Masonry repair: a guide for pros

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

Offering masonry repair

Masonry repair work is trusted when you find the water and the movement behind the damage, not just the broken brick. Customers remember the pro who explained the cause clearly and matched the old work instead of covering it up.

What customers ask

  • Why is my brick flaking, and will it keep happening?
  • Can you match the mortar to my old brick?
  • Do I need the whole wall repointed or only the bad areas?
  • Will the repair look different from the rest of the wall?
  • Is my wall safe, and does it need engineering?
  • How long should the new mortar cure before it is exposed to rain?

How to win the job

  • On the first call, ask about the age of the building, the masonry type, when the damage started and whether there has been a leak or a movement.
  • On site, tap the wall, look at the joints, check the flashing and coping, and note where water runs, so the diagnosis comes before the quote.
  • Make a mortar sample on a scrap or in a hidden spot and match its color and strength to the original before the job begins.
  • In the quote, separate the cause repairs, such as flashing or coping, from the masonry repair itself.
  • Explain the risk of hard mortar on soft brick in plain words, and show why a matched mix is the right call.
  • Set the scaffold and protection plan in writing, and state the weather limits for the repair cure.

What to put on your profile

  • Before and after photos of repointing, unit replacement and crack repair, shot in the same light
  • Masonry types you work with, such as brick, block, natural stone and historic mortar
  • Your mortar-matching process, with samples or sample panels you have made
  • Your service area and any cause repairs you handle, such as flashing and coping

Follow-up that helps the customer

  • Offer a check of the wall after the first freeze season, to confirm the repairs are holding
  • Suggest gutter and grading fixes where water is hitting the wall, explained as protection for the repair
  • Mention a chimney or step inspection as information if you see related damage nearby

Licenses and permits

Masonry repair is commonly done under a contractor license in many areas, and load-bearing walls, chimneys and structural work can need a permit. Confirm what applies where you work with your state or local licensing agency and local building department, and keep your insurance current.

Questions

What do I do when the wall is moving and the customer wants a cosmetic repair?

Tell the customer that repointing or patching will not hold a moving wall, and recommend an evaluation by a qualified engineer before more work. Put the recommendation and the customer's decision in writing.

Should I seal the masonry after repointing?

Only if the masonry type and its moisture condition support it, since some sealers trap water inside the wall. Explain the choice to the customer and document it on the quote.

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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