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HERITAGE + RESIDENTIAL + COMMERCIAL BCIN STAMPED $5M INSURED 24-HR EMERGENCY
Mason on scaffolding tuckpointing a Toronto Victorian brick chimney in warm mid-morning daylight

Toronto Elite Masonry | Chimney Repair, Brick Restoration + Foundation Parging Across the GTA Since 2003

Heritage masonry, chimney repair, brick restoration, tuckpointing, parging, foundation crack repair and stonework FOR Heritage Property Owners | Toronto Homeowners | Commercial Property Managers | General Contractors across Rosedale, Forest Hill, Old Toronto, Etobicoke, North York, Scarborough, Mississauga and Oakville.

22+ Years GTA Experience Ontario Building Code Part 9 BCIN Qualified

1. Transparent Masonry Costs

OBC COMPLIANT

We quote every job on letterhead within 24 hours of the site visit so you plan the project with firm numbers not guesses. Chimney repair typically runs $2,500 to $18,000, full chimney rebuild $8,000 to $35,000, brick restoration $4,000 to $25,000, parging $1,200 to $8,000. You see every line item in writing before signing, which means no surprise change orders mid-job.

2. BCIN Stamped Structural Masonry

ENGINEERED

We never rebuild a chimney crown, replace a load-bearing brick section or reparge a foundation without a BCIN qualified sign-off because your home holds up a family and we take that seriously. Every structural masonry sequence is engineered to OBC Part 9 and heritage conservation standards.

3. In-House Heritage + Modern Fleet

NO SUB MARKUP

We own our scaffolding, hydraulic mortar mixers, infrared moisture detection and drone chimney inspection gear because renting adds hidden cost and schedule risk. Heritage pointing hammers for Victorian brick, modern diamond grinders for new builds, and climate-controlled mortar storage so colour match stays true across weather changes.

4. 24-Hour Written Quote

FAST TURNAROUND

We walk your property within 48 hours of your call and deliver a written CAD quote on letterhead within the next 24 hours because serious projects need serious numbers, not verbal estimates. Fixed-price contracts with a 5-stage draw schedule tied to scaffold, structural, finishing and final sign-off.

5. Full Liability + WSIB + 10-Year Warranty

$5M POLICY

We back every project with $5M general liability, WSIB clearance and a written 10-year workmanship warranty, so your home and neighbours are protected the second scaffolding goes up. All insurance and WSIB documentation shared at contract signing, which means no scramble if adjusters show up.

6. 22+ Years Heritage, Residential + Commercial

LOCAL MASTERY

We bring 22+ years of combined Toronto masonry experience across Rosedale heritage brick restoration, Forest Hill chimney rebuilds, Old Toronto Victorian tuckpointing and commercial parging. Led by Marty Russo BCIN, with Toronto Masonry Guild recognition and hundreds of chimneys restored since 2003.

Our policy: Written feasibility and 24-hour callback. Fixed-price contracts, no change orders without written approval. 24-hour emergency chimney and foundation response.

24-Hour Written Quote

Fixed Price

Site visit in 48 hours. Written quote on letterhead in 24 hours after that. Fixed-price. BCIN stamped where required.

No obligation. Written quote on letterhead before any contract.

  • 22+ Yrs Toronto Heritage Track Record
  • $5M Liability + WSIB
  • 24-Hour Written CAD Quote
  • 10-Year Workmanship Warranty
  • 4-Hour Emergency On-Site
  • BCIN Stamped Structural Work

Masonry + Chimney Repair in Toronto, Explained

Masonry repair in Toronto covers chimney rebuilds, brick replacement, tuckpointing, foundation parging and heritage restoration on houses that range from 1870s Victorian rows to 1970s bungalows. The right fix depends on the age of the brick, the mortar it was laid in, whether the home sits in a Heritage Conservation District and how much water has already got in. Done right, masonry lasts decades. Done with the wrong mortar or over a wet wall, it fails in a few winters.

