Gangs that work for house builders and main contractors also need kit that passes the site gate and shows clearly who the gang belongs to. A tidy, matching gang also looks organised to the site manager deciding who gets the next phase.
Movement matters more than pockets
A bricklayer spends the day spreading, buttering and laying, which means constant arm movement and bending to the board. Tops need room across the back. Stretch panels in trousers help when stepping up on to a lift of scaffold or crouching to lay the first courses.
Holster pockets are handy for a pencil, line pins and tape, but most layers keep the trowel in hand. A good belt loop setup and a trouser that stays up without a tight belt matters just as much.
Mortar, lime and wet hands
Wet mortar is alkaline and can cause skin irritation and burns if it soaks through clothing and sits against the skin. Change out of trousers that have been soaked with mortar or cement rather than working on in them. Gloves designed for wet work help, and the gang should have a spare pair each.
Mortar does not wash out of everything. Darker colours such as navy, black and charcoal hide splashes, while light grey shows every mark within an hour.
Working through the seasons
On frosty mornings, many sites stop laying until temperatures rise, but the gang still turns up and waits. A thermal base layer, beanie and padded jacket make that time bearable. Once laying starts, the jacket comes off and a sweatshirt or gilet takes over.
In summer, bricklayers on open scaffolds take a lot of sun. A long sleeve T-shirt in a light fabric and a cap or wide-brim hat offer more protection than a vest top.
Site rules for brickwork gangs
Main contractors usually set minimum PPE on site: safety helmet, hi-vis, safety boots and gloves are typical, with eye protection for cutting. Check the site rules or your risk assessment for the hi-vis class and boot rating.
Bricks and blocks are heavy and get dropped, so a protective toe cap is a sensible baseline. A boot with a penetration-resistant midsole helps on sites littered with nails and ties.
Where to put your logo
Gangs often work on someone else's site, so the gang name matters. Embroider a left chest logo on sweatshirts and polos, and print the gang or company name large across the back so the site manager can spot your lads from the ground. On hi-vis tops, print on the fluorescent fabric only, never over reflective tape, and keep the logo small enough that the garment stays compliant. Dark colours with a white or bright thread logo stay readable even when splashed.
