these guys. The care that was taken during this job was unmatched- from initial prep work, to polishing off the final product. No corners cut, no stone out of place. I’d like to say thank you again to the team and I would definitely recommend them to anyone looking for an new patio”

DavidGoogle review, October 2025
★★★★★

“I couldn’t be happier with the work Steve (MK Landscaping Services) did! We needed our garden levelled and he was so professional and listened to every detail. I asked for a few tree holes to be dug that turned out to be harder than expected due to our clay soil. But Steve was a true professional…”

Sam FairleyGoogle review, July 2025
★★★★★

“We recently hired MK Landscaping to tackle my overgrown front garden, and I couldn’t be more thrilled with the results! From start to finish, Steve displayed professionalism and efficiency that truly set him apart. When they arrived, my front yard was an overgrown lumpy wild mess, but they worked…”

ConstanceGoogle review, April 2025
★★★★★

“Had my garden levelled and it was a great service and end product I received 😊 would recommend!”

Ashlee BakerGoogle review, March 2025
★★★★★

“MK Landscaping did a complete front garden make over and we were bowled over, excellent job keeping well in budget, will totally recommend and a great team”

Brian Jefferies-HallGoogle review, March 2025
★★★★★

“Skilled and experienced, Steve did a fantastic job laying our patio. He was extremely good with communication and is efficient and polite.”

SusanGoogle review, July 2023
★★★★★

“A great job taking our very uneven, rubble like garden and transforming it into a beautiful level lawn! Steve was so efficient, thorough and tidy and we couldn’t be happier with the results. Would highly recommend!”

HazelGoogle review, July 2022
★★★★★

“I needed some levelling off, foundations digging and a garden pathway digging out. Steve did a great job and got it all done in a day. He arrived bang on time and only stopped for a couple of drinks. Would recommend.”

MikeGoogle review, July 2023
★★★★★

“We contacted a few local landscaping companies for a large amount of ground work to be completed in our garden… It was such an easy decision to choose Mk landscaping services!! Prompt to respond, reasonably priced, and very knowledgeable. So pleased with the end result!! Highly recommended!!”

AdeleGoogle review, February 2024
★★★★★

“I would highly recommend this company. We wanted an old, large water feature removed and the garden levelled out ready for planting up. Steve was reliable, friendly and approachable and very professional. The work was done on time and there were no hidden costs.”

Mrs M BuckleGoogle review, March 2024
★★★★★

“Steve was brilliant, he arrived on time, fully explained what he would be doing… He was efficient and tidy and also advised me on the next steps of my garden plans. I highly recommend Steve, professional, efficient and friendly.”

LéonieGoogle review, July 2022
★★★★★

“Steve and his digger cleared about 8 tons of Aquatic weed, removed from Pennyland boat basin loaded into a large skip and left the site tidy. Thanks for a good job Steve.”

ChrisGoogle review, October 2023
★★★★★

“Highly recommend. Very hard worker! Steve worked very efficiently and fast to remove excess soil and weeds, level the uneven ground and leave a slight slope for drainage. Our driveway was left clean and tidy.”

EvaGoogle review, July 2022
★★★★★

“Really efficient and good job digging out a new parking area for us.”

AnitaGoogle review, July 2022
★★★★★

“Steve completed preparation work for a building project in Chapel Brampton , excellent work and on time ,I will be using Steve again on the next phase of the project, we were very pleased with his work .”

Paul LilfordGoogle review, July 2026
★★★★★

“Just had Steve over to clear a front and rear lawn over 200sqm with his digger. He was very prompt and professional worked tirelessly to ensure all work was completed. His attention to detail was spot on and did a great job I will be using him again”

Oliver MaslinGoogle review, July 2026
★★★★★

“Steve did a great job in digging out my front lawn and grassy area by the side of my driveway and loading the mess into the skip. Tidied up the surrounding area well and would recommend if you need any digging done.”

Cameron MulliganGoogle review, April 2026
★★★★★

“Steve has just finished adding a soak away for us and I fully recommend him. He was professional, very helpful and took time to understand what we needed. He’s prompt to get back to questions, punctual, considerate of neighbours and careful to clean up. No added charges or complications and very easy to work with.”

Phil S.Google review, March 2026
★★★★★

“Had my entire patio completed with these guys. The care that was taken during this job was unmatched- from initial prep work, to polishing off the final product. No corners cut, no stone out of place. I’d like to say thank you again to the team and I would definitely recommend them to anyone looking for an new patio”

DavidGoogle review, October 2025
★★★★★

“I couldn’t be happier with the work Steve (MK Landscaping Services) did! We needed our garden levelled and he was so professional and listened to every detail. I asked for a few tree holes to be dug that turned out to be harder than expected due to our clay soil. But Steve was a true professional…”

Sam FairleyGoogle review, July 2025
★★★★★

“We recently hired MK Landscaping to tackle my overgrown front garden, and I couldn’t be more thrilled with the results! From start to finish, Steve displayed professionalism and efficiency that truly set him apart. When they arrived, my front yard was an overgrown lumpy wild mess, but they worked…”

ConstanceGoogle review, April 2025
★★★★★

“Had my garden levelled and it was a great service and end product I received 😊 would recommend!”

Ashlee BakerGoogle review, March 2025
★★★★★

“MK Landscaping did a complete front garden make over and we were bowled over, excellent job keeping well in budget, will totally recommend and a great team”

Brian Jefferies-HallGoogle review, March 2025
★★★★★

“Skilled and experienced, Steve did a fantastic job laying our patio. He was extremely good with communication and is efficient and polite.”

SusanGoogle review, July 2023
★★★★★

“A great job taking our very uneven, rubble like garden and transforming it into a beautiful level lawn! Steve was so efficient, thorough and tidy and we couldn’t be happier with the results. Would highly recommend!”

HazelGoogle review, July 2022
★★★★★

“I needed some levelling off, foundations digging and a garden pathway digging out. Steve did a great job and got it all done in a day. He arrived bang on time and only stopped for a couple of drinks. Would recommend.”

MikeGoogle review, July 2023
★★★★★

“We contacted a few local landscaping companies for a large amount of ground work to be completed in our garden… It was such an easy decision to choose Mk landscaping services!! Prompt to respond, reasonably priced, and very knowledgeable. So pleased with the end result!! Highly recommended!!”

AdeleGoogle review, February 2024
★★★★★

“I would highly recommend this company. We wanted an old, large water feature removed and the garden levelled out ready for planting up. Steve was reliable, friendly and approachable and very professional. The work was done on time and there were no hidden costs.”

Mrs M BuckleGoogle review, March 2024
★★★★★

“Steve was brilliant, he arrived on time, fully explained what he would be doing… He was efficient and tidy and also advised me on the next steps of my garden plans. I highly recommend Steve, professional, efficient and friendly.”

LéonieGoogle review, July 2022
★★★★★

“Steve and his digger cleared about 8 tons of Aquatic weed, removed from Pennyland boat basin loaded into a large skip and left the site tidy. Thanks for a good job Steve.”

ChrisGoogle review, October 2023
★★★★★

“Highly recommend. Very hard worker! Steve worked very efficiently and fast to remove excess soil and weeds, level the uneven ground and leave a slight slope for drainage. Our driveway was left clean and tidy.”

EvaGoogle review, July 2022
★★★★★

“Really efficient and good job digging out a new parking area for us.”

AnitaGoogle review, July 2022

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