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Reliable, professional brick veneers in Raleigh, NC from Legendary Masonry Raleigh. Contact us today for a free on-site estimate.
Legendary Masonry Raleigh provides professional brick veneers throughout Raleigh, NC, North Carolina and the surrounding area. Our licensed, insured crew delivers safe, clean, on-time work with a free estimate before anything begins. Call 984-259-3609 or request your free quote.
Durable Brick Veneers for Raleigh Homes and Businesses
Brick veneers give you the look and feel of full brick masonry without the weight and foundation work that solid brick requires. At Legendary Masonry Raleigh, we install brick veneers that are built to handle our humid summers, sudden thunderstorms, and occasional winter freezes in the Triangle.
A brick veneer is a single layer of brick (or brick-like units) anchored to a structural wall made of wood framing, block, or concrete. It is not just glued on. It is a complete wall system that includes anchors, an air gap, flashing, and weep holes so moisture can escape instead of getting trapped in your walls. When this system is installed correctly, you get a long lasting exterior that looks like traditional brick but typically installs faster and costs less than full depth masonry.
Raleigh properties often mix brick with siding or stone. Brick veneers are a smart option for new construction, additions, or updating older homes that were originally built with vinyl or wood siding. We can match nearby brick colors and patterns along Falls of Neuse Road, in ITB neighborhoods, or in newer subdivisions around Wake Forest and Cary so your veneer looks like it has always been there, not like an afterthought.
How Our Brick Veneer Installation Process Works
Legendary Masonry Raleigh follows a clear, step by step process so you know what will happen at your home or commercial property.
1. Site visit and evaluation: We inspect your existing wall structure, look for moisture issues, and check that the foundation or slab edge can support the added veneer. On older Raleigh homes, we look closely at framing, sheathing, and any prior water damage around windows and doors.
2. Design and layout planning: We help you choose brick type, color blend, mortar color, and joint style. Then we plan bond patterns (running bond, Flemish, stacked accents) and transitions at corners, window heads, and sills. We confirm where control joints and movement joints are needed to handle temperature swings and minor settling.
3. Substrate preparation: For framed walls, we verify sheathing, install appropriate weather resistant barrier (housewrap or building paper), and add flashing at base, window heads, and penetrations. For block or concrete, we clean and, if needed, lightly roughen the surface so anchors or ties perform correctly.
4. Anchors and air space: We install corrosion resistant brick ties at the proper spacing and maintain an air gap between the structural wall and the back of the veneer. This gap is critical in our humid climate because it allows drainage and ventilation.
5. Laying the brick veneer: Our masons mix mortar suited to the brick type and local weather that day. We start from a level base course, work up in lifts, keep joints consistent, and integrate lintels above openings. We strike joints only after the mortar has taken an initial set to reduce smearing and staining.
6. Drainage details and cleanup: We install weep holes at the base course and above windows as needed, clean mortar droppings from the cavity, and wash the face carefully so we do not drive slurry into the brick surface. Finally, we walk the project with you to review details and answer care questions.
Brick Veneer Options, Styles, and Custom Details
Brick veneers are more customizable than many people expect. In the Raleigh market we see everything from classic red colonial looks to modern, wire cut bricks in cooler grays and whites. Legendary Masonry Raleigh helps you understand what will actually look right on your specific home or building.
Color and texture: You can choose from tumbled brick that looks aged, smooth face brick for a cleaner appearance, or textured units for added shadow and interest. We often create custom blends by mixing two or three brick colors so the wall has depth rather than a flat, uniform tone.
Mortar color and joint profile: Mortar makes up a large portion of what your eye sees. A light gray joint can soften a dark brick, while a darker mortar can make a light brick pop. Joint profiles like concave, flush, or raked give different shadow lines. For historic style Raleigh homes, a slightly recessed joint can create an older, hand laid feel.
Patterns and accents: Brick veneers can include soldier courses over windows, rowlock sills, quoined corners, or banding at floor lines. On porches and entryways we can add basket weave or herringbone panels. These details cost less to build into a veneer than full structural masonry because we are only working with one wythe of brick.
Transitions: Many Triangle homes mix brick veneer on the lower level with fiber cement siding above. We plan clean transitions with properly flashed brick ledges and trim details so water does not run behind the veneer or leave awkward horizontal lines that catch the eye.
