Guide
How to compare brick and masonry repair bids
Brick repair bids often look similar on paper but cover very different amounts of work. Here is what to check before you choose a contractor.
Why masonry bids vary
Price depends on how many locations need work, how much brick is replaced compared with repointed, how closely the new mortar and brick must match, and whether the cause of the damage has been fixed. Cracks that come from foundation movement or drainage problems can return even after a good repair, and many contractors exclude them from their warranty.
Line up these items in every bid
- Locations and quantities: the number of areas, plus wall size or brick count
- Method: replacing bricks, resetting loose sections, or repointing mortar joints, and how deep
- Matching: how brick and mortar color will be matched, and what the contractor says about its limits
- Finishing: cleaning, haul-off and final cleanup
- What the price is based on: photos, measurements or a site visit
- Cause of damage: whether foundation or drainage problems should be fixed first
- Warranty: its length, and what is excluded, such as movement or water
- Payment terms: deposit, card fees and whether the deposit is refundable
- Validity: how long the price holds
Watch for these
- No warranty, or a warranty that excludes any re-cracking
- Non-refundable deposits with little detail about the scope
- A quote that does not say how many locations are included
- A validity date that does not match the terms written in the same document
This guide is general information. AdoreList is a bid-sourcing and vendor-matching service. We do not perform construction work, and we do not guarantee contractor performance or final pricing.
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