Great walls are laid one course at a time.
Brick, stone and block masonry for homes and businesses: new walls, chimneys, patios, outdoor kitchens, repairs and restoration, laid straight and finished clean.
Watch the wall go up, then move across it: the bricks lift as you pass. Pick a project to look through the arch.
See this service- Brick and veneernew walls, repairs and restoration
- Stone and blockveneer, walls and foundations
- Chimneys and fireplacesrepair, rebuild and new builds
- Patios and outdoor livingpavers, kitchens and fire features
Masonry that looks like magic
Good masonry looks effortless, and it never is. We lay brick, stone and block with straight courses, matched mortar and water kept out, so the wall you see today is the one you still have in a hundred years.
- Laid straight and trueLines, levels and story poles keep every course on grade, so walls look crisp and carry load the way they should.
- Mortar that matchesOld walls get softer, matched mortar and new walls get the right mix, so the joint wears before the brick.
- Built to shed waterFlashing, weeps, caps and drainage are planned in, because water is behind most masonry damage.
- Brick, stone and blockOne crew that understands every material, from clay brick and fieldstone to block and pavers.
- Repairs that find the causeWe trace cracks, stains and crumbling joints to their source, so the repair does not come back.
- One clear processA walk-through, a plan on paper, careful work and a clean site, explained at every step.
Watch an arch lock itself in
Keep scrolling and a brick arch is built over its timber form: springers first, then the wedges meeting in the middle, and one last stone that makes the whole thing stand.
The form
Where every arch startsA timber form, called centering, holds the curve. Until the last stone is in, the arch is only as strong as the form beneath it.
The springers
The first courses on each sideBricks climb from both sides, set on a level bed of mortar. The wall around the opening rises with them.
The voussoirs
Wedges that meet in the middleEach wedge-shaped brick is set a little closer to the crown. Left and right take turns, so the load stays even.
The keystone
One stone locks it allThe last brick drops into the crown, the form comes away and the arch carries itself, which it will do for a century.
Keep scrolling to build the arch
Six groups, every service we do
Pull a brick out of the wall to see that group of services: brick work, stone, chimneys, outdoor living, block and structure, and restoration.
Brick installation, brick and thin brick veneer, repairs, tuckpointing and repointing, restoration, cleaning and sealing.
- Brick Installation
- Brick Veneer
- Thin Brick Veneer
- Brick Repair
- Tuckpointing and Repointing
- Brick Restoration
- Brick Cleaning
- Brick Sealing
Natural and cultured stone veneer, stone and boulder walls, flagstone, steps, columns and stone restoration.
- Natural Stone Veneer
- Cultured Stone Veneer
- Stone Walls
- Fieldstone and Boulder Walls
- Flagstone Patios and Walks
- Stone Steps and Stairs
- Stone Columns and Pillars
- Stone Restoration
Chimney repair, rebuilding, crowns and caps, flue liners, masonry and outdoor fireplaces, fire pits and waterproofing.
- Chimney Repair
- Chimney Rebuilding
- Chimney Crowns and Caps
- Flue Liners
- Masonry Fireplaces
- Outdoor Fireplaces
- Fire Pits
- Chimney Waterproofing
Paver patios, brick walkways, paver driveways, outdoor kitchens, grill islands, entry pillars, garden walls and pool decks.
- Paver Patios
- Brick Walkways and Paths
- Paver Driveways
- Outdoor Kitchens
- Grill Islands and Bars
- Mailboxes and Entry Pillars
- Garden Walls and Planters
- Pool Decks and Coping
Concrete block walls, retaining walls, foundation and basement wall repair, parging, lintels, arches and new openings.
- Concrete Block Walls
- Retaining Walls
- Foundation Wall Repair
- Basement Wall Repair
- Parging
- Lintel Replacement
- Masonry Arches
- Masonry Openings
Historic restoration, efflorescence removal, spalling and crack repair, waterproofing, painting and staining, demolition and inspections.
- Historic Masonry Restoration
- Efflorescence Removal
- Spalling Brick Repair
- Masonry Waterproofing
- Masonry Crack Repair
- Brick Painting and Staining
- Masonry Demolition and Rebuild
- Masonry Inspections
Pull a brick out of the wall. Each one holds a group of services.
Lay a wall in any bond you like
Pick a bond, a brick and a mortar color and watch a wall of real brick textures lay itself out, course by course.
