Masonry · Nashville, TN
The Nashville homeowner's guide to masonry
What the work involves, what drives the price, what your options are, and what a bad job looks like — written so you can judge any mason in Middle Tennessee, including us.
Warning signs
How to know you need us
If you recognize any of these, it is worth having somebody look before it becomes a larger job.
- Mortar joints that crumble or can be raked out with a screwdriver
- Stair-step cracking through the mortar joints of a brick wall
- Brick faces spalling — popping off in flakes, usually after winters
- A chimney crown cracked, or the chimney leaning away from the house
- White efflorescence staining, which indicates water moving through the masonry
- A sagging or rusted steel lintel above a window or a garage opening
Your options
More than one right answer.
A mason who only ever recommends the most expensive option is not giving you advice. Here is the honest range.
Repointing
Raking out failed mortar and replacing it with the correct specification. The core of masonry maintenance.
Brick or stone repair
Replacing spalled or damaged units and matching them in, rather than patching the face with filler.
Chimney rebuild
Above the roof line, or from the shoulder up, with a new crown and correct flashing.
New masonry
Steps, retaining walls, outdoor fireplaces, columns and veneer, built on a footing that will hold them.
What it costs
What actually drives the price.
We do not quote masonry over the phone, because an honest number needs somebody to look at the job. These are the things that move it.
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Scope and access
Repointing a chimney above the roof line needs staging and costs far more per square foot than the same work at ground level.
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Matching existing work
Sourcing brick and coloring mortar to match an older wall is skilled work and is much of what you pay for on a repair.
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Mortar specification
Historic soft brick needs a lime-based mortar. Using modern hard Portland mortar on it will destroy the brick, and getting this right matters more than anything else.
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Structural versus cosmetic
A cracked veneer is a different job from a failing lintel or a shifting foundation wall, and the diagnosis decides the price.
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Material
Brick, block, natural stone and manufactured stone differ substantially in both material cost and installation time.
Every estimate is free, written and carries no obligation — including the parts we would find only after starting, which are priced up front rather than left open.
What happens
From your call to the finished job.
Inspection
Close up, not from the ground, because mortar condition and lintel corrosion cannot be judged at a distance.
Mortar matching
Color and specification matched to the existing work, with a sample panel on larger jobs.
The work
Repointing is measured in days by area. A chimney rebuild is typically several days including the crown.
Cure and clean-down
Mortar needs to cure before cleaning, and the wrong cleaner on new work will burn the joints.
Done badly
What goes wrong, and why it matters.
These are the shortcuts that make a quote look cheaper and cost you more later. Ask anyone you are considering about them.
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Portland mortar on soft historic brick
The most expensive mistake in masonry, and it is irreversible.
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Sealing brick to stop water
Masonry is designed to breathe. A sealer traps moisture inside and accelerates spalling.
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Face-patching spalled brick
Filler on a spalled face falls out within a season. The unit needs replacing.
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Repointing over a structural problem
If the wall is moving, new mortar cracks in the same place. Find out why first.
Before you hire anyone
Six questions worth asking any mason.
Including us. If a contractor cannot answer these easily, that is the answer.
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Are you licensed for masonry and can I see the certificate?
A licensed and insured contractor will have this to hand and will not be irritated by the question.
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Is the estimate written, itemized and free?
A verbal number is not an estimate. Itemized means you can compare two quotes on the same basis.
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What happens if you find something once you start?
The honest answer names a rate and a process. The answer to worry about is that it never happens.
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Who is actually doing the work?
Employee crew or subcontractor is not a wrong answer either way, but you should know which, and who carries the insurance.
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What is the workmanship warranty, and is it in writing?
Materials carry a manufacturer warranty. Workmanship is the contractor, and it should be written down.
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Will you pull the permit?
For permitted work, a contractor who suggests skipping it is telling you something important about the rest of the job.
FAQ
Choosing a mason in Nashville
How do I choose a mason in Nashville?
Check the license and the insurance certificate, get the estimate in writing and itemized so you can compare quotes on the same basis, and ask what happens if something is found once work starts. A contractor who cannot answer those easily has told you what you need to know.
Should I get more than one quote for masonry?
Yes, and compare what is in them rather than the number at the bottom. The cheapest quote is often cheapest because it leaves something out, and on masonry the thing left out is usually the preparation that decides how long the work lasts.
Is the cheapest masonry quote usually a bad idea?
Not automatically — but an unusually low number is information. Ask specifically what is included, what grade of material is quoted, who is doing the work and what the workmanship warranty is. If all four answers are good, the low quote is a good quote.
Do I need a permit for masonry in Nashville?
It depends on the scope. Metro Nashville and the surrounding counties permit and inspect a good deal of this work, and a contractor suggesting you skip a required permit is telling you something about how they approach the rest of the job. We pull the permits our work requires.
How far in advance should I book masonry?
A few weeks where you can. Booking in the quiet season usually means better scheduling and sometimes better pricing than booking in the rush, and it gives you time to make the selections properly.
Free estimate
Need a mason in Nashville today?
Tell us what is going on and we will get you a free estimate from a local mason. No obligation, no pressure.