What Affects Brick Veneer Cost in Raleigh
Homeowners often ask why brick veneer quotes vary so much. Legendary Masonry Raleigh breaks your estimate into clear line items so you can see where your money is going.
Wall area and complexity: Straight, long walls are more efficient and cost less per square foot. Lots of bump outs, gables, and window openings require more cutting and detail work. Corner work is more labor intensive, and real brick corners cost more than thin brick corners or metal corner trims.
Brick and material choice: Locally available bricks are usually less expensive than special order or imported products. Thin brick veneers that are adhered directly to masonry or cement board can reduce structural work but may increase labor time. Corrosion resistant anchors, higher grade flashing, and upgraded mortar mixes add some cost but greatly extend service life.
Substrate condition: If your sheathing is damaged, out of plumb, or missing a proper weather barrier, it must be corrected before veneer goes on. In older Raleigh neighborhoods, we sometimes need to replace rotten framing at band joists or around leaky windows. It is better to fix those issues upfront than hide them behind new masonry.
Access and timing: Tight lot lines inside the Beltline, steep driveways, or limited staging areas can slow production and affect cost. Weather also matters. Heavy rain or freezing temperatures can require tenting or schedule shifts so mortar cures correctly, which can influence total project duration.
Handling Moisture, Cracking, and Other Common Brick Veneer Issues
Our climate in central North Carolina creates some specific challenges for exterior masonry. Properly installed brick veneers handle these well, but shortcuts can lead to problems. Legendary Masonry Raleigh focuses on details that keep your veneer performing for decades.
Moisture management: With hot, humid summers and strong storms, water always finds a way behind exterior finishes. The goal is not to keep every drop out, but to let any water that gets in drain and dry. We use correctly lapped flashing, open head joint weeps or proprietary weep systems, and clean the air cavity during installation. For retrofits, we look for existing leaks at window heads, hose bibs, and where roofs tie into walls.
Cracking and movement: Hairline cracks in mortar can be cosmetic, but stair step cracking or vertical cracks by windows may signal movement. When adding a new brick veneer to an older home, we consider how the existing structure moves seasonally. This is why we include control joints, compatible sealants at key locations, and sometimes flexible ties in certain conditions.
Efflorescence and staining: White powdery deposits on brick, called efflorescence, are common if moisture is not controlled or if new masonry is saturated during construction. We reduce this risk by proper detailing and by covering fresh work if heavy rain is expected. If efflorescence does appear, we use appropriate cleaners and low pressure washing, avoiding harsh acids that can etch the brick.
Repairs and tie in work: When extending brick veneer on an existing home, we carefully tooth new work into old where possible, or create a deliberate break with a control joint so the difference looks intentional. We also verify that older veneers have functioning weeps and flashing and can recommend targeted repairs if we find early signs of trouble.
What Raleigh Property Owners Should Know Before Hiring a Brick Veneer Contractor
Before you invite anyone to install brick veneers on your home or commercial building, it helps to know what to ask and what to look for. Legendary Masonry Raleigh encourages you to vet us the same way we would vet a contractor for our own property.
Licensing and experience: Ask how many brick veneer projects the crew has completed in the Triangle, not just general masonry work. Experience with our local soil conditions, clay content, and rapid weather swings is critical for long term performance.
Details in the proposal: Your quote should mention wall preparation, type and spacing of anchors or ties, flashing materials, weep systems, and how windows, doors, and roof lines will be handled. If the proposal just says "install brick veneer" without these details, important steps may be skipped.
Weather and scheduling: In Raleigh, we try to avoid starting veneer work right before a stretch of freezing nights or during periods of heavy storms. Ask how your contractor protects fresh masonry from rain and cold and how they will keep your site tidy during the project.
Communication and inspection: A good installer will walk you through sample walls or mockups so you can approve brick blend, mortar color, and joint profile before the full job proceeds. At Legendary Masonry Raleigh we encourage questions during the work, not just at the end, so any concerns can be addressed while access is easy.
If you are considering brick veneers for a new build, renovation, or partial facade update anywhere in Raleigh, Cary, Garner, or nearby communities, we are ready to visit your property, discuss real options, and provide a clear, detailed estimate.
