St. Louis, MO
Masonry Contractor in St. Louis, MO
St. Louis has a long history of building in brick. We repoint and restore historic brick with compatible materials and repair damage on homes across the city.
- County
- Independent city
- Key services
- TuckpointingRestorationBrick RepairChimney Repair
- Nearby
- University CityFlorissant
- From
- Based in St. Peters
Masonry in the City of St. Louis
Brick is everywhere in St. Louis, from 19th-century rowhouses to early 20th-century flats and mid-century homes. Much of that brick is old enough that the choice of mortar and cleaning method decides whether a repair protects the wall or shortens its life.
The City of St. Louis is independent of St. Louis County, with its own building permits and its own historic-district rules. We work in every neighborhood of the city.
Common masonry problems in older St. Louis buildings
Eroded lime mortar
Soft joints washed out on exposed walls and chimneys.
Tuckpointing →
Damage from hard patching
Brick faces spalling next to cement-rich repair joints.
Restoration →
Parapet deterioration
Loose brick and open joints along the roof edge.
Restoration →
Old chimneys
Leaning or loose chimneys above the roofline, sometimes shared.
Chimney repair →
Cracked arches and lintels
Movement over windows and doors in older brick walls.
Masonry repair →
Services that fit St. Louis homes
Repointing soft historic brick with mortar that matches its strength, color, and joint profile. On old walls, the joints are cut out carefully so brick edges stay intact, and the new mortar is kept softer than the brick so the joint remains the part that wears.
Whole-building plans for older brick: cleaning, repointing, replacement, and rebuilding parapets and chimneys, sequenced so the top of the building and the water problems come first. Restoration also means correcting earlier repairs that are harming the brick.
Spalled brick, cracked lintels and arches, and failing steps. Replacement brick for old walls is often salvaged so its size, color, and texture fit in.
Crown replacement, repointing, and partial rebuilds for older chimneys. Chimneys shared with a neighbor need both owners on board before work starts.
Restoration versus quick patching
On a 100-year-old brick wall, the cheapest repair is often the most expensive one over time. Gray cement mortar smeared over worn joints looks fine for a season, then traps moisture and pushes damage into the brick. The fix is to cut those patches out and repoint properly.
Historic St. Louis brick was often laid in lime-based mortar. The repointing mortar should match that softness and breathability. More in masonry restoration.
Rowhouses, parapets, and shared walls
Many older St. Louis homes are rowhouses or closely spaced brick houses. That brings specific jobs: parapet walls along the roof edge, chimneys shared with a neighbor, and side walls a few feet from the next building that are hard to reach.
Work on a shared chimney or wall affects the neighbor too, so it helps to talk with them early. Access for tight side walls is planned before the job starts.
Historic districts and the Cultural Resources Office
The city’s Cultural Resources Office is responsible for reviewing exterior work in St. Louis’s local historic districts and on City Landmarks, and it reviews roughly 2,000 permits a year for exterior alterations in those districts. Each local historic district has its own rehabilitation and design standards, and larger projects may also go to the Preservation Board.
Mortar color, joint profile, and replacement brick can all fall under those standards, so check your district’s requirements before work is scheduled.
Scheduling masonry work in St. Louis
Give us the address
It tells us whether local historic district standards apply.
Assessment
We look at brick hardness, the existing mortar, and access, including tight side walls.
Permits and neighbors
Any required permit and review, plus a conversation with neighbors for shared walls or chimneys.
Questions from St. Louis homeowners
Do I need approval to tuckpoint in a St. Louis historic district?
In most cases, exterior changes in a local historic district are reviewed by the Cultural Resources Office for compliance with that district's standards. Check before scheduling.
What mortar is right for old St. Louis brick?
Usually a softer, lime-rich mortar matched to the brick. Hard modern mortar can cause spalling.
Can you work on a shared chimney?
Yes. Both owners should agree on the work, since the chimney serves or sits on both properties.
Which St. Louis neighborhoods do you serve?
All of them. We work throughout the City of St. Louis.
My parapet is losing bricks. Is that urgent?
Falling brick is a safety issue, and open parapet joints let water into the wall below. It's worth having looked at soon.
Masonry work in St. Louis? Let's talk.
The fastest way to get answers is a phone call. Mon to Sat, 8 AM to 6 PM · Sun, 10 AM to 2 PM
Prefer to write? Send a message
For the quickest answer, call (669) 326-4536. Otherwise, leave your details and we’ll get back to you.
Hours
Mon to Sat, 8 AM to 6 PM
Sun, 10 AM to 2 PM
Mon to Sat, 8 AM to 6 PM
Sun, 10 AM to 2 PM