What masonry and chimney repair costs in Toronto

In Toronto, chimney repair typically runs $2,500 to $18,000 and a full chimney rebuild $8,000 to $35,000. Brick restoration usually falls between $4,000 and $25,000, tuckpointing and repointing $2,000 to $15,000 per elevation, foundation parging $1,200 to $8,000 and foundation crack repair $800 to $12,000. Whole heritage facade restorations range from $8,000 to $80,000. The biggest cost drivers are height and scaffold access, how much original brick can be reused, lime mortar colour matching, BCIN review for structural work and Heritage Preservation submissions inside a Conservation District. Toronto Elite Masonry puts every number on letterhead within 24 hours of the site visit, fixed-price with a 5-stage draw.

OBC Part 9 + Toronto Heritage Preservation rules for masonry in Toronto

Ontario Building Code Part 9 governs houses and small buildings, including masonry walls, chimneys, flue liners and foundations. Structural work such as chimney rebuilds with liners over 5m, shifted crowns, shared party-wall stacks and load-bearing brick usually needs a building permit from the Toronto Building Division and drawings reviewed by a BCIN qualified designer. On designated properties and inside Heritage Conservation Districts like South Rosedale and Cabbagetown, Toronto Heritage Preservation reviews visible changes to brick, mortar colour and joint profile, and expects lime mortar (ASTM C270 Type N or O, or NHL) on soft heritage brick. Permits typically take 2-6 weeks, and the City of Toronto Noise By-law sets construction hours.

Who does heritage masonry and chimney repair in Toronto

Toronto Elite Masonry has done heritage masonry and chimney repair in Toronto since 2003, led by founder Marty Russo, a third-generation BCIN qualified mason with Toronto Masonry Guild recognition. Marty's lime mortar colour matching is used as a reference by Toronto Heritage Preservation. The company runs its own crews and fleet, including scaffolding, hydraulic mortar mixers, infrared moisture detection and drone chimney inspection, with an in-house permit expeditor, $5M liability, WSIB clearance and a 10-year workmanship warranty. Hundreds of Toronto chimneys and brick walls have been restored, from Rosedale and Forest Hill to North York and Scarborough.

Mason mixing custom lime mortar beside a sample panel on buff heritage brick
Every heritage job starts with a written mortar analysis and a sample panel you approve on your own wall.
  • Site visitWithin 48 hours
  • Written CAD quote24 hours after
  • Chimney rebuild7-14 days
  • Permits, when needed2-6 weeks
  • Emergency on-site4 hours

Why Most Toronto Masonry Projects Fail Before the First Brick Comes Out

Three traps kill most Toronto masonry projects: wrong mortar colour on heritage brick, chimney rebuilds that skip BCIN sign-off, and parging over a wet substrate.

  1. 1

    Trap 1: Wrong mortar colour on heritage brick

    Mortar match is the biggest heritage mistake. Toronto Victorian and Edwardian brick was laid with lime-based mortar in cream, buff, grey and pink tones. Modern Portland cement in generic grey will not blend, cracks within 5 years and hurts resale in Rosedale, Forest Hill and Trinity-Bellwoods Heritage Districts. We mix custom lime mortar matched to your brick, archive the recipe and submit samples to Heritage Preservation when required.

  2. 2

    Trap 2: Chimney rebuild skips BCIN sign-off

    Toronto Building requires engineered rebuilds for liners over 5m, shifted crowns and party-wall shared stacks. Projects without stamped drawings get rejected first-round, adding 4-8 weeks.

  3. 3

    Trap 3: Parging over wet substrate

    Toronto freeze-thaw destroys parging on damp walls. Infrared moisture detection, substrate stripping, acrylic bonding membrane and multi-coat application are required or parging flakes off within 2 winters. Water then enters the basement ($5K-$40K emergency repair).

We solve all three pre-mobilization: written mortar colour analysis, BCIN review and an infrared moisture scan, before any scaffold goes up.

Toronto Masonry Services, Priced in Writing

Twenty-three services across five groups, all done by our own crews. Every range below is a real Toronto range; your fixed price comes from the site visit.

