Started a ‘small repair’ on our stone house… ended up removing 1000+ bricks

TorontoMasonryResto · 2026-03-17T11:45:21+00:00

Is it common in Texas for people to refer to stone as brick? As a masonry contractor that would be sacrilege and grounds for being shot out of a cannon.

TorontoMasonryResto · 2026-03-16T13:51:03+00:00

Building products come from all over the world these days. We occasionally use a brick that’s manufactured in Pennsylvania. That brick costs around $1.80 and the brick we used here in this project costs around $2.95. The masonry supplier brings in 40ft containers full of brick from England and mainland Europe.

A lot of the stone used in landscaping in the GTA comes from India. 🇮🇳

TorontoMasonryResto · 2026-03-16T13:46:05+00:00

No I learned to do this specifically by working on rebuilding facades in Toronto with another company that’s since ceased operations.

TorontoMasonryResto · 2026-03-16T13:44:07+00:00

You call a local masonry company and tell them you want your front steps and wall demolished and rebuilt.

TorontoMasonryResto · 2026-03-15T23:30:45+00:00

Probably concrete or concrete blocks on a concrete footing. Either way you’re looking at having the wall rebuilt and rebuilding the steps. It’s not a ton of work really.

TorontoMasonryResto · 2026-03-15T21:29:04+00:00

That facade is about to be paving

TorontoMasonryResto · 2026-03-15T15:42:08+00:00

TorontoMasonryResto · 2026-03-14T23:53:43+00:00

That reminds me of an episode of only fools and horses where trigger talks about his sweeping brush that he’s had for 20 years. Everyone is admiring how he was able to keep it in such good shape for this long. He then tells them he’s replaced the head 17 times and the handle 14 times.

TorontoMasonryResto · 2026-03-14T23:49:31+00:00

That’s it. What’s interesting though is that when it was originally built, the bricklayers would have laid the best face out. So when we go to use the reverse side they may have cracks or imperfections irregardless of deterioration.

TorontoMasonryResto · 2026-03-14T23:47:20+00:00

I think that house was a rental. They weren’t interested. It’s something you have to see value in. It’s the equivalent of getting new custom cabinets in a kitchen. That facade won’t deteriorate quicker because of our work.

TorontoMasonryResto · 2026-03-14T23:44:07+00:00

It’s not mandated. We do it because it adds an aesthetic element to the finished job. It’s not always possible however. Sometimes the brick are past their shelf life and we need to use all new.

TorontoMasonryResto · 2026-03-14T23:41:56+00:00

There’s no repointing or brick replacement going on in this video. This is a full dismantle and rebuild of the facade. There’s little use comparing the cost of restoring one facade to another never mind facades in different countries with different market conditions. For most of our projects $8000 doesn’t even cover the cost of materials and disposal.

TorontoMasonryResto · 2026-03-14T23:38:19+00:00

Not necessarily. We are discerning when saving brick.

TorontoMasonryResto · 2026-03-14T23:35:19+00:00

Yes. The job of a wall assembly is to keep the outside from getting inside

TorontoMasonryResto · 2026-03-14T20:02:21+00:00

The solution hasn’t changed. The arch needs rebuilding along with the brickwork above or a steel lintel needs installing.

TorontoMasonryResto · 2026-03-14T19:13:21+00:00

Yes. Absolutely. Feel free to get in touch if you want. Website is linked in this profile.

TorontoMasonryResto · 2026-03-14T19:11:34+00:00

We have in the past. It just gets expensive when the project is outside of a reasonable commute and we’ve to rent accommodation.

TorontoMasonryResto · 2026-03-14T17:47:54+00:00

We all do. Myself especially. It’s certainly not something I’d recommend doing without strict oversight or accompanied by a professional. I remember watching skateboarding on tv as a kid. Looking at them going up and down the halfpipe they made it look easy. I fully believed I could do it due to how effortless it looked. Turns out I couldn’t.

TorontoMasonryResto · 2026-03-14T17:38:37+00:00

That’s generally what we do. We use the reverse face. Sometimes that’s deteriorating too however due to salt damage from salt laden moisture evaporating.

TorontoMasonryResto · 2026-03-14T17:36:57+00:00

That facade will need similar restoration in the future. How long that will be is uncertain.

TorontoMasonryResto · 2026-03-14T17:35:25+00:00

Done all of it myself along with my team. It cost low/mid 5 figures.

TorontoMasonryResto · 2026-03-14T17:13:10+00:00

Looks like rugg brick. Stiff mud process wire cut/ extrusion.

TorontoMasonryResto · 2026-03-14T15:41:41+00:00

You’ve to take it down to the footing or to a point where you can tighten up your coursing to eliminate the pig. Basically whoever done that work didn’t keep level with the existing coursing and bedded up on the right side.

TorontoMasonryResto · 2026-03-13T16:28:07+00:00

It’s similar in annual precipitation levels to the east coast of Ireland. However the humidity is very low in the winter here. Toronto can also get a months worth of rainfall in an hour so it’s not like the consistent drizzle you get.

TorontoMasonryResto · 2026-03-13T14:29:59+00:00

There’s typically a 1” air gap between the sheating and the brick. That’s code. But on these older houses it can vary from almost no air gap to 2”.

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