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HERITAGE + RESIDENTIAL + COMMERCIAL BCIN STAMPED $5M INSURED 24-HR EMERGENCY
Annex-style Romanesque Revival brick house with a rough stone base
Serving The Annex, Seaton Village + More

Masonry + Chimney Repair in The Annex | Toronto Elite Masonry, BCIN Stamped Since 2003

City of Toronto

Toronto Elite Masonry provides residential and commercial masonry repair throughout The Annex, backed by 22+ years combined Toronto masonry and heritage restoration.

The Annex has one of the most recognizable house types in Toronto: the Annex-style house, a Romanesque Revival design in deep red brick on a rough-faced stone base, with heavy arches, turrets and tall chimneys. Built mostly in the 1880s and 1900s around Bloor and Spadina, Seaton Village, Harbord Village and Yorkville, many have since been split into apartments. That means more people living behind the wall, tighter staging, and tenants who need notice. We repair spalled brick, repoint rough stone bases in lime mortar, rebuild chimneys and phase facade restoration so the building stays livable.

  • 48-hour site visit; 4-hour emergency
  • BCIN stamped where required
  • 24-hour written CAD quote
Request a Free Site Visit Call (647) 277-2003

Book a Site Visit + 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
Before You Hire a Mason

Brick + Stone Problems in The Annex, and the Fix

The Local Problem

Scaling sandstone bases and open arches on Annex-style houses

What you see
The rough stone at the base of the front wall sheds flakes every spring, and the joints around the big round arches are open.
Why it happens here
These houses follow E. J. Lennox's 1887 Madison Avenue design, in brick that often sits on Credit Valley sandstone, and later cement repointing traps water in that softer stone.
How we fix it
We rake out the hard mortar, repoint the stone base in lime and rebuild failed arch brick in reclaimed red brick through our brick repair and stone masonry crews.

Three Traps That Sink Toronto Masonry Jobs

  1. 1

    Wrong mortar colour on heritage brick

    Toronto Victorian and Edwardian brick was laid in lime mortar in cream, buff, grey and pink tones. Generic grey Portland cement will not blend, cracks within 5 years and hurts resale. We mix custom lime mortar matched to your brick and archive the recipe.

  2. 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

    Parging over wet substrate

    Freeze-thaw destroys parging on damp walls. Infrared moisture detection, substrate stripping, a bonding membrane and multi-coat application are required, or parging flakes off within 2 winters.

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

Services + Price Ranges

Brick, Stone + Facade Restoration We Offer

Dense downtown Victorian housing with Annex-style Romanesque Revival brick and stone, many converted to multi-unit; tight access means scaffold and street-occupancy permits on most facade work.

Brick Repair

$800 - $18,000

We cut out spalled, cracked and loose bricks and replace them with matched or reclaimed Ontario brick so the repair disappears into the wall. We find the cause first, usually hard Portland mortar or trapped moisture, so the new brick does not fail the same way. Toronto buff brick, Don Valley pressed brick and Victorian reds are sourced or salvaged to match, and mortar is matched in colour and strength.

Reclaimed BrickColour MatchedCause Fixed First10-Year Warranty
Includes
Spalled and cracked brick cut-out and replacement; Reclaimed Toronto red and buff brick sourcing
Timeline
1-5 days for most residential repairs

The Annex: spalled brick above second-floor windows replaced with reclaimed Annex red and a BCIN reviewed lintel ($4.3K).

Brick Repair details

Stone Masonry

$5,000 - $40,000

We build and restore natural stone: Credit Valley limestone steps, Owen Sound ledgerock walls, Queenston limestone sills and stone veneer on retail entrances. Steps and walls sit on frost-depth footings so they stay level through Toronto winters. We source local stone, dress it by hand where the design calls for it and set it in mortar matched to the stone. Typical projects run 3-15 days.

Credit Valley LimestoneFrost FootingsHand-Dressed10-Year Warranty
Includes
Credit Valley, Owen Sound and Queenston limestone; Stone steps, landings and porches on frost footings
Timeline
3-15 days by scope

The Beaches: 40-year-old crumbling steps replaced with hand-cut Credit Valley limestone, zero cracks after 18 months ($14K).