Masonry Contractor

$2,000 - $85,000
HERO

We are the masonry contractor GCs, property managers and homeowners call when the job has to be stamped, scheduled and done right the first time. Our own crews and fleet cover heritage, residential and commercial scopes under one contract, with an in-house permit expeditor for Toronto Building, Heritage Preservation and the Committee of Adjustment. Every structural sequence gets BCIN sign-off to OBC Part 9, every contract is fixed-price with a 5-stage draw, and every job carries $5M liability, WSIB clearance and a 10-year warranty.

BCIN StampedOwn Crews + Fleet5-Stage Draws$5M + WSIB
Includes
Heritage, residential and commercial scopes under one contract; In-house permit expeditor (Toronto Building, Heritage Preservation, Committee of Adjustment)
Timeline
1 day to 8 weeks depending on scope; permits 2-6 weeks when required

Vaughan: a design-build firm's brick veneer was finished two days early, with stamped lintel details ready before the inspector asked.

Masonry Contractor details

Chimney Repair

$2,500 - $35,000
HERO KW

We repair and rebuild Toronto chimneys from the crown down: cracked mortar-wash crowns replaced with cast-in-place concrete and a drip edge, spalled brick above the roofline cut out and matched, flue liners renewed and step and counter flashing reset. Every stack gets a drone inspection with a photo report first, and rebuilds with liners over 5m, shifted crowns or shared party-wall stacks get BCIN stamped drawings so Toronto Building approves them first time. Most rebuilds finish in 7-14 days.

Drone InspectionBCIN Stamped7-14 Day Rebuild24-Hr Emergency
Includes
Drone chimney inspection with photo report; Crown rebuilds with cast-in-place overhang and drip edge
Timeline
7-14 days: scaffold 1d, demo 1-2d, rebuild 3-7d, pointing + cap 1-2d

Rosedale: a stack leaning after an ice storm was rebuilt in nine days with heritage brick and lime mortar matched ($22K).

Chimney Repair details

Tuckpointing

$2,000 - $15,000

We tuckpoint Toronto brick with mortar matched to the wall: custom lime mortar (ASTM C270 Type O or NHL 3.5) for Victorian and Edwardian brick and Portland-based mixes for modern masonry. Heritage walls get ribbon or bead joints finished in a contrasting line to restore crisp brick geometry. We rake joints with HEPA dust extraction, mix on site, approve a sample panel with you and archive the recipe. Most elevations take 3-10 days.

Lime Mortar MatchRibbon + Bead JointsSample PanelHEPA Dust Control
Includes
Written mortar analysis and custom colour match; Lime (ASTM C270 Type N/O, NHL) or Portland mixes by wall type
Timeline
3-10 days per elevation by size and weather

Leslieville: hard 1980s cement raked out of an 1890s semi and tuckpointed in buff lime mortar that matches next door ($9.5K).

Tuckpointing details

Masonry Restoration

$8,000 - $80,000

We restore whole brick facades on Victorian and Edwardian homes, from survey and infrared moisture scan through lintel and arch repairs, reclaimed brick replacement, full repointing and final sign-off. Each stage maps to our 5-stage draw so you only pay for work that is done. Scaffold staging and permits are handled in-house. Most facades fall between $8K and $80K and take 2-6 weeks.

Facade SurveyInfrared Moisture ScanReclaimed Brick5-Stage Draws
Includes
Facade survey, photo log and infrared moisture scan; Lintel, arch and sill repairs
Timeline
2-6 weeks per facade

Old Toronto: a Victorian semi facade surveyed, rebricked and lime repointed across five draws ($35K).

Masonry Restoration details

Heritage Masonry

$5,000 - $85,000
PREMIUM

We specialize in heritage masonry for Rosedale, Forest Hill, Cabbagetown and Old Toronto homes. Every Victorian, Edwardian and Georgian wall gets a written mortar analysis, custom lime mortar mixed on site (NHL 2, NHL 3.5 or ASTM C270 Type O), sample panel approval and an archived recipe. Our in-house expeditor handles Toronto Heritage Preservation, Toronto Building and Committee of Adjustment submissions, and Marty Russo's colour matching is used as a reference by Heritage Preservation.

Lime Mortar AnalysisHCD ApprovalsDutchman RepairsArchived Recipe
Includes
Written mortar analysis and custom lime mortar; Sample panel approval and archived recipe
Timeline
Permits 2-6 weeks; work 1-8 weeks by scope

Cabbagetown HCD: three lime samples on a test panel, Heritage Preservation approved the first, the front now looks like 1885 again ($31K).

