Burnaby's brick & stone specialists
Expert Masonry Burnaby Trusts.
We’re the leading masonry contractor in Burnaby, BC. Brick, block, and stone done right — across Burnaby and Vancouver metro. We build new masonry from the ground up and keep existing brick and stone in shape for the long run. Professional masonry Burnaby depends on.
- New bricklaying & stone masonry
- Retaining walls, block work & paver patios
- Brick repair, repointing & chimney rebuilds
- Licensed, insured & locally owned
Get a free masonry quote
Building new brickwork, a stone wall, a patio, or a retaining wall? Or need brick repaired or a chimney sorted? Send us a few details and we'll get right back to you with a free, no-obligation quote.
We work throughout Burnaby and Metro Vancouver and are happy to come take a look in person before quoting.
Brick, Stone & Block Masonry Services
New bricklaying, stone masonry, retaining walls, and everything in between — we build and repair across Burnaby and Metro Vancouver.
Brick Repair & Repointing
Crumbling mortar joints raked out and repointed, cracked and spalled brick replaced to match.
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Bricklaying
Brick installation and repair done by hand: new walls, facades, piers, and feature brickwork laid level and true.
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Stone Masonry
Natural full-bed stone walls, facades, pillars, and features built by skilled stonemasons.
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Stone Veneer Installation
Natural and manufactured stone veneer on facades, accent walls, columns, and fireplaces.
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Masonry Retaining Walls
Natural stone, segmental block, and concrete block retaining walls engineered to hold slopes and drain properly.
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Chimney Repair & Rebuilding
Leaning, leaking, or crumbling chimneys repaired, rebuilt above the roofline, or fully reconstructed.
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Concrete Block Work
Foundation walls, garden walls, and structural block laid level, plumb, and built to last.
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Brick Masonry
Full-service brick masonry — new brickwork, repairs, facades, and features built and maintained by skilled bricklayers.
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Masonry Restoration
Heritage-sensitive restoration of old brick and stone using mortar that matches the original.
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Outdoor Fireplaces & Fire Pits
Custom stone and brick fireplaces, fire pits, and outdoor living features built to code.
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Residential Masonry
Brick and stone masonry for homes: facades, walls, chimneys, patios, and repairs done right.
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Commercial Masonry
Masonry for businesses and multi-unit buildings: facades, repairs, and new construction, on schedule.
Learn moreWhy invest in masonry for your Burnaby home
Masonry costs more up front than most alternatives. Here's why the math works out in its favour every time — and why the Lower Mainland specifically rewards the investment.
It lasts longer than anything else on the market
Properly built brick and stone masonry outlasts every competing cladding and wall system available in Metro Vancouver. A well-pointed brick wall built in the 1920s is still standing in Burnaby today. Composite siding, vinyl, hardie board — none of them come close to a century of maintenance-free service. The upfront cost is higher. The lifetime cost is lower.
No repainting cycle. Ever.
Wood siding gets repainted every 8–12 years. Stucco cracks and needs patching and recoating. Brick and stone don't. The only recurring maintenance a sound masonry wall needs is a joint inspection every decade or so and eventual repointing — a job that costs a fraction of a full repaint.
Curb appeal that gets better with age, not worse
Most cladding dates — vinyl looks cheap after ten years, stucco turns green on north elevations, hardie fades. Brick and natural stone take the opposite trajectory. The patina, the weathering, the character that develops over decades makes a masonry building look more solid and more distinguished over time, not less.
It actually holds the slope
On Burnaby and Metro Vancouver's many sloped lots, a masonry retaining wall is the structural solution. Block, natural stone, and armour stone walls built with proper drainage behind them hold grades for generations. Timber ties rot in 10–15 years in our climate. A well-built masonry retaining wall effectively never fails if the drainage is right.
Non-combustible — it doesn't burn
Clay brick, natural stone, and concrete block don't burn. For chimneys, fireplaces, fire features, and separation walls, masonry is the only sensible choice. It's also a consideration for property value: non-combustible cladding reads differently to insurers and buyers.
Built for our specific climate — not some dry-climate standard
The Lower Mainland's combination of sustained coastal rain, shaded north elevations, and winter freeze-thaw makes it uniquely hard on building envelopes. Masonry built properly for this climate — with drainage planes behind veneer, weep screed at the base, and mortar selected for the exposure — performs where other systems struggle. This is why Burnaby has so many masonry buildings that have stood for a century.
