About

Make no mistake: brick and stone construction adds value and beauty to any home.

Do it right, it will last a lifetime. Do it wrong, however, and your new exterior brick or natural stone fireplace could become a candidate for one of Mike Holmes’s renos-gone-wrong shows.

Masonry is a booming trade in today’s home construction industry. Masonry companies are popping up like mushrooms after two days of rain, hoping to cash in on the boom. Their gain could be your loss, and your loss could be in the tens of thousands—too high a price to pay for disappointment.

By all means, make an investment in your home with beautiful stone, brick or manufactured stone features, but before you sign on the dotted line, get some insight into the products and the professionals you’ll be investing your hard-earned dollars in.

Product: You want to change the look of your home and have decided that some type of masonry is what you want. There are a few different options, with three being the most popular ones available—natural stone, brick and manufactured alternatives.

Brick is one alternative because it lasts beyond 100 years. Brick is made out of fired clay with a variety of different colours available. Brick may be more expensive than other non-masonry exterior finishes but its LEED friendly, low maintenance, and adds timeless beauty and grace to any home.

Brick is a true masonry product that comprises a cavity wall system, and nothing beats it for weathering the elements. Manufactured stone, also known as faux stone or artificial stone, is engineered from a specifically formulated blend of Portland cement, aggregates, and carefully selected pigments.

Lighter than natural stone, it eliminates the need for structural reinforcing of foundations and footings. It can be installed on any stable interior or exterior wall surface, facing, or elevation; including those where natural stone would be impractical.

Natural stone is unmatched for its beauty and durability and can be an extraordinary accent for everything from new homes to century homes.

There are just as many options for getting any of the above installed, but in this case there’s only one option worth choosing, a Red Seal certified tradesman.

Like my father before me, I’m a professional bricklayer. I’ve been a journeyman bricklayer for more than 30 years and in that time I’ve seen it all—from sound, extraordinarily beautiful work to work that is sloppy, unsound and unsightly.

Working with brick and stone is a real craft. An abiding interest in tile or two summers of stucco work just aren’t appropriate qualifications. If you’re not the kind of person who lets backyard mechanics tinker with your European sports car, you’re not the type to let eager amateurs experiment with thousands of dollars in fine materials either.

Contractors should have plenty of after shots of their projects and by all means check them out. Contact their clients too if they offer past customers as references. Don’t be shy; start with the customers who had projects similar to yours, then call several others for a well-rounded view of the company.

If you’re looking to stretch your dollar, get the very best product in your price range, but the one thing you can’t skimp on is quality craftsmanship.