Brick Veneer Installation in Cleveland, OH

Our brick veneer installation services in Cleveland, OH give your home the classic look of full brick without the added structural weight. We install brick facing on new builds and existing walls, carefully aligning courses for a clean appearance. With quality moisture control and flashing details, our brick veneer systems are built to last in local conditions.

Primetime Masonry Cleveland provides professional brick veneer installation throughout Cleveland, OH and the surrounding area. Our licensed, insured crew delivers safe, clean, on-time work with a free estimate before anything begins. Call (216) 859-1307 or request your free quote.

Brick veneer that fits Cleveland homes and weather

Brick veneer gives you the look of full brick without rebuilding your walls, but it still has to be done like a real masonry system or it will not last in Cleveland weather. At Primetime Masonry Cleveland, most of our brick veneer installation work is on older frame houses in city neighborhoods and on suburban homes that started with vinyl or wood siding. We also do a lot of front elevations only, where the homeowner wants stone or brick in front and standard siding on the other three sides.

Before we recommend brick veneer, we look at how your house is built: type of framing, current siding layers, foundation exposure, and whether there is any past water damage. In Cleveland, we pay close attention to ice dam areas, roof-to-wall connections, and walkout basements because water and freeze cycles are what break weak veneer work. We explain what is realistic for your home so you are not paying for a pretty face that will crack or leak in a few winters.

We also talk through your goals. Some people just want curb appeal on the front of the house. Others want more impact resistance at ground level where lawn mowers and snow shovels hit. On commercial jobs, owners are often trying to match existing brick on the block so their storefront or office blends in. These details change the way we design the brick veneer system, the anchors we use, and how we handle expansion joints and flashing.

How brick veneer installation actually works

A quality brick veneer installation is more than thin bricks glued on a wall. Here is how Primetime Masonry Cleveland typically handles a full-frame wall:

1. Strip and inspect: We remove existing siding down to the sheathing and look for rot, mold, or insect damage. Any soft or damaged sheathing or framing gets repaired. There is no point hanging new masonry on a weak wall.

2. Waterproofing layer: We install a proper weather-resistant barrier or upgrade your existing one. On many Cleveland houses we add a second layer at high exposure walls that take the worst of the west wind from the lake. We tape seams and flash around windows and doors so water that gets behind the veneer has a clean path to exit.

3. Air space and drainage: Brick veneer needs an air gap between the brick and the wall. We use spacers or drainage mats to create this cavity, then install weep vents along the bottom and above openings. This is what keeps moisture from getting trapped and freezing behind the brick.

4. Anchors and ties: We fasten corrosion-resistant brick ties into the studs or structural framing, not just the sheathing. Tie spacing depends on brick size and wall height, but we always follow engineering and code requirements for Cleveland and Cuyahoga County. This is what keeps the veneer from pulling away over time.

5. Setting the brick: We lay brick starting from a solid, level support. For full-height veneers, that usually means a brick ledge on the foundation. On many Cleveland homes, that ledge is missing, so we may install engineered angle iron supports tied back into the structure. We check plumb and level constantly so the face looks straight from the street. Mortar joints are packed and tooled tight to shed water.

6. Flashing and joints: We add metal or flexible flashing at the bottom of walls, over windows, and at roof lines. We also cut in expansion joints at long runs of brick so the veneer can move a little with temperature swings without cracking.

7. Cleanup and joint sealing: After curing, we carefully clean the surface so we do not burn or smear the brick with harsh acids. For some projects, especially around windows and transitions to siding, we add flexible sealant to help handle movement and reduce drafts.

Brick veneer options, patterns, and matching existing brick

Cleveland homeowners rarely want a generic brick look. Primetime Masonry Cleveland spends a fair amount of time up front on brick selection so your veneer fits your house and neighborhood.

Brick types: We work with full-depth face brick, thin brick for certain retrofit situations, and manufactured brick that mimics older clay brick. Full-depth brick with a true air gap is our default for durability, but thin brick can make sense on interior accent walls or where structure will not support added weight.

