Masonry IQ
Straight answers to Ottawa masonry questions: when mortar joints need repointing, what to do about spalled brick, what the heritage district plans say about lime mortar, what masonry costs according to published pricing, and what to ask before you hire.
Browse Masonry IQ60 questions answered
Why is my mortar crumbling out of the joints in Kanata?
Crumbling mortar joints have more than one possible cause, and a mason looking at your wall is the...
Permits & LicencesWhat does minor repairs mean in Ottawa's hardscaping licence?
The City's hardscaping licence by-law (By-law 2026-222) carves out "minor repairs or minor...
Costs & Pricing$28 a square foot for Ottawa repointing, is that high?
Near the top, but inside the range: published Ontario contractor pricing for 2025–26 puts...
Hiring & QuotesDoes my Ottawa mason need the hardscaping licence for new steps?
Steps are named in the City of Ottawa's hardscaping licensing by-law, so the licence question is...
Costs & PricingReplacing 40 spalled bricks in Orleans, ballpark price?
Spalled brick replacement runs about $20 to $45 per brick installed in published Ontario contractor...
Costs & PricingLime mortar repointing on a Centretown rowhouse, price range?
Heritage lime-mortar repointing runs about $15 to $45 per sq ft of wall in published Ontario...
Costs & PricingUpper-storey repointing quotes in Ottawa run higher, why?
Published Ontario contractor pricing for 2025–26 puts repointing at about $10 to $30 per sq ft of...
Costs & PricingHow much does repointing a brick bungalow cost in Kanata?
Published Ontario contractor pricing, 2025–26 puts repointing at about $10 to $30 per sq ft of...
Costs & PricingHow do Ottawa masons price stone wall repair on an old house?
Stone wall repair has too few published prices to quote a range, so get written quotes from two or...
Heritage MasonryPainting brick in a Centretown heritage district, allowed?
The Centretown Heritage Conservation District Plan says directly that "painting brick or stone is...
Cold-Weather MasonryWhat temperature is too cold for mortar work in Ontario?
Mortar work is too cold under Ontario's Building Code (9.20.14.1) when this rule cannot be met:...
Permits & LicencesAre brick steps covered by Ottawa's hardscaping licence?
Brick steps are named in the City of Ottawa's hardscaping licence by-law, so they can fall under...
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View all recent questionsPopular Questions
Why is my mortar crumbling out of the joints in Kanata?
Permits & LicencesWhat does minor repairs mean in Ottawa's hardscaping licence?
Costs & Pricing$28 a square foot for Ottawa repointing, is that high?
Hiring & QuotesDoes my Ottawa mason need the hardscaping licence for new steps?
Costs & PricingReplacing 40 spalled bricks in Orleans, ballpark price?
Costs & PricingLime mortar repointing on a Centretown rowhouse, price range?
Costs & PricingUpper-storey repointing quotes in Ottawa run higher, why?
Costs & PricingHow much does repointing a brick bungalow cost in Kanata?
Costs & PricingHow do Ottawa masons price stone wall repair on an old house?
Heritage MasonryPainting brick in a Centretown heritage district, allowed?
All Answers by Topic
Costs & Pricing 10
- $28 a square foot for Ottawa repointing, is that high?
- Does matching old mortar colour raise an Ottawa repointing price?
- How do Ottawa masons price stone wall repair on an old house?
- How much does repointing a brick bungalow cost in Kanata?
- Lime mortar repointing on a Centretown rowhouse, price range?
- Replacing 40 spalled bricks in Orleans, ballpark price?
- Scaffolding on an Ottawa repointing quote, how much extra?
- Upper-storey repointing quotes in Ottawa run higher, why?
- What does a stone garden wall cost in Manotick?
- What should repointing the front of my Glebe house cost?
Repointing & Mortar 5
- Is silica dust from grinding mortar a concern on Ottawa jobs?
- Is Type N or Type S mortar used for brick veneer in Ontario?
- Mortar joints sitting back from the brick face on my Kanata house?
- Should old Ottawa brick get lime mortar or Portland cement mortar?
- Why is my mortar crumbling out of the joints in Kanata?
Spalled Brick Replacement 5
- At what point do Ottawa masons stop replacing spalled bricks one by one?
- Patching spalled brick instead of replacing it in Ottawa, okay?
- Should I worry about a few spalled bricks near my Nepean driveway?
- Why are the faces of my bricks popping off in Orleans?
- Why is only the bottom row of my brick spalling in Barrhaven?
Browse by Topic
Costs & Pricing
Repointing, spalled brick replacement and stone veneer in published Ontario contractor pricing, 2025–26, and what shows up in a masonry quote
10 questionsHiring & Quotes
Choosing a mason in Ottawa: what Ontario's non-compulsory trade status means, the City hardscaping licence, WSIB clearance questions, what a written masonry quote should include, and comparing quotes
5 questionsRepointing & Mortar
Repointing and tuckpointing brick and stone: crumbling joints, mortar types N and S in the Building Code, lime mortar on older walls, and joint colour and profile
5 questionsSpalled Brick Replacement
Flaking and spalled bricks: what building research says about frost and salts, replacing individual bricks, and matching size, colour and texture
5 questionsHeritage Masonry
Brick and stone on Ottawa's designated and heritage-district homes: the Ontario Heritage Act, what three district plans say about repointing and lime mortar, and the City's Heritage Property Grant
5 questionsPermits & Licences
When masonry work touches the City's permit lists: structural repairs, new or wider openings and lintels, entrance steps, heritage properties, and the hardscaping licence's wording
5 questionsStone Wall Repair
Natural stone house walls above grade: limestone, sandstone and fieldstone, loose or bulging stones, and repointing stone
5 questionsStone & Brick Veneer
Natural stone, manufactured stone and brick veneer: the Building Code's 70 mm units, 25 mm minimum air space, ties, weep holes and flashing
4 questionsEfflorescence & Moisture
White salts, damp brick and sealers: what National Research Council building digests explain about water, salts and frost in masonry
4 questionsBrick & Stone Steps
Brick, stone and flagstone entrance steps: loose or heaved units, rebuilding, permits for steps at an entrance, and zoning setbacks
4 questionsBrick & Stone Garden Walls
Freestanding brick and stone garden walls: when one may count as a fence under the City's Fence By-law, heights near lot lines, and repairs
4 questionsCold-Weather Masonry
Masonry in cold weather: the Building Code's 5°C for 48 hours rule, no frozen materials, covering unfinished work, and frost marks in mortar
4 questions