Fast loans for bricklayers, block layers and brick-laying contractors

Bricklaying is physical, skilled work with a payment pattern that does not suit it. You lay the bricks this week. The builder pays when the stage is signed off, sometimes weeks later. Meanwhile your labourers, your material supplier and your plant hire all want paying on time.

Where bricklayers get caught

Progress payment lag. Payment claims, sign-off and payment run on the builder’s timetable, not yours. A fortnight of work can be paid a month or more later.

Weather. Rain stops the day, but not the wages. A wet month can wipe out the margin on a job.

Material price changes. Bricks, cement and sand are bought upfront. If a price jumps between quote and delivery, the difference comes out of your pocket.

A builder who slows down. If one large builder supplies most of your work and pays late, your account suffers even though you did the job.

Lenders who judge you on the last ninety days of bank statements see these gaps as risk. A secured loan sets that aside. It is assessed on the equity in a property you own.

What a bricklaying loan can cover

1. Wages and super for labourers and apprentices, so the crew stays.
2. Bricks, blocks, cement and sand for the next stage.
3. Hire or purchase of scaffolding, mixers, saws and trailers.
4. Insurance, licence and registration renewals.
5. A tax or BAS bill that fell due in a slow month.
6. Paying out several small cash flow loans into one repayment.

How the loan works

Loans run from $20,000 to $50,000 against property, up to 80% of residential value or 70% of commercial value, less what is owing. There is no formal valuation at the start and no cash flow evidence; funding can follow in as little as 24 hours once approved. See small business loans from $20k to $50k.

A worked example

A bricklaying company has two crews on a townhouse development. The builder has certified the second stage but payment is thirty-five days away. Wages and super this fortnight total $14,000, and a brick delivery of $11,000 is due on Friday. The director owns a home worth around $800,000 with $350,000 owing. Taking a secured loan of $30,000 pays for both, with prepaid interest for up to three months meaning repayments do not start until after the builder pays. Numbers here are examples, not a quote or an offer.

Repayments that match the job

Weekly repayments suit a trade paid weekly or fortnightly. Interest for up to the first three months can be prepaid, and after that you repay weekly. If you win a larger job, plan how the loan will be repaid: most companies repay from cash flow, or refinance the property or another asset later. There is more on how the structure works in prepaid interest and weekly repayments. Before you sign, look at total cost and early exit terms.

Good habits that protect cash flow

• Lodge your payment claims the day the stage is complete, not at the end of the week.
• Keep a written record of variations and get them signed.
• Ask for deposits on materials for larger jobs.
• Put aside GST and PAYG weekly so tax time is not a shock.

Our construction cash flow guide has more on this.

Protecting your margin on the next job

Bricklaying margins are thinner than they look. Before you quote, check how many labourer hours the job really needs, what weather allowance you have built in and whether the builder’s payment terms match your costs. Many contractors now ask for a small deposit and stage claims weekly rather than monthly, which keeps the account healthier. If a builder is slow to pay, a polite reminder on day one and a call on day seven usually works better than waiting. Keep a clear paper trail for variations and extra labour, because most disputes come down to what was agreed and when.

Is a loan right for you?

If the gap is a few weeks and the work is secured, a short loan is a reasonable bridge. If the business loses money on every job, borrowing will not fix that.

Apply

Have your amount, the property’s estimated value and what is owing, and your ABN and ACN ready. Then use the application form. A person reviews every enquiry, and there is no credit check to enquire. Read the contract and compare the total cost. Final approval depends on assessment. This page is not an offer.