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We install durable, attractive brick veneers in Lansing, MI for siding, accent walls, and facades. Our team ensures proper moisture control, clean detailing, and a realistic full brick look that boosts curb appeal.
Superior Masonry Lansing provides professional brick veneers throughout Lansing, MI, Michigan and the surrounding area. Our licensed, insured crew delivers safe, clean, on-time work with a free estimate before anything begins. Call (517) 289-4333 or request your free quote.
Brick veneer installation tailored to Lansing homes and weather
Brick veneers let you get the look and durability of brick without the weight and cost of full brick construction. At Superior Masonry Lansing, we focus on brick veneer installation that holds up to Mid-Michigan freeze-thaw cycles, lake effect moisture, and the mix of older and newer construction you see around Lansing.
When we visit your home, we start with a close look at the existing structure, framing, and foundation. Many Lansing houses built from the 1950s through the 1990s were not framed with traditional full brick in mind, so veneer is often the right way to add brick siding, an accent wall, or a new front entry. We check for straightness of walls, condition of sheathing, presence of house wrap, and any existing moisture problems so we do not cover up an issue that will come back later.
Our goal is to help you decide whether you need full exterior coverage, a front facade upgrade, or targeted veneer areas such as porch columns, garage fronts, or interior fireplace surrounds. Because we work all over the Lansing area, including East Lansing and the older neighborhoods near downtown, we can suggest brick colors and patterns that match local styles, whether you are trying to coordinate with historic red brick or update a faded aluminum sided home.
How brick veneer installation actually works
Brick veneer installation is a structured process, not just sticking brick to a wall. Superior Masonry Lansing follows a step-by-step method so your veneer stays secure and drains water correctly.
First we prepare the substrate. For exterior work, this usually means confirming your sheathing is sound, then installing or upgrading a weather resistant barrier such as house wrap. We add flashing at critical locations like window heads, door openings, and at the base of the wall. These metal or flexible flashings direct any water back out of the wall instead of into your framing.
Next we install a metal lath or track system if we are using adhered brick veneer, or we set brick ties if we are using traditional brick units with an air space. Lath is fastened into studs through the sheathing, then covered with a scratch coat of mortar that cures to a rough, strong base. For anchored veneer, we maintain a consistent air gap and use brick ties at proper spacing so the brick is mechanically connected while still able to move a bit with temperature changes.
Then we lay out the brick pattern. We snap level lines so the courses run true around the building, even when an older Lansing foundation is a little out of level. Mortar is mixed to the right consistency for the day’s temperature and humidity. We butter each unit, press it into the scratch coat or lay it in the bed joint, then tool the joints once the mortar starts to set. On interior veneers, we protect floors and nearby finishes and use dust control methods so you are not cleaning up grit for weeks.
Finally, we clean the surface, inspect all joints, and verify that weep areas and drainage paths are open. For certain installations, especially areas that see road salt spray or low walls near sidewalks, we may recommend a breathable masonry sealer after the mortar has cured.
Brick veneer options: styles, patterns, and finishes
Brick veneers offer more design flexibility than most people realize. Because Superior Masonry Lansing installs both thin brick and full depth veneer, we can tune the look to your house style and your budget.
Color options range from classic Lansing red and burgundy blends to modern charcoal, whitewashed, or tumbled finishes that look softened and aged. Many homeowners in subdivisions off Jolly Road and Cedar Street prefer warm browns and multi tone blends to break up large vinyl sided facades. In older neighborhoods, we often help match existing chimney or porch brick so a new veneer addition does not look patched on.
Patterns change the overall feel too. A simple running bond is common, but we also install stacked bond for contemporary entries, soldier or rowlock courses to cap knee walls and porches, and herringbone in smaller accent panels or under porch roofs. Around garage doors and front doors, adding a soldier course or contrasting color band is a relatively small detail that makes the front of the home feel more complete.
You can choose joint profiles as well. Raked joints create shadow lines and a more pronounced brick texture, while flush or slightly concave joints shed water better and give a cleaner look. For interior veneers behind wood stoves or as kitchen backsplashes, we sometimes use over grouted or “smeared” joints to create a rustic, farmhouse style surface that is popular around rural parts of Ingham and Eaton Counties.
What affects the cost of brick veneers in Lansing
We are straightforward about pricing because most Lansing homeowners are working within a clear budget. Several factors influence the cost of brick veneer installation, and understanding them helps you make informed decisions.
Square footage is the biggest driver. A full front elevation with gables costs more than a partial entry accent or a short garden wall, simply because of labor and material volume. However, once we set up scaffolding and staging, the per square foot cost often drops on larger projects, which can make a full facade upgrade more efficient than multiple small jobs spread over time.