Heritage Masonry details

Parging

$1,200 - $8,000
HIGH-VOL

We reparge foundation walls so they stay on. Most parging fails because it was troweled over a damp wall, so we scan with infrared moisture detection first, strip loose material back to sound substrate, apply an acrylic bonding membrane and build the finish in scratch and finish coats, with fiberglass mesh where the wall needs it. We parge single homes and multi-unit buildings, with insurance direct-bill on commercial work.

Infrared Moisture ScanAcrylic Bonding MembraneMulti-CoatCommercial Programs
Includes
Infrared moisture detection before any coat; Full strip of failed parging to sound substrate
Timeline
1-3 days per home plus curing

Forest Hill: flaking east wall stripped, acrylic membrane applied, hand-smoothed finish. Looks better than new ($8K).

Parging details
$33 CPC

We seal leaking foundation cracks from inside with trenchless injection, so there is no excavation and no torn-up garden. Polyurethane injection seals active leaks and flexes with the wall; epoxy injection restores strength where a crack needs bonding. We map moisture with infrared detection first, and we tell you plainly when a crack is structural and needs more than injection. Most cracks are done in a day.

Trenchless InjectionNo ExcavationSame-DayWritten Warranty
Includes
Crack mapping and severity assessment; Trenchless interior injection
Timeline
Most cracks same day

Scarborough: multiple leaking cracks mapped with infrared and sealed from inside, no digging ($9K).

Foundation Crack Repair details

A Core Masonry

B Parging + Foundation

C Concrete

D High-Intent Repair

E Specialty

From Your Call to Final Sign-Off

Five steps, every one in writing. You know the price before you sign and you only pay for stages that are done.

  1. 1

    Call or Form

    24-hour callback

    Call (647) 277-2003 or send the form. We call back within 24 hours during business hours, and the emergency line is answered around the clock.

  2. 2

    Site Visit

    Within 48 hours

    We walk the property, fly the chimney by drone where needed and scan damp walls with infrared moisture detection.

  3. 3

    Written CAD Quote

    24 hours after the visit

    A fixed-price quote on letterhead, every line item written out, with BCIN and permit needs flagged up front.

  4. 4

    Contract + 5-Stage Draws

    You sign when ready

    Fixed price, 5-stage draw schedule and insurance and WSIB documents shared at signing. No change orders without written approval.

  5. 5

    Build + Sign-Off

    Scaffold to final

    Scaffold, structural, finishing, pointing and final sign-off, with a clean site every evening and the 10-year warranty in writing.

Book a Free Site Visit, Pay Nothing Until You Sign

No obligation. You get a fixed-price written quote, a 10-year workmanship warranty and $5M liability cover before any scaffold goes up.

Toronto Masonry Projects, Start to Finish

All 10 Projects
Rebuilt heritage brick chimney on a Rosedale Edwardian home with scaffolding in place

Heritage chimney rebuild with brick match

Leaning stack rebuilt after an ice storm in nine days, heritage brick and lime mortar matched.

Chimney Repair
Fresh hand-smoothed foundation parging along a Forest Hill brick home

Foundation parging + waterproofing

Flaking east wall stripped back to sound block after an infrared moisture scan, acrylic bonding membrane applied and a hand-smoothed finish coat built in two passes to grade..

Parging
Hand-cut Credit Valley limestone front steps on a house in The Beaches

Credit Valley limestone steps + porch

Crumbling 40-year-old concrete steps replaced with hand-cut Credit Valley limestone treads on frost-depth footings, with a matching landing and railing posts reset..

Stone Masonry
Restored Victorian semi facade in Old Toronto with new lime mortar joints

Victorian facade restoration

Full facade survey, reclaimed brick replacement, jack arch repairs and lime repointing on a Victorian semi, staged over five draws with a scaffold and street occupancy permit..

