Quality Blocklaying Gold Coast to Byron Bay
"It's simple and it's bomb-proof."
Tony Steenson
WHAT IS BLOCKLAYING?
Strength without compromise
Blocklaying is the practice of building with hollow concrete masonry units — blocks that, once laid, are threaded with steel reinforcing bars and filled solid with concrete. The result is a continuous grid of steel and concrete inside every wall: one solid, load-bearing mass around 200mm thick, rated to carry serious weight and built to last.
Tony Steenson has been laying blocks since early in his career working in Darwin — a city rebuilt entirely in block after Cyclone Tracy — and has been bringing that knowledge to projects across Byron Bay, Tweed and the Gold Coast ever since.
The Steenson Brick and Blocklaying team cover residential builds, multi-storey construction, retaining walls, and even decorative feature walls from block. They use all the latest technology from standard H blocks to tapered curved blocks designed specifically for curved walls, split face, honed finishes, and the humble breeze block — very much back in fashion for architects looking for ventilation with an elegant finish for courtyard screens and front fences.
Commercial building or residential builds – if it goes up in block, Tony builds it.
OUR APPROACH
The right blocks will keep a project moving.
Most builders supply their blocklayer with full blocks, half blocks, and H blocks — and leave the rest to be cut on site. But wall lengths on architecturally designed buildings rarely fall on round numbers which means a wall can’t be completed without cuts. Because blocks are made in sizes that work in 50mm increments, a careful reading of the plans before the order goes in can eliminate a lot of that cutting entirely. On a 2,000-block job, that difference can mean the Steenson gang are done in three days instead of five.
Maximising every minute.
Tony’s commitment to efficient work means he preps the site the night before so his crew can lay from the very start of the day. On the steep, complex sites between Byron Bay and the Gold Coast — which is most of what Steenson works on — that preparation is what keeps a job moving and is why his regular builders continue to call Tony.
THE CRAFT (OUR PHILOSOPHY)
"There's a block for every purpose" – Tony Steenson
Tony left school early, started his apprenticeship at sixteen, working on project homes with his dad, then spent years travelling — ending up in Darwin, where he spent an entire year laying nothing but blocks. “Darwin is block city.” After Cyclone Tracy flattened it, they rebuilt in masonry: stronger walls, designed to take what the weather throws at them. That year taught Tony efficiency with blocks, laying four hundred blocks a day, as part of a big gang, in the humidity and heat. The work needed to be fast and right.
What a lot of bricklayers won’t tell you is that they don’t particularly enjoy laying blocks – but not Tony, he has a genuine love for blocks. They’re heavier than bricks — around 12.5 kilos, often lifted one-handed. But there is a beauty to the system of it: the steel grid, the concrete fill, the engineering logic of how it all connects back to the ground. “It’s simple,” Tony says. “But it’s bomb-proof. If you build a block wall full of concrete, it’s not going anywhere.”
CONSIDERATIONS
Things worth knowing before you hire a blocklayer.
Building on a steep site near Byron Bay or the Gold Coast?
Steep sites come with hidden costs underground. Standard footings aren’t enough — and piers are often required: holes drilled down until they hit natural ground, sometimes 8 to 15 metres below the surface, filled with steel and concrete before a single block goes up. Even though it’s not seen it can be a significant part of the budget. Tony has worked on some of the most challenging sloping sites in the region so it’s worth having a chat before the excavation starts.
Are blocks right for your project?
Blocks aren’t just larger bricks — they’re a different structural system. They can carry significantly more load than standard brickwork, which often make them a great choice for retaining walls, multi-storey construction, or any wall holding back ground. If your build involves a steep site, an upper floor, or serious lateral pressure from soil or water, blocks are almost certainly part of the structural answer.
Rendered, exposed, or something more specific?
Standard grey blocks are almost always rendered — they’re not manufactured for an exposed finish. But there are options worth knowing about: split face blocks with a rough, sandstone-like texture; honed blocks with a smooth polished surface used in commercial builds and occasionally coastal homes, and even coloured blocks. The technology is developing all the time so talk to Tony about the finish that you’re looking for and whether blocks can help you build something that looks truly beautiful.
Blocklaying near me — who supplies the materials?
Tony prefers to supply the blocks and manage the order. This ensures that the right size blocks are ordered for the specific walls in build. It means less waste and a more efficient schedule.
Building on a steep site near Byron Bay or the Gold Coast?
Steep sites come with hidden costs underground. Standard footings aren’t enough — and piers are often required: holes drilled down until they hit natural ground, sometimes 8 to 15 metres below the surface, filled with steel and concrete before a single block goes up. Even though it’s not seen it can be a significant part of the budget. Tony has worked on some of the most challenging sloping sites in the region so it’s worth having a chat before the excavation starts.
Are blocks right for your project?
Blocks aren’t just larger bricks — they’re a different structural system. They can carry significantly more load than standard brickwork, which often make them a great choice for retaining walls, multi-storey construction, or any wall holding back ground. If your build involves a steep site, an upper floor, or serious lateral pressure from soil or water, blocks are almost certainly part of the structural answer.
Rendered, exposed, or something more specific?
Standard grey blocks are almost always rendered — they’re not manufactured for an exposed finish. But there are options worth knowing about: split face blocks with a rough, sandstone-like texture; honed blocks with a smooth polished surface used in commercial builds and occasionally coastal homes, and even coloured blocks. The technology is developing all the time so talk to Tony about the finish that you’re looking for and whether blocks can help you build something that looks truly beautiful.
Blocklaying near me — who supplies the materials?
Tony prefers to supply the blocks and manage the order. This ensures that the right size blocks are ordered for the specific walls in build. It means less waste and a more efficient schedule.
WHY STEENSON?
Blocklaying work that speaks for itself.
The builders who work with Steenson Brick and Blocklaying across Byron Bay, Tweed and the Gold Coast always come back. They know what they’re getting: someone who arrives prepared, understands the structural logic of what they’re building, keeps the site in order, and actively alleviates problems for the trades that follow.
Tony has been laying blocks for 30 years — but he still works with the energy and precision to rival the young guys in his team — and he brings his depth and experience to every job, however straightforward or complex. If you’re building something worth building, get in touch.