Masonry repair for brick, stone and chimneys in Greater Moncton
Crumbling mortar, bricks shedding their faces, a chimney that leaks every spring, parging falling off the foundation. Most masonry trouble around here starts with water and frost. We find where the water gets in, fix the masonry properly and tell you what it will cost before any work starts.
Free on-site quotes in writing. Brick, block, natural stone, chimneys and parging, for houses and small commercial buildings in Moncton, Dieppe, Riverview, Shediac and the surrounding area.
Masonry services in Moncton
Most calls are repairs: a section of failing brick, a chimney top, a foundation that needs new parging. We also build new: stone veneer, steps, retaining walls and patios.
Not sure what you need? Describe it on the phone or send a photo, and we’ll tell you which of these it is.
Atlantic winters are hard on brick and mortar
Masonry is porous. It soaks up rain and snowmelt, and when that water freezes it expands. Greater Moncton swings above and below freezing many times between November and April, so wet brick and mortar get worked over again and again. A small open joint in October can be a loose brick by May.
- Freeze–thaw
- Water trapped in brick and joints freezes, expands and pushes the face off the brick (spalling) or breaks up the mortar.
- Wind-driven rain
- Storms off the Bay of Fundy and the Northumberland Strait push rain sideways into walls and chimneys, well past what a light shower would reach.
- Salt
- Road salt splashed on steps and foundations, and salt air near Shediac and the coast, speed up the breakdown of mortar, foundation parging and soft brick.
- The wrong mortar
- Mortar that is harder than the brick around it forces the brick to crack instead of the joint. It’s one of the most common causes of damage we see on older walls.
Signs your masonry needs attention
None of these mean a wall is about to fall down. They do mean water is getting in, and it’s cheaper to deal with now than after another winter.
- Mortar you can scrape out with a key, or joints recessed more than about 6 mm (repointing)
- Brick faces flaking, popping off or crumbling to powder (brick repair)
- Stair-step cracks running through the mortar joints
- White, chalky staining (efflorescence) that keeps coming back
- Water stains on the ceiling or wall next to the chimney
- A cracked chimney crown or bits of brick on the roof (chimney repair)
- Parging on the foundation that is cracked, hollow or falling off (parging)
- A retaining wall that leans, bulges or has stones pushing out (retaining walls)
What happens after you call
A short call
Tell us what you’re seeing and where. If you can, send a couple of photos. Some problems can be judged from a picture; most need a look in person. You can also send the details online.
A visit and a look at the cause
We check the damaged area and the things that feed it: gutters, flashing, grading, the chimney cap, the mortar that was used before.
A written quote
You get the scope, the materials and the price in writing. If there’s more than one way to fix it, we explain the trade-offs so you can choose.
The work, then a clean site
Repairs are booked for suitable weather, since new mortar must not freeze or dry out too fast while it cures. We clean up and walk you through what was done.
Serving Moncton, Dieppe, Riverview and nearby
MonctonDieppeRiverviewShediacSalisburyMemramcookLakevilleIrishtownLutes MountainHillsborough
From century homes near downtown Moncton to newer brick-front houses in Dieppe and Riverview subdivisions, and cottages along the Shediac shore. If you’re not sure we cover your area, call and ask.
More about the areas we serve
Masonry questions from Moncton homeowners
How much does masonry repair cost in Moncton?
It depends on how much area is involved, how high it is, whether the brick or stone has to be matched, and how much of the damage is hidden behind what you can see. A small repair at ground level costs far less than the same repair on a chimney two storeys up. We give a written price after seeing the job, at no charge.
Can masonry work be done in winter?
New mortar must be kept from freezing for at least its first 24 to 48 hours, and below about 4 °C it needs cold-weather protection. So most outside work here runs from late spring to mid-fall. Urgent repairs, interior work and some jobs under heated enclosures can be done in colder months. If something is actively letting water in, we can often make it safe until spring.
Do you do small jobs?
Yes. A few replacement bricks, one chimney crown or a short run of repointing are normal calls. Small jobs are often the ones that prevent a big one.
Do you work on older and heritage buildings?
Yes. Older brick and stone usually need a softer, lime-based mortar rather than modern high-strength mixes. Using the wrong mortar on an old wall is one of the main causes of cracked and spalling brick. More on that under stone restoration and repointing.
Got a masonry problem? Let’s take a look.
Call to describe the job, or send the form and we’ll call you back. Quotes are free and in writing.
(506) 406-6730- Free on-site look and a written quote
- We explain the cause, not just the symptom
- Moncton, Dieppe, Riverview, Shediac and area