Masonry is where the gap between a vague request and a precise one costs the most money. "Build me a wall" can mean ten different jobs; each has a different price, duration and amount of material. The good news: scoping it takes ten minutes.
Measure before you post
Length, height, thickness. For a slab: surface and intended use — a terrace and a garage slab are not the same structure. You do not need to be exact to the centimetre; you need to be close enough that a mason can estimate materials without visiting first.
Photos of the site, not just the spot
Access matters as much as the work itself. A photo that shows how a wheelbarrow gets from the street to the work area answers the question every mason will ask. If materials must go up stairs or through a narrow corridor, show it.
Clarify who supplies what
The single biggest source of disputes: cement, sand, brick and steel — who buys them? There are two clean models. Either the mason quotes labour only and you buy materials from their list, or the quote includes everything with quantities written down. Both work; mixing them halfway through does not.
Judge the offer, not just the price
- Does the mason ask questions about foundations, drainage or existing cracks? Good sign.
- Is a timeline attached — start date and rough duration?
- For structural work, do they mention levelling and curing time, or do they promise everything in two days?
Where Brikoula fits
Post the job once with your measurements and photos, and masons around you send offers you can actually compare. Check their reviews from previous sites, agree the scope in the chat so everything is written in one place, and keep the conversation there until the job is done. The mason spends coins to unlock your contact — posting your request is free.