Masonry Contractor in Alexandria, VA

Old Town brick is a trust, not just a wall

Alexandria's Old Town holds some of the finest historic brickwork in Virginia — Federal and Victorian facades, garden walls, and rowhouses whose brick was laid when this was a working port. That masonry is irreplaceable. Once original 18th- and 19th-century brick is destroyed by wrong repairs, it is gone forever. We treat Old Town work as preservation, full stop.

The rules here are real, too. The Board of Architectural Review governs exterior changes in the historic district — materials, mortar color, brick match, even cleaning methods. We have worked within BAR guidelines and provide the documentation review boards need. If your project needs approval, we design it to pass.

Lime mortar or nothing

Old Town brick was laid in lime mortar, and it must be repointed in lime mortar. This is not a preference — it is chemistry. Hard Portland mortar on soft historic brick destroys the brick within years, and we have seen the damage on buildings all over the historic district. Our restoration work uses lime mortar matched to the original, handmade or salvaged brick for replacements, and cleaning methods that never harm the masonry.

Outside the historic district, Alexandria's brick colonials and ramblers get the same careful diagnosis with modern materials where appropriate. Same company, same standards — matched to the building's age.

Call (301) 679-9193 or send the form for a free on-site estimate.

Nearby areas we also serve

We serve Alexandria and these nearby areas:

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you work within Old Town's BAR requirements?

Yes. We design historic-district work to BAR standards — lime mortar, matched brick, appropriate methods — and provide the documentation boards need for review.

My Old Town rowhouse was repointed with hard mortar years ago. Can it be fixed?

Usually, yes. We carefully remove the incompatible mortar without damaging the historic brick, then repoint with proper lime mortar. It is painstaking work, but it saves the original masonry.

Do you also work on Alexandria's newer brick homes?

Yes. Outside the historic district we service brick colonials, ramblers, and townhouses with the full range of repair, repointing, chimney, and hardscape work.