Colors and textures: In older Cleveland neighborhoods like Old Brooklyn and West Park, people often want brick that matches a 1920s or 1940s style. That usually means more muted reds, browns, and coal-fired textures. In newer suburbs we see more interest in blended colors, tumbled textures, or lighter grays to pair with modern siding and black windows.

Patterns: Most exteriors use running bond, but we can add soldier courses over windows, rowlock sills under sills, or a different pattern in porch areas so the house does not look flat. On commercial jobs, adding a contrasting band row is a simple way to break up large walls.

Matching existing brick: A lot of our veneer work is matching existing brick on additions, porch rebuilds, or filling in where a garage door used to be. We bring sample boards to your site and compare in real light, and if the original brick is discontinued we look at blends of 2 or 3 current bricks to get close in color and size. We also match mortar color and joint style, which matters just as much as the brick if you want an addition to disappear.

Special details: Around Lake Erie we often recommend slightly recessed tooled joints instead of very flush joints because they shed water better and age more gracefully. At walkout basements or where snow piles up, we might suggest harder-face brick or an extra course of solid units to take more abuse.

Costs, common problems, and what to watch for in Cleveland

There is no simple per-square-foot price for brick veneer installation that fits every job. Primetime Masonry Cleveland usually bases cost on access, wall height, structural support needs, and how much prep work is required.

Things that raise or lower the price:

• Structural support: If your foundation has an existing brick ledge, that saves money. If we have to install steel angle supports and bolt them back to framing, that adds material and labor.

• Tear-off and repairs: Removing multiple layers of old siding, fixing rot, and adjusting window trims to meet the new brick face can be a significant part of the job on older Cleveland homes.

• Height and layout: Two-story gables, chimneys, and tight side yards in city lots usually mean more scaffolding and slower work than a simple front ranch elevation.

• Brick and detail choices: Standard running bond with common colors is most economical. Special patterns, blended colors, and custom sills or accents add time.

Common problems we see in this area include brick veneer put directly over old siding, no air gap, and no weeps. Those walls often show peeling interior paint, musty smells, and random cracking because water has nowhere to go. Another frequent issue is veneers that sit below grade at the driveway or landscaping edge, which invites salt and moisture. When we install new veneer, we keep brick above grade where possible, and when it is not, we use the right flashing and drainage details.

We also run into thin brick systems that were basically glued to cement board without proper movement joints. With our freeze-thaw cycles, those panels can pop or de-bond. Where repair is possible, we cut out loose sections and tie new work properly into the structure. If not, we are honest about when a full rebuild makes more sense than patching the same failed system over and over.

What to expect when you hire Primetime Masonry Cleveland

Most brick veneer installations on a typical Cleveland home take several days to a couple of weeks depending on size and weather. We start by planning around your schedule and seasonal conditions. For exterior veneers we avoid starting big jobs right before a deep freeze so mortar has time to cure properly.

Before work begins, we walk the property with you, talk about where materials and a mixer will sit, how we will protect driveways and landscaping, and where scaffolding will go. On tight city lots we coordinate with neighbors for fence access or alley staging when needed.

During the job, you will see a sequence of noisy days and quieter days. Tear-off, framing repairs, and setting supports are the louder parts. Once brick is going up, it is more steady and predictable. We clean up daily, stack materials neatly, and keep walkways clear so you can still get in and out safely.

Communication is a big piece of avoiding surprises. If we open a wall and find more damage than expected, we show you the area, explain the options, and price the repair before we move forward. We also check in as we lay sample sections so you can see the brick and mortar combination in place, not just on a small sample.

When we are done, we walk the project with you, point out expansion joints, weeps, and flashing locations, and explain what to watch for over the years. Brick veneer does not need much maintenance, but you should know to keep mulch and soil a little below the brick, avoid power washing with very high pressure right at the joints, and call if you ever see areas that stay damp or show new cracks. Our goal is that your veneer looks like it belongs on your house and that it still looks solid and aligned after many Cleveland winters.