DMG Masonry repairs brick, stone and mortar on homes and commercial buildings across Calgary and Alberta. If you have cracked mortar, flaking brick or a wall that looks like it's moving, we'll come out, find the cause and fix it properly. Request a quote, or call 1-403-619-8727.
Most masonry damage comes down to water. It gets into the brick and mortar, freezes overnight and expands, then thaws and does it all again. Calgary goes through that cycle many times every winter, so a small crack or a worn joint turns into a bigger problem faster than it would in a milder climate.
Water isn't the only cause. Settlement under the wall, moisture trapped inside it and years of weather all play a part. That's why we look for the cause before we repair the damage. Patching a crack without fixing what opened it usually means doing the job twice.
Fixes the causeMatches your brickKeeps water outRestores strengthWe start by looking at the wall. We check the bricks, the mortar joints and any cracks, and work out what's causing them. Then we tell you what needs fixing now and what can wait.
The work depends on the damage. It might be a few bricks cut out and replaced, a section of mortar raked out and repointed, or a full restoration of a wall or chimney face. We work on both brick and stone.
We match the new brick, the mortar colour and the joint finish to what's already there, so the repair blends in instead of standing out. We do this for homes and commercial buildings across Calgary and Alberta.
1We check the cracks, joints and surface to see what's wrong and why.
2We decide how much needs replacing or repointing and talk you through the options.
3Damaged brick, stone and mortar are cut out and replaced with matching materials.
4We check the finished repair for strength, finish and how well it matches the original wall.
Spalling is when the face of a brick flakes, chips or pops off, leaving a rough, crumbling surface. It happens when water soaks into the brick, freezes and expands. Calgary sees a high number of freeze-thaw cycles each winter, which is why spalling shows up here more than in milder climates. Spalled brick cannot be patched. The affected units are cut out and replaced.
Mortar is designed to be softer than the brick around it so that it wears first and the brick survives. When joints turn powdery, hollow or start falling out, water can get behind the wall. The fix is repointing: raking out the failed mortar to a consistent depth and packing in fresh mortar matched to the original.
Bulging usually means the masonry has lost its connection to the structure behind it, or moisture has built up inside the wall. This is the most serious of the common signs. A bulging wall should be inspected rather than watched, because the failure is already structural.
Efflorescence is the white, powdery deposit that appears on brick and mortar. It is mineral salt left behind as water travels through the masonry and evaporates at the surface. The staining itself is cosmetic and washes off, but it is a signal that water is getting into the wall somewhere.
Stair-step cracks follow the mortar joints diagonally in a stepped pattern. They usually point to movement or settlement below the wall rather than a fault in the brick itself, which is why the repair often starts at the foundation rather than the face of the masonry.
Need a closer look at a specific wall? See our brick repair service in Calgary.
The damaged area had been bothering us for a while because it was becoming more noticeable each year. After the repairs, you wouldn't know there had ever been an issue.
I wasn't sure if the cracks needed to be repaired right away, so I had them come take a look. They explained what was worth fixing now and what could wait. That kind of honesty was really appreciated.
Our brickwork was starting to show its age, especially around a few spots near the front of the house. The repairs kept the original look of the house without drawing attention to the repaired areas.
Small masonry problems get bigger when they're left alone. Water gets in through a cracked joint, freezes, and opens it further. These are the signs worth acting on:
Mortar joints that are cracked, powdery or falling outBricks that bulge, lean or have shiftedCracks that are getting wider or step diagonally along the jointsBrick faces flaking or popping off after winterDamp patches or white powder on the wallNot sure how serious it is? Send us a message and we'll take a look.
Cracked or failing mortar, loose or shifted bricks, flaking brick faces, damaged stone and structural cracks. If it's brick, stone or mortar and it's damaged, ask us.
As soon as you see movement, a crack that's getting wider, or mortar that's crumbling. Once water is getting in, each Calgary winter makes it worse. Some small cracks in a stable wall can be watched, and when we visit we'll tell you which kind you have.
Both. A small repair might be a few bricks or one section of joints. A full restoration covers a whole wall or building face. We recommend what the damage actually needs, not more.
We match the brick or stone, the mortar colour and the joint finish as closely as we can. On some older brick an exact match isn't always possible, but a good repair should be hard to spot.
With a visit to your property. We look at the damage, work out what's causing it, and explain your options before any work starts.
Tell us what you're seeing and we'll come out for a look. Fill in the form, email will@dmgmasonry.ca or call 1-403-619-8727.
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