How to Choose a Masonry Contractor in Metro Detroit

Hiring a masonry contractor is harder than it looks, because the part of the job that determines whether the work lasts is the part you cannot see once it is finished. Two crews can quote the same porch, and the cheaper one can leave you with a rebuild in three years. Here is what actually separates a masonry contractor who does it right from one who patches and leaves, based on how we approach the work across Oakland and Macomb County.



They fix the base, not just the surface

Most brick porch and step failures are not a brick problem, they are a base problem. On a recent West Bloomfield porch, the structure had failed to the point that resetting brick on the old base would have done nothing, so the porch came out to the foundation and went back in on a machine-compacted base before any brick was laid. A contractor who resets brick on a foundation that is already moving is selling you the same failure again. Ask any contractor what they are doing under the visible masonry, and listen for compaction and drainage, not just the finish.

They match materials to your home

Matching is not cosmetic. On a chimney, mortar that is harder than the surrounding brick forces the brick to crack instead of the joint, which turns a solved problem into an expensive one a few winters later. On a Birmingham step project, we replaced failing precast with brick and limestone matched to the house, which reads better and lasts longer than a one-size unit. A good contractor sources brick, stone, and mortar to match what is already there in color and in hardness.

They assess before they quote, and they will say repair when repair is enough

The honest version of this trade tells you when you do not need the big job. On a chimney, we will not quote a rebuild when repointing solves it, and we will not sell repointing on a chimney that structurally needs the rebuild. That means looking at the full structure before pricing, not quoting from the driveway. If a contractor gives you a rebuild number without inspecting the whole thing, that is a flag.

They use their own crew and carry the license

We never subcontract, so the crew on your property is the crew we trained and stand behind, and the work runs under Michigan Builder's License #262200027 with full insurance. Subcontracted masonry means the quality depends on whoever the contractor could book that week. Always confirm the license number and that the people doing the work are employees, not day labor.

The details that signal real craftsmanship

Small details tell you a lot. On a recent chimney rebuild we poured fiber-enhanced concrete crowns and built an overhanging drip edge so water is thrown clear of the brick instead of running down it, which is one of the most common reasons a cheaper rebuild starts leaking again. When you review a quote, ask about these finish details. A contractor who has a specific answer is one who has thought past the surface.

Questions worth asking any masonry contractor

Do you use your own crew or subcontract? What is your Builder's License number? What are you doing to the base and drainage under the visible work? How will you match the existing brick and mortar? Is the work backed by a written warranty?

Brickheads Masonry answers all five the same way on every job, and every estimate is free. You can see the range of what we handle on our masonry services page, or call 586-709-2365 and we will assess your project and give you a straight recommendation before any number is quoted.