Compatible with the heritage housing stock
A huge proportion of Metro Vancouver's older homes — in Queen's Park, Strathcona, East Van, and the pre-war neighbourhoods of Burnaby and New Westminster — were built with soft lime-mortar brick that needs matching when repaired. No other material system can be maintained sympathetically on these homes. Only masonry can be repaired with masonry, invisibly and correctly.
Permanent construction — buyers notice
Masonry reads as permanent. It says something about how a property was built and how it's been maintained. In Metro Vancouver's competitive real estate market, a brick or stone facade, a well-built retaining wall, or a quality outdoor fireplace adds perceived and real value in a way that most other improvements don't.
Want specific numbers? Read our 2026 Metro Vancouver masonry cost guide →
Materials we work with
The material choice drives both the look and the lifespan of a wall. Here's where each of the systems we build with is typically used — and what matters when choosing between them.
Clay Brick
Most Common in BurnabyThe dominant masonry material in Burnaby's older housing stock. Clay brick is fired at high temperature, dense, and durable. We work with new brick for installations and repairs, and we match replacement brick on older homes where colour and texture need to blend. For pre-1940 homes, the brick is softer — it requires lime mortar, not modern Portland, and a mason who understands the difference.
Natural Stone
Premium OptionQuarried stone — granite, basalt, sandstone, limestone, fieldstone — is the most permanent masonry material available. Full-bed natural stone has mass, depth, and a texture that no manufactured product replicates. It's heavier and more labour-intensive to lay than veneer or brick, which is reflected in the price. On West Side Vancouver, West Vancouver, and higher-end Burnaby properties, it's the go-to for walls, facades, and pillars.
Manufactured Stone Veneer
Best Value TransformationCast concrete coloured and textured to mimic natural stone. Lighter and less expensive than full-bed stone, it's the most popular veneer material we install across Metro Vancouver. The look is excellent when installed correctly. The failure mode — and it's common — is skipping the drainage plane behind the stone. In our climate, that leads to moisture damage within a few years. We don't skip it.
Concrete Block (CMU)
Structural WorkhorseConcrete masonry units are the backbone of structural masonry — foundation walls, retaining wall cores, garden boundaries, and crawl space repairs. Block is strong, dimensionally consistent, and fast to lay correctly. On retaining walls, filled and reinforced block carries serious loads. For finish work it's often parged or faced with brick or stone. We pour proper footings and fill and reinforce cores where the structure calls for it.
Architectural Block
Modern & CommercialSplit-face, ground-face, and burnished block are concrete masonry units with a finished exposed face used as final cladding on commercial buildings and contemporary residential projects. They give a modern, textured aesthetic without requiring a separate cladding layer. We use architectural block on commercial facades, feature walls, and modern residential projects where clean lines and a masonry finish are the brief.
Reclaimed & Heritage Brick
For Heritage HomesWhen repairing or restoring pre-1950 brick buildings in Burnaby, New Westminster, or Vancouver, the only way to make a repair truly invisible is to match the original brick — in colour, size, texture, and sometimes manufacturer. We source reclaimed Clayburn brick and other period-appropriate salvage for heritage restoration projects. Modern brick, even in the right colour, usually doesn't match the depth and character of original material.
Mortar Systems
The Deciding DetailMortar is the most misunderstood material in masonry, and the most consequential. The wrong mortar on the wrong wall is how repairs fail. Soft pre-1940 brick needs lime-based mortar that matches the original in colour, texture, and strength. Harder mortar on soft old brick causes the brick faces to spall — within a few winters you see the damage. Modern brick and block work uses Portland-based mortar of the appropriate compressive strength for the exposure. We specify mortar by the wall, not by the bag that's on the truck.
Masonry built right, built to last
Good bricklaying and stonework isn't just about how it looks on day one. Here's what we do differently at Burnaby Masonry.
The foundation work never gets skipped
Proper footings, compacted bases, drainage behind walls. The parts you can't see once we're done are what make the masonry last.
Built for the Lower Mainland climate
We build new masonry and repair existing work to handle our rain and freeze-thaw — so your brick and stone sheds water instead of soaking it up.
Right material, right method
Engineered block on steep slopes, natural stone where it suits the home, soft lime mortar on heritage brick. We match the approach to the job.
