Brick siding installation: a guide for pros

What customers ask, how to win the job, and what to put on your profile.

Offering brick siding installation

Brick siding installation is masonry work where the drainage, the ties and the foundation ledge matter as much as the brick itself. Your win is a clear plan for how water moves through the wall and a finished wall the homeowner can match to the house.

What customers ask

  • Will the brick hold water and let it into my walls?
  • Can you match the color and joint style of my existing brick?
  • How long will the brick take to build, and will it be done before cold weather?
  • Is my foundation ready for a brick wall?
  • Will the efflorescence come back?
  • Can you add brick to only one wall, and how do you tie it into the rest of the house?

How to win the job

  • On the first call, ask whether they want a full brick wall or a thin veneer, the wall height, the foundation type, and any existing efflorescence or cracks.
  • Bring brick and mortar samples to the visit, and show the joint style on a sample panel next to the existing brick.
  • Check the foundation ledge and the existing wall for level and sound structure on the site visit, and photograph anything that needs repair first.
  • Put the brick product, mortar mix, tie system, flashing and weep hole details in the quote as separate lines.
  • Explain the air space and drainage plan in plain words, and show where the water exits the wall.
  • Agree on the cleaning method and how the brick face will be protected from mortar stains during the build.
  • Send a closeout packet with the brick and mortar product names, the tie spacing, and a photo log of the flashing and weep hole installation.

What to put on your profile

  • Before and after photos of masonry walls that show the courses, the flashing and the finished joints
  • Brick and veneer types you install, including thin brick and full brick walls
  • Mortar styles and joint profiles you can match
  • Service area and whether you do repointing and efflorescence cleaning

Follow-up that helps the customer

  • Offer a repointing check every few years, since open joints let water into the wall.
  • Suggest a gutter and downspout check, since water running down the face of the wall can drive efflorescence.
  • Recommend a flashing and sealant review at windows and doors where the brick meets the trim.

Licenses and permits

Brick and masonry work is commonly done by licensed masonry or general contractors, and new masonry walls often need a permit and inspection. Check your state and local licensing and building office requirements before you bid.

Questions

Do I need a permit for a brick veneer?

Often, yes, especially when the veneer is tied to a new wall or foundation. Check with the local building office before you start.

How do I handle efflorescence after a build?

Explain that it is a salt that comes out with moisture, and that it is common on new masonry for a period. Clean it using a method the brick and mortar manufacturers allow, and fix any water path you find.

Can I put a brick veneer over stucco or siding?

Full brick veneer needs its own foundation or support, so it cannot simply be hung on a finished wall. Thin brick may be possible if the wall is sound, flat and has a drainage plan. Check the wall with the homeowner before you agree to the job, and do not hide rot or moisture behind new brick.

About this guide

This national guide is written and checked by infinibell. Rules and conditions differ by place, so local pros are credited on guides for the cities they serve, not on national ones.

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