Ontario’s masonry building stock needs regular maintenance. Here’s a practical guide to the most common failure modes for 2026.
Mortar joint repointing:
Mortar lasts 25-50 years vs 100+ for good brick. Remove to 20-25mm depth, repack with matched mortar.
Critical: pre-1930 brick = lime mortar (Type O/N). Using harder Portland cement mortar (Type S/M) in old joints traps moisture and spalls the brick face. Match original composition and colour.
GTA repointing: $400-$800/linear metre scaffold reach.
Brick spalling:
Cannot be repaired – replace the brick. Matching is the challenge for pre-1960 buildings. Check brick salvage yards.
Lintel failure (very common in 1950-1980 GTA homes):
Steel angle iron over windows/doors rusts, expands, cracks brick above.
Signs: stair-step cracking above openings, rust staining at brick.
Lintel replacement per opening: $1,500-$4,000.
Efflorescence (white mineral deposits):
White deposits = moisture moving through masonry. Cleaning removes symptoms, not cause. Find and fix the moisture source (cracked parging, failed caulking, missing flashing).
Any GTA homeowners dealing with lintel failure? How many openings did you have to address?
Ontario masonry contractor referrals at home.renovation.reviews