Local to Burnaby
We build on these streets every week — from new stone facades in South Burnaby to retaining walls on the hill lots of Burnaby Mountain.
Straight talk on scope and cost
We tell you exactly what the job needs and why. If a repair will last, we say so. If new construction makes more sense, we'll show you the math.
Clean crews, real timelines
We protect your property, keep the site tidy, and give you a schedule that reflects how the job actually runs — not a number we pulled from thin air.
Built for Burnaby and the Lower Mainland — not a dry climate standard
Masonry details that work in Calgary, Toronto, or the US Pacific Northwest don't necessarily work here. Our climate is specific — and our approach reflects that.
Sustained rainfall, not just occasional rain
Metro Vancouver — and Burnaby specifically — averages 1,150–1,500mm of rain per year, much of it falling in sustained periods from October through March. That's not a climate where a wall that "resists rain" is good enough. Assemblies need to manage water actively: drain it, move it, and give it an escape route at the base. Every veneer we install gets a drainage mat and weep screed. Every retaining wall gets gravel backfill and a perforated drain pipe. These aren't upgrades — they're the standard.
Dozens of freeze-thaw cycles per winter, not one or two
The Lower Mainland doesn't get the deep sustained freezes that Edmonton does. What we get is worse for masonry: forty or fifty small freeze-thaw cycles per winter. Brick soaks up rain on a mild Tuesday, temperatures drop overnight, the water inside expands and pushes on the pores, then thaws by noon. Multiply that by 40 winters. It's why even well-built chimneys from the 1960s need crown repairs now, and why mortar selection for freeze-thaw resistance is a serious specification, not an afterthought.
Shaded north elevations stay wet for days
Burnaby's housing stock includes plenty of homes with north-facing brick or stone that barely sees direct sun between October and April. A wall that stays wet doesn't dry through the pores — it just holds moisture, which accelerates both freeze-thaw spalling and mortar deterioration. We account for orientation when recommending materials and sealants. A north-face wall in a shaded lot in Burnaby gets treated differently than a south-facing wall in Abbotsford.
Slopes, grades, and hydrostatic pressure
Much of Burnaby, Coquitlam, and North Vancouver sits on slopes. Hillside properties deal with saturated soil drainage problems that flat lots don't. A retaining wall that holds dry soil might handle 30 lbs/sq ft of lateral pressure. That same wall holding saturated soil after a week of rain is dealing with 60+ lbs/sq ft — more than double. This is why so many retaining walls fail in Metro Vancouver: they were designed for soil, not for waterlogged soil in a sustained rain event.
Heritage mortar compatibility — it's an actual issue here
Metro Vancouver has a disproportionate amount of pre-1940 masonry compared to most Canadian cities, particularly in New Westminster, East Vancouver, and the older Burnaby neighbourhoods. This brick was laid with lime mortar that's softer than the brick itself. Repoint it with modern hard Portland mortar and the physics flip: now the mortar is harder than the brick, and the brick face becomes the sacrificial layer. Spalling follows within a few winters. This is not a theoretical risk — it's what we're called to fix every year on properties where someone already "repaired" the wall.
Coastal air and moss on north-facing masonry
Coastal air in Metro Vancouver carries salt and moisture year-round. Shaded, damp masonry — particularly on north and west elevations — develops moss, biological growth, and surface staining faster than inland properties. This doesn't damage sound masonry, but it's a maintenance reality. When it does appear on top of failing mortar or spalling brick, it's often masking the structural problem beneath. We deal with this regularly on properties in North Vancouver, West Vancouver, and Richmond's wetter microclimates.
How a masonry project works with us
Straightforward from the first call to the finished brick or stone.
- 1
Call or send us the details
Tell us what you're building or fixing — by phone or the quote form. We'll set up a time to come take a look.
- 2
Free on-site assessment
We walk the job, talk through brick, stone, or block options, and give you a clear written quote at no charge.
- 3
Our crew builds the masonry
We show up on schedule, protect your property, and do the bricklaying, stonework, or block work the right way.
- 4
Walk-through & clean-up
We clean the site and walk the finished masonry with you before we leave.
Who we work with
From homeowners tackling a single chimney repair to developers building across multiple sites — the type of masonry client determines how we scope, communicate, and execute the work.