Masonry Restoration
Marty Russo, master mason, beside restored Victorian red brick
MR Marty Russo, BCIN Founder + Master Mason · 22+ Years in Toronto

Master Mason Marty Russo, and How We Work Differently

Marty Russo is a third-generation mason from a Vaughan Italian stonework family. He restored heritage brick in Rosedale and Cabbagetown from 2003, led the masonry division of a mid-sized Toronto heritage contractor from 2010 to 2018, then launched Toronto Elite Masonry in 2018. His lime mortar colour matching is used as a reference by Toronto Heritage Preservation, and he still inspects and signs off structural work himself.

What makes us different is mostly what we refuse to do. We do not give verbal estimates, because a number you cannot hold us to is not a quote. We do not sub out the work, because the crew that quotes the job should be the crew that builds it. And we do not put hard grey cement on soft heritage brick, because it is the single most common reason Toronto walls fail early.

Instead, every job starts with diagnosis. Drone photos of the chimney. An infrared moisture scan before parging. A written mortar analysis before pointing. Then a fixed-price quote on letterhead, a 5-stage draw schedule tied to real milestones and insurance documents in your hands at signing.

That approach suits heritage owners who need approvals done right, suburban owners who want a straight answer on repair versus rebuild, property managers who need WSIB paperwork and phased work, and general contractors who need a masonry sub that answers the phone and shows up when booked.

  • BCIN Qualified (Ontario Building Code Identification Number)
  • Toronto Masonry Guild recognition
  • Mason Guild Certified
  • 22+ years Toronto heritage masonry
About Toronto Elite Masonry

Verified Homeowner, Heritage + Commercial Reviews

Reviews from heritage homeowners, suburban owners, property managers and builders across Toronto and the GTA.

"Our house sits in the Cabbagetown Heritage Conservation District and two other masons told us approvals were our problem. Toronto Elite Masonry's expeditor filed the Heritage Preservation submission, Marty mixed three lime mortar samples on a test panel and the city signed off on the first one. The front elevation now looks like 1885 again, and the recipe is on file for next time."
Daniel R.Cabbagetown$31KHeritage Facade + Lime Repointing
"We manage a 60-unit rental building and the foundation parging was failing on three sides. Toronto Elite scanned every wall for moisture, phased the work so tenants kept access, and billed our insurer directly for the water-damaged section. WSIB and liability certificates were in my inbox before the scaffold arrived."
Property Manager, 60-unit rental buildingMississauga$46KCommercial Parging + Waterproofing
"Water was coming through a basement crack on a Sunday night. They were here in under four hours, injected the crack the next morning and the basement has stayed dry through two storms since."
Grace L.North York$2.4KEmergency Foundation Crack Injection
"Somebody had repointed our 1890s semi with grey Portland cement in the eighties and the brick faces were popping off. Marty explained why the hard mortar was destroying the soft brick, raked it all out with a dust extractor running the whole time, and tuckpointed in a buff lime mortar that matches the original joints next door. The sample panel sat on the wall for a week so we could see it in different light before they did the whole front. Clean site every evening, which our neighbours noticed too."
Michael and Anna P.Leslieville$9.5KLime Tuckpointing + Mortar Match
"We run several infill builds a year and masonry is usually where the schedule slips. Toronto Elite's crew showed up on the booked day, had the BCIN stamped lintel details ready before the inspector asked, and finished the brick veneer two days early. They answer the phone, which is rarer than it should be."
Site Superintendent, design-build firmVaughan$64KNew Build Brick Veneer
"Our old pool deck was cracked and hot underfoot. The Jewelstone overlay is seamless, cool to walk on and the kids no longer slip. The 10-year warranty was in the contract, not just a promise on the phone."
Sophie T.Oakville$27KJewelstone Pool Deck

Serving Toronto + the GTA

Ten dedicated service areas, each with its own brick era, heritage rules and site conditions. Site visit within 48 hours, emergency on-site within 4 hours in Toronto.

Also serving these Toronto and GTA neighbourhoods:

Toronto Masonry Questions, Answered

How much does chimney repair cost in Toronto in 2026?