A drawing from real brick photographs to help you imagine the look. Screens change color, so we bring real brick and mortar samples to the walk-through and compare them in your own light.
A few places to start
Slide sideways to see more.
Brick InstallationNew brick walls, homes, garages and additions laid course by course, in the bond and color you choose.See the service BrickBrick VeneerA single layer of real brick tied to the house, giving the look and durability of solid masonry.See the service Brick
Tuckpointing and RepointingWorn mortar joints ground out and refilled so the wall sheds water again and looks crisp.See the service Chimneys
Chimney RepairCrumbling mortar, loose brick, leaning stacks and water stains traced to their cause and repaired.See the service OutdoorPaver PatiosBrick and concrete paver patios laid in herringbone, running bond and basketweave over a base built to last.See the service Outdoor
Outdoor KitchensMasonry outdoor kitchens with grills, counters, sinks and storage built to live outdoors through every season.See the service StructureRetaining WallsBlock, stone and brick retaining walls that hold back a slope, with the drainage that keeps them standing.See the service StoneNatural Stone VeneerReal quarried stone cut thin and set on walls, chimneys and entries for a one-of-a-kind face.See the service Chimneys
Masonry FireplacesA real brick or stone fireplace, built from the firebox up, with a hearth that anchors the room.See the service RestorationHistoric Masonry RestorationOld brick, stone and terra cotta restored with period-correct methods and materials.See the service A pin on every city we serve
Pick an area and the map flies there, or tap a pin. Each one opens that city’s page.
Pick an area and the map flies there, or tap a pin. Every pin is a city we serve: hover or tap one to open its page.
Do a little homework first
Count the bricks for a wall, design a bond, read the signs on a cracked wall, plan a patio, find your kind of project and see the order of work. No sign-up.
Built to outlast us.
At Brick Illusions we treat every wall like it will be standing long after the job is forgotten. We look closely, find the cause of any damage, lay or repair with the right brick and mortar, and leave the site tidy, so the masonry looks like it was always part of the house.
- Level and plumbEvery course is checked, because a wall that starts true stays true.
- Attention to detailJoints, corners, caps and cleanup are checked before we say we are finished.
- Matched to your homeBrick, stone and mortar are chosen to suit the house and the neighborhood, not a catalog.
- Left tidyLawns and plants are protected during the work and the site is cleaned when we finish.
Plain-English guides on brick, stone and chimneys
Short, useful reads on bonds, mortar, cracks, chimneys, patios, retaining walls and what to expect from a masonry job.
The ProcessBuying or Selling a Brick Home: What a Masonry Look FindsJoints, chimneys, lintels and foundations: what a masonry inspection checks and why it helps both sides of a sale.
The ProcessWhat to Expect When We Rebuild a WallFrom the first look to the last cleanup: the order of work on a masonry rebuild and what you will see each day.
Patios and Outdoor LivingRetaining Walls: Why Drainage Decides EverythingMost retaining walls fail because of water, not weight. How a good wall handles both.Before you call
What kinds of masonry do you do?
Brick and stone installation and veneer, tuckpointing and repointing, chimney repair and rebuilding, masonry and outdoor fireplaces, paver patios and walkways, outdoor kitchens, block and retaining walls, and historic restoration.
Can you match my old brick?
Usually close. We compare brick in daylight, blend several batches and mix mortar to match, so repairs blend in and improve as the wall weathers.
How do I know if my mortar is failing?
Look for joints that are recessed, cracked, sandy or missing, and for brick edges exposed to rain. A quick look from a mason tells you how deep the damage goes.
What is the difference between brick veneer and solid brick?
Veneer is a single layer of real brick tied to a framed wall with a drainage cavity behind it. Solid brick carries its own load. We build both and explain which fits your project.
Do you repair chimneys?
Yes. We repair crowns, joints and flashing, install caps and liners, and rebuild stacks that are past repair.
Can you build an outdoor kitchen or fireplace?
Yes. We build masonry outdoor kitchens, grill islands, fireplaces and fire pits, with footings, utilities and finishes planned together.
What happens at a walk-through?
We look at the masonry or the site, listen to what you want, explain what we find and talk through the options, without pressure.
How do I get started?
Call or text, or send the form, and set up a walk-through. Tell us about your wall, chimney or yard and what you would like it to become.
Ready to build something that lasts?
Call or text Brick Illusions, or send the form, and we will set up a walk-through. Tell us about your wall, chimney or yard and what you would like it to become.