Stone Masonry 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

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

Every Other Service We Offer

Masonry Contractor$2,000 - $85,000One accountable masonry contractor for heritage, residential and commercial work, from chimney rebuilds to facade restoration.Masonry Repair$1,500 - $25,000Repairs to whole wall assemblies: bowing brick, failed ties, cracked columns and veneer that has pulled away.Repointing$2,000 - $15,000Removing failed mortar to a sound depth and refilling joints flush, so water stays out of the wall.Bricklayer$3,000 - $30,000New brickwork for additions, infill homes and garages, laid to OBC Part 9 and matched to what is already there.Parging$1,200 - $8,000Foundation parging stripped, moisture-tested and rebuilt in multiple coats over an acrylic bonding membrane.Foundation Repair$3,000 - $40,000Stabilization and repair of bowing, settling and leaking foundation walls, with a 24-hour water response.Foundation Crack Repair$800 - $12,000Trenchless injection that seals leaking foundation cracks from inside, usually in a single visit.Concrete Repair$800 - $15,000Repair of spalled, scaled and cracked concrete walls, slabs and walkways with freeze-thaw rated mixes.Concrete Resurfacing$4,000 - $25,000Polymer-modified overlays and decorative finishes that renew sound but worn concrete without tearing it out.Jewelstone$8,000 - $40,000A seamless natural stone overlay for pool decks, patios and walkways that stays cool and grips underfoot.Polished Concrete$4,000 - $80,000Multi-stage diamond grinding and densifying for durable, low-maintenance commercial floors.Microcement$6,000 - $35,000Hand-troweled, grout-free microcement finishes for bathrooms, floors and feature walls.Concrete Porch Repair$1,500 - $12,000Repair or rebuild of crumbling, sinking and separating concrete porches, steps and landings.Concrete Pool Repair$3,000 - $25,000Repair of cracked pool decks, loose coping and failed expansion joints after Toronto winters.Interlocking Stonework$8,000 - $35,000Interlocking driveways, patios and walkways built on a properly excavated and compacted base.Stucco$3,000 - $25,000Traditional cement and acrylic stucco for exteriors and interiors, including crack repair and recoats.Brick Painting + Coating$4,000 - $30,000Breathable paint, limewash and protective coatings on brick, applied only after repairs and repointing.
How It Works

How We Run a Job Around Tenants, Step by Step

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, heritage 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.

Ready for a Fixed-Price Facade Quote?

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

Request a Free Site Visit Call (647) 277-2003
Why Toronto Elite Masonry

Why Landlords + Owners Off Bloor Choose Us

  • Lime mortar on rough-faced stone bases and soft Victorian brick
  • Reclaimed red brick matched to the Annex palette
  • Scaffold, street occupancy and heritage permits handled in-house
  • Phased work and tenant notices on multi-unit conversions
  • BCIN review of lintels and structural repairs
  • Written CAD quote within 24 hours of the site visit
Project Examples

Recent Local Masonry Projects

Safe-generic examples. We never publish client addresses.

Masons repointing a red brick Victorian facade on a downtown Toronto street
Facade repointing from scaffolding on a downtown Toronto street.
  1. 1

    Spalled brick above second-floor windows $4.3K

    Brick faces were falling onto the walkway. We pulled the scaffold permit, replaced the damaged brick with reclaimed Annex red and had the lintel reviewed by a BCIN qualified designer before closing up.

  2. 2

    Rough stone foundation band repointed Lime mortar

    The rough-faced stone base of an Annex-style house was raked out and repointed in lime mortar, replacing hard cement that was trapping moisture.

  3. 3

    Multi-unit facade restoration Phased around tenants

    A converted house with four units had its front facade restored in phases, with tenant notices, safe entrances kept open and work inside Noise By-law hours.

Proven Results Across Toronto

What Our Customers Say

"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
"Bricks were spalling above our second-floor windows and pieces were landing on the walkway. Marty pulled the scaffold permit, replaced the damaged brick with reclaimed units that match the Annex red, and had a BCIN qualified review of the lintel before closing it up. Written quote, fixed price, no surprises."
Hannah W.The Annex$4.3KSpalled Brick Replacement
"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
Local Expertise

Romanesque Revival Masonry Is Our Specialty

The Annex is defined by one house type. E. J. Lennox's 1887 design at 37 Madison Avenue set the pattern, and builders copied it for about two decades: red brick, round Romanesque arches, turrets and, on many houses, a base of Credit Valley sandstone. A 1975 height freeze kept most of those houses standing.

Many are now split into apartments, so we phase facade work, give tenants written notice and keep entrances safe. Scaffold on the sidewalk or boulevard needs a City street occupation permit, which our expeditor files before the crew arrives.

