Masonry is the oldest part of what we do and the part with the least margin for error, because a mortared assembly can't be lifted and reset the way a paver can. Once it's wrong it's demolition.
Almost every veneer failure we're called to look at comes down to the same thing: the wall was treated as a waterproof surface instead of a drained one. Stone and mortar both absorb water. The job of the assembly is to give that water somewhere to go — a drainage mat or air space behind the stone, flashing at the base, and weep holes to let it out. Skip those and the water goes into your sheathing.
We use type N mortar on most veneer and type S where the assembly is structural or load-bearing. Harder isn't better: mortar should always be softer than the units it holds, so that movement cracks the joint rather than the stone.
What's included
- Full-bed and thin stone veneer on houses, piers, columns and wall faces
- Brick and block chimneys, crowns, caps and counter-flashing
- Bluestone treads, landings and stoops built on a block core
- Repointing and rebuilding of failed or spalling mortar joints
- Structural piers, footings and lintels
- Matching existing stonework on additions and repairs
What it costs
| Work | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Thin stone veneer, installed per sq ft | $38 – $58 |
| Full-bed natural stone veneer, per sq ft | $58 – $92 |
| Repointing, per sq ft | $18 – $32 |
| Chimney crown rebuilt | $1,400 – $3,200 |
| Bluestone stoop, three risers | $4,800 – $9,000 |
Ranges are installed prices for work in our service area. Every estimate we issue is a fixed price for a defined scope, not a unit rate applied to a guess at quantities.
Related work
Next step
We'll mark it out on your lawn
No charge, no obligation, and you'll have a fixed price within four days of the visit.
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