Chimney repair in Toronto typically costs $2,500 to $18,000, and a full chimney rebuild runs $8,000 to $35,000. Price depends on linear footage, liner, crown damage and Heritage District requirements. A cracked crown on a postwar bungalow sits near the low end, while a tall multi-flue stack in a Heritage Conservation District with scaffold on a steep roof sits near the top. You get a CAD quote on letterhead within 24 hours of the site visit, with every line item written out so there are no surprise change orders later.

How long does a chimney rebuild take?

A chimney rebuild takes 7 to 14 days from signing to final inspection: scaffold 1 day, demolition 1-2 days, rebuild 3-7 days depending on height, then pointing and cap 1-2 days. Winter work follows cold-weather mortar protocols, with heated enclosures and protected curing so the new mortar is not damaged by frost. If the rebuild needs BCIN stamped drawings or a heritage permit, we file those before mobilizing so the crew is not waiting on paperwork once the scaffold is up.

Does my heritage home qualify for mortar colour match?

Yes. Victorian, Edwardian and Georgian homes all get a written mortar analysis, custom lime mortar mixed on site, sample panel approval and an archived recipe for future repairs. We look at binder type, sand colour and grading and the joint profile, then mix lime mortar (ASTM C270 Type N or O, or NHL where the wall calls for it) so the new joints blend in and stay softer than the brick. The sample panel stays on the wall long enough for you to see it in different light before full pointing starts.

Do you handle permits and heritage approvals?

Yes. Our in-house expeditor handles Toronto Building, Heritage Preservation, the Zoning Examiner, Committee of Adjustment and BCIN sign-offs. Permits typically take 2-6 weeks. Because the expeditor works in parallel with project planning, approvals are usually in hand by the time the schedule is set, rather than holding the job up afterward. For Mississauga and Oakville heritage districts we file with the municipal heritage staff in the same way.

Do you handle emergency chimney or foundation water intrusion?

Yes. We respond 24 hours a day to collapsing crowns, failing parging and sudden basement water, on-site within 4 hours in Toronto. We use infrared moisture detection to map where water is travelling, trenchless injection for leaking cracks and temporary stabilization for loose chimney masonry. We bill insurance directly and document the damage with photos and moisture readings so your adjuster has what they need.

What is the difference between tuckpointing and repointing?

Repointing removes deteriorated mortar to a sound depth and refills the joint flush to stop water entry. Tuckpointing goes further: joints are filled in mortar matched to the brick and finished with a fine contrasting line that restores crisp brick geometry, the traditional finish on many Toronto heritage homes. Most walls need repointing first. Tuckpointing is the right call when you want to bring back the original look of a Victorian or Edwardian facade.

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What warranty and insurance do you carry?

Every project carries $5M general liability, WSIB clearance and a written 10-year workmanship warranty. All insurance and WSIB documents are shared at contract signing.

How do payments work on a masonry project?

Contracts are fixed-price with a 5-stage draw schedule tied to scaffold, structural work, finishing, pointing and final sign-off. There are no change orders without your written approval.

Can masonry work be done in a Toronto winter?

Yes, for most repairs. We use cold-weather mortar protocols, heated enclosures where needed and schedule pointing around freeze cycles. Emergency chimney and foundation work proceeds year-round.

How much does foundation parging cost in Toronto?

Residential parging in Toronto typically costs $1,200 to $8,000. The price depends on wall length, how much failed parging must be stripped, moisture remediation and the finish. Commercial buildings are quoted per building.

How much does foundation crack repair cost?

Foundation crack repair in Toronto runs $800 to $12,000. Most leaking cracks are sealed with trenchless interior injection in a single visit; excavation is only recommended when injection will not hold.

Which areas do you serve?

We serve all of Toronto, including Old Toronto, Rosedale, Forest Hill, The Annex, Cabbagetown, Etobicoke, North York and Scarborough, plus Mississauga, Oakville, Vaughan and Markham across the GTA.

24-hour emergency chimney + foundation response

Get a Written, Fixed-Price Masonry Quote

We walk your property within 48 hours of your call and put a CAD quote on letterhead in your hands 24 hours after that. No verbal estimates, no change orders without your written approval.

  • BCIN stamped where required
  • $5M liability + WSIB
  • 10-year workmanship warranty
Call (647) 277-2003Request Site Visit