Jobs by Spadina station and Christie Pits Park are staged from laneways where we can, and materials come in along Bloor Street West outside the busiest hours.

Annex-Style Houses and Their Weak Points

Annex-style Romanesque Revival homes combine red brick upper floors with a rough-faced stone base, deep round arches and often a turret. The stone base was laid in lime mortar; where it was repointed in hard cement, the stone faces scale and water wicks up into the brick.

Brick arches and lintels over wide openings carry heavy loads. When joints wash out the arch drops, which shows as cracks running up from the corners of windows.

Turrets and tall chimneys are exposed on every side. We see open joints, loose brick and failed flashing where they meet the roof.

Multi-unit conversions often added fire escapes, vents and wiring through the brick over the years, leaving patched holes that need proper brick and mortar repair.

On-Site Logistics

Tight Lots, Tenants + Permits: How We Stage

Annex streets are dense, parking is scarce and many houses are now apartments. A good job here is mostly good planning.

  • Street occupancy permits. Scaffold that reaches the sidewalk or a bin on the street needs City approval. We apply and post notices.
  • Tenant notices. On converted houses we give written notice, keep entrances safe and covered, and schedule the noisiest work for weekdays inside Noise By-law hours.
  • Staging. Narrow side yards mean frame scaffold and hand-carried materials. Laneway access helps for rear walls in Seaton Village and Harbord Village.
  • Response time. Site visit within 48 hours; emergency on-site within 4 hours.
Permits + Approvals

Heritage Review for Annex-Style Houses

Parts of The Annex are inside Heritage Conservation Districts, and many houses are on the City heritage register. Where review applies, Toronto Heritage Preservation looks at brick, mortar colour and joint profile on visible elevations. Our expeditor confirms the status and prepares the submission. On every Annex-style house we use lime mortar on the stone base and soft brick, because it is the repair that lets these walls dry out.

Seasonal Notes for Romanesque Revival Brick. Spring brings brick faces down after winter freeze-thaw, especially above windows and on north-facing walls. Summer and early fall are best for lime repointing of stone bases. We plan multi-unit facade work for weeks when tenants have the least disruption and keep emergency response open year-round.
Getting Here

Local Landmarks + Access Routes

Bloor Street West, Spadina Avenue and Avenue Road carry our crews in, with Line 2 at Spadina, St. George and Bathurst and Line 1 at Dupont.

Landmarks on Our Regular Routes

  • Royal Ontario Museum
  • Bata Shoe Museum
  • Christie Pits Park
  • University of Toronto St. George campus
  • Miles Nadal JCC
Highways + Main Roads
Bloor Street West, Spadina Avenue, Avenue Road
Transit
Spadina station, St. George station, Bathurst station, Dupont station
Open in Google Maps
Local Questions

The Annex Masonry FAQs

Can you work on a house with tenants living in it?

Yes. We give written notice, keep entrances safe and covered, phase the facade so units stay usable and keep noisy work inside City of Toronto Noise By-law hours.

Do I need a permit for scaffold on my street?

If scaffold, a bin or stored material sits on the sidewalk, boulevard or road, the City requires a Street Occupation Permit. We apply for it, post the notices and plan deliveries along Bloor Street West outside peak hours.

Why is the stone base of my house crumbling?

Many Annex-style houses sit on Credit Valley sandstone or rough-faced stone laid in lime mortar. Later repointing with hard cement traps water in the stone and makes the faces scale. We remove the hard mortar and repoint in lime so the base can dry out.

What does spalled brick repair cost in The Annex?

Brick repair typically runs $800 to $18,000 depending on the area and access. A recent job replacing spalled brick above second-floor windows with reclaimed brick, including a scaffold permit and lintel review, was about $4,300.

Do you serve Seaton Village and Yorkville?

Yes. We work across The Annex, Seaton Village, Yorkville, Harbord Village and around Bloor and Spadina, with a 48-hour site visit.

Are Annex-style houses heritage protected?

Some are. The East Annex was the first large residential neighbourhood the City studied as a Heritage Conservation District, other houses are designated, and many are listed. Our expeditor checks your property and handles any Heritage Preservation application.

Nearby Areas

Also Serving Near The Annex

Neighbouring areas we serve without a dedicated page:

All Service Areas
24-hour emergency chimney + foundation response

Book Brick + Stone Repair in The Annex

Site visit within 48 hours, a written CAD quote on letterhead 24 hours after, and 4-hour emergency response when something cannot wait.

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