The type of brick veneer matters. Thin brick systems, which are adhered directly to a prepared substrate, generally use less material weight and can be more economical, especially for interior walls or retrofits over existing masonry. Full depth veneer with an air space, which uses standard brick units, often has a higher material cost but provides a very traditional appearance and robust feel.
Substrate condition and details also affect price. If your sheathing is in poor shape, if there is water damage from past ice damming, or if we need to rebuild window surrounds to integrate proper flashing, that work adds cost but prevents future problems. Taller walls that require full scaffold setups, tricky roofline intersections, or tight access on city lots near downtown Lansing can also increase labor.
We give itemized written estimates so you can see how much of the total is materials, how much is prep and repair, and how much is actual brick laying. When possible, we offer options, such as choosing a slightly different brick line or simplifying pattern changes, to keep the project in line with your budget without sacrificing structural quality.
Preparing your Lansing property for brick veneer work
A smooth brick veneer project starts with good preparation, both from our crew and from the homeowner. Superior Masonry Lansing will handle the technical side, but there are a few things you can do to save time and reduce disruption.
For exterior work, we ask that you clear items away from the walls to be veneered. This includes grills, patio furniture, firewood racks, and decorative plantings that can be moved. If shrubs are tight against the wall, we may trim them or coordinate with your landscaper so we can place scaffolding safely. We also note sprinkler heads and other irrigation so that nothing gets damaged.
Access for materials is important. Brick, sand, and mortar are heavy, so the closer we can get a delivery truck or trailer to the work area, the more efficient we can be. In Lansing’s older neighborhoods with narrow driveways or alleys, we plan ahead and sometimes schedule deliveries at off-peak times to avoid blocking traffic.
For interior veneer projects, such as fireplace faces or feature walls in basements and living rooms, we protect floors with coverings and plastic off work areas as needed. You can help by taking pictures down, removing fragile items from nearby shelves, and arranging pets so they are away from dust and noise. While we cut as much as possible outside, some cutting and mixing indoors is unavoidable, and we set up vacuums and fans to keep air quality acceptable.
Common brick veneer problems here and how we prevent them
Lansing’s climate is tough on all masonry, and brick veneers are no exception. Our experience in the area has shown a few recurring issues that we specifically address in our installations.
Freeze-thaw damage is the big one. When water gets behind poorly detailed veneer and then freezes, it can push bricks and mortar outward, leading to cracking or spalling. To combat this, Superior Masonry Lansing focuses on continuous flashing, proper weep paths, and using the right mortar mix for the brick selected. We avoid non breathable sealers that trap moisture inside the wall.
Efflorescence, the white powdery deposits on the face of brick, is another common complaint, especially on newer work or when homeowners power wash frequently. While some efflorescence is harmless and temporary, we minimize it by using clean sand and water, ensuring adequate curing time, and designing the wall so that incidental water can escape rather than dissolving salts and pushing them out the face.
In older homes where veneer was added decades ago, we sometimes see bulging walls or loose sections. These usually trace back to insufficient ties or failing sheathing. When we are called for a repair or replacement, we remove test sections to see how the existing system was built, then rebuild with current best practices. For fireplace surrounds and interior veneers, the main issue is usually minor cracking from house movement or temperature swings, which we handle with flexible joint placement and careful joint tooling.
We are always happy to explain what we are doing while we work. Many Lansing homeowners like to understand how their home is put together, and knowing why weep holes, flashing, and joint types matter makes it easier for you to maintain the veneer over time.
Why Lansing homeowners choose Superior Masonry Lansing
Choosing a mason for brick veneers is about more than low price. You are trusting a crew to change the look of your home and tie new work into old construction that may have quirks.
Superior Masonry Lansing is locally based, so we drive past our completed projects every week. We know how last winter’s ice storm or this spring’s heavy rains affected our work, and we use that feedback to improve details on each new job. Our crew is small enough that you will see the same faces throughout your project, but experienced enough to handle multi elevation facades and complex patterns.
We coordinate with Lansing inspectors when permits are required, particularly for large exterior veneer additions or structural changes around openings. This helps ensure that your project passes code, which matters if you refinance or sell the home later. We also understand HOA requirements in area subdivisions and can provide sample boards or photos to share with your association.
If you are considering brick veneer installation anywhere in the Lansing, East Lansing, or surrounding Mid-Michigan area, we start with a site visit and a detailed conversation about how you use the space, what you want the home to look like, and how long you plan to stay. From there, we develop a clear scope, timeline, and price so you know exactly what to expect before the first brick is set.