Homeowners
Your home, built properly
Most homeowners hire a masonry contractor once, maybe twice in a lifetime. We don't assume you know the jargon. We walk the job with you, explain the material choices in plain language, show you what we're proposing and why, and give you a clear written quote before we touch anything. Whether it's a chimney repair, a new retaining wall, or a full brick facade, the process is the same: explain everything, quote clearly, build it right.
Get a free quote →Heritage Homeowners
Match the original — not just close
Pre-war homes in Burnaby, Queen's Park, Strathcona, and Hastings Sunrise have masonry that can't be patched with modern materials and called finished. We understand soft brick, lime mortar, colour matching, and heritage-sympathetic repair. A repair that doesn't match is often worse than leaving it: it draws the eye and tells the next buyer something was done wrong. We take the time to source the right salvage brick and mix the right mortar before we lay a single unit.
Heritage masonry →Builders & General Contractors
Show up, hold schedule, no surprises
General contractors need a masonry sub who integrates cleanly with the envelope and finishing trades — not one who creates schedule problems and leaves cleanup behind. We coordinate with framers, roofing, and window trades on sequencing, protect adjacent finishes, and hit the dates we commit to. We're used to working inside an active construction site and coordinating with a project manager.
Talk to us about a project →Property Developers
Repeatable details across multiple units
Multi-unit residential and mixed-use development requires masonry that executes consistently across 6, 8, or 20 identical entries and base courses. We plan the detailing once, source material quantities in bulk, and replicate the work without the variance that makes one unit look different from the next. For developers working in Metro Vancouver's denser corridors, we handle commercial masonry at scale.
Contact us →Strata Corporations
Envelope masonry planned around residents
Strata masonry repairs — repointing, spall remediation, retaining wall work — require coordination with residents, council, and often a building envelope consultant. We're familiar with the strata environment: we document scope and conditions in writing, stage work to minimize disruption, and provide the paper trail council needs for records. Access, staging, and dust management are part of the plan, not an afterthought.
Strata masonry repair →Commercial Property Owners
Frontage upgrades and base course repairs
Commercial masonry work ranges from facade repointing and spall repair to full brick or architectural block cladding upgrades. We work around business hours where possible, use dust screens and containment on occupied buildings, and provide progress documentation for ownership and management. Commercial buildings in Metro Vancouver — particularly concrete block construction from the 1970s and 1980s — frequently need scheduled repointing programs.
Commercial masonry →Architects & Designers
Bond patterns, modules, and mock-ups
Architects working with masonry on residential and light commercial projects need a contractor who understands drawings, can execute non-standard bond patterns, and will do mock-ups before committing to a full wall. We're used to working from specifications and can flag constructability issues early — before they become change orders. Module coordination with window openings, coursing to grade, and lintel details: we've done this before.
Send us your drawings →Landscape Contractors
Stone walls, stairs, and features built to grade
Landscape masonry — seat walls, pillars, garden walls, stone steps, retaining structures — needs to integrate cleanly with grading, drainage, and planting. We work as a masonry subcontractor on landscape projects, building structural and decorative masonry elements that hold grade, drain properly, and finish at the specified height. Contractors count on us to show up on schedule and not undo the site prep that came before us.
Landscape masonry →Brick & Stone Masonry Across Burnaby & Metro Vancouver
We're based in Burnaby and build and repair masonry across the Lower Mainland. New bricklaying, stone masonry, retaining walls, patios, and chimney work in Vancouver, Coquitlam, New Westminster, Burnaby and Surrey, and the surrounding cities.
- Vancouver
- Coquitlam
- New Westminster
- North Vancouver
- Port Moody
- Port Coquitlam
- Richmond
- West Vancouver
- Abbotsford
- Burnaby
- Surrey
- Maple Ridge
Masonry questions, answered
Everything you need to know before starting a brick, stone, or block project in Burnaby and Metro Vancouver.
Do you do free quotes for masonry work in Burnaby?
Yes. Call us or send the form and we'll set up a time to look at the job, talk through your options, and give you a written quote at no charge.
How do I know if my brick needs repointing?
Look at the mortar joints. If you can scratch them out with a key, see gaps, or notice mortar dust at the base of the wall, the joints are failing and the brick needs repointing before water gets behind it.
Can you match the mortar on my older home?
We match colour, joint profile, and mortar type. On pre-1940 homes that usually means a softer lime-based mortar, not the hard modern stuff that cracks old brick.
