What Masonry Repair Covers
Masonry repair is about the wall as a whole. Where brick repair replaces damaged units, masonry repair fixes the system that holds them in place: the ties that connect veneer to the frame, the lintels that carry brick over windows, the columns that hold up porches and the solid brick walls that carry floors on older Toronto homes.
When those parts fail, the wall shows it with bowing, long cracks, bulges and gaps at windows and corners. Patching the cracks without fixing the cause only hides the problem.
Solid Brick vs Brick Veneer
Before recommending any repair, we figure out what kind of wall you have.
| Wall type | Common in | Typical failure | Usual fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solid multi-wythe brick | Pre-1940s Toronto homes | Header failure, bulging, water damage | Rebuild sections, restore headers |
| Brick veneer over frame | Postwar and modern homes | Corroded ties, separation from frame | Helical ties or partial rebuild |
| Brick columns and piers | Porches and gates | Cracking, leaning from shallow footings | Rebuild on proper footing |
| Brick over openings | All eras | Rusted or undersized lintels | New lintel and rebuild above |
Warning Signs of a Masonry Problem
- Bowing or bulging brick, visible when you look along the wall
- Stair-step cracks following mortar joints, especially from window corners
- Gaps between brick and window frames or at wall corners
- Rust staining or cracked brick above windows and doors, often a failing lintel
- Leaning porch columns or gaps where columns meet the beam
How We Repair Masonry Assemblies
For veneer that has started to move but is still largely sound, we install stainless helical ties through the brick into the backup wall. For walls that have bulged too far, we shore the area, take it down to sound masonry, then rebuild with new ties, lintels, through-wall flashing and clear weep holes so water can drain. Sound original brick is cleaned and reused.
Moisture is usually part of it
Corroded ties and rusted lintels are caused by water in the wall. Every rebuild includes flashing and weep details so moisture infiltration does not start the cycle again.
When It Is a Foundation Problem
If the wall moved because the footing settled, rebuilding the brick alone will not hold. We check foundations as part of every structural assessment and will tell you if foundation repair needs to come first.
Structural repairs are led by the BCIN qualified founder of our Toronto masonry company and backed by a 10-year workmanship warranty.