My chimney is leaning. Is that dangerous?
A leaning chimney means the masonry or footing is failing, and it can come down in a windstorm. Stop using it and call us. We'll tell you whether it can be repaired or needs a rebuild above the roofline.
Why is my chimney leaking when it rains?
Usually it's a failed crown, missing cap, or cracked mortar joints letting water in. We find the source and fix it, then seal the masonry so it stays dry.
What's the difference between natural and manufactured stone veneer?
Natural stone is quarried rock, heavier and pricier, with more depth. Manufactured veneer is cast concrete made to look like stone, lighter and easier to install. Both look great installed right. We'll help you pick for your wall and budget.
Do retaining walls need a permit in Burnaby?
In most Metro Vancouver municipalities, walls over about 1.2 metres (4 feet) need a permit and often an engineer's stamp. We handle walls of every height and sort out the permitting when it's required.
Why do retaining walls fail?
Almost always bad drainage and no proper base. Water builds up behind the wall and pushes it out. We build with gravel backfill, drainage pipe, and a compacted base so that doesn't happen.
Can you repair a heritage home without changing its look?
Yes. Heritage work is about matching the original brick, stone, and mortar so the repair disappears. We use period-appropriate materials and techniques so the character stays intact.
Can I use my outdoor fireplace year-round in the Lower Mainland?
With the right build, yes. We build to code with proper clearances and materials that handle our wet winters, so you get use out of it well past the summer.
What areas around Burnaby do you serve?
We cover Burnaby and the surrounding Metro Vancouver area, including Vancouver, Coquitlam, New Westminster, North Vancouver, Port Moody, Port Coquitlam, Richmond, and West Vancouver.
When is the best time of year for masonry work in Burnaby?
Spring through early fall is ideal because mortar cures best in dry, mild weather. That said, we work year-round and tent and heat jobs in the wet season when needed.
Are you licensed and insured?
Yes, we're a licensed and insured masonry contractor working throughout Metro Vancouver. We're happy to show proof before any work starts.
How long does a typical masonry job take?
It depends on scope. A repointing or small repair can be a day or two, while a full chimney rebuild or large retaining wall runs longer. We give you a realistic timeline with your quote.
Do you handle both new bricklaying and brick repair?
Yes. We lay new brick walls, facades, piers, and steps, and we repair cracked, loose, or settled brick on existing walls. New install or repair, it's the same crew.
What's the difference between stone masonry and stone veneer?
Stone masonry uses real full-bed natural stone that's structural and has true depth. Stone veneer is a thinner stone face applied over a wall. We do both, and we'll tell you which fits your project and budget.
What types of retaining walls do you build?
All the masonry types: natural stone, segmental and interlocking block, concrete block, brick, and armour-stone (boulder) walls. We help you pick based on the slope, the load, and the look you want.
What kinds of residential masonry do you do?
Everything a home needs: brick and stone facades, chimneys, garden and retaining walls, patios, steps, fireplaces, and repairs on older homes. One crew for all of it.
Do you take on commercial masonry projects?
Yes. We do commercial facades, block walls, repairs, and restoration for storefronts, offices, and strata or multi-unit buildings, scheduled around your operations and coordinated with other trades.
Should I choose brick or stone for my project?
Brick is more affordable, easier to source in matching colours, and better suited to traditional and heritage homes. Natural stone costs more and takes longer to lay, but it has a depth and permanence that brick can't replicate. Manufactured stone veneer splits the difference in cost and works well for cladding updates. We'll help you pick based on budget, the look you're after, and what's already on the building.
How is masonry work priced?
Masonry is priced by the scope of work: the number of square metres, linear metres of wall, or units like a chimney or fireplace. Labour is the biggest factor — quality masonry is slow and skilled work. Materials vary widely between brick, stone, and block. We price everything in a clear written quote before anything starts.
What does masonry restoration involve?
Restoration is more than patch-and-fill. It means assessing the full condition of a wall, replacing damaged units with matched material, repointing with compatible mortar, and sometimes consolidating loose sections before they move. On pre-war brick buildings we often find hard Portland mortar from a previous repair that's accelerating damage — that gets removed and replaced with the correct softer mix.
Ready to start your masonry project in Burnaby?
Burnaby Masonry Co. offers free, no-obligation quotes on brick, stone, and block projects in Burnaby and across Metro Vancouver.