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Our team installs brick veneers in Cleveland, OH to give your home the classic look of full brick without the weight or cost. We expertly install brick veneer siding, accents, and facades with proper flashing and drainage for long lasting performance and curb appeal.
Legendary Masonry Cleveland provides professional brick veneers throughout Cleveland, OH, Ohio and the surrounding area. Our licensed, insured crew delivers safe, clean, on-time work with a free estimate before anything begins. Call 216-494-5935 or request your free quote.
Brick veneers that look like full brick, without the weight or hassle
Brick veneers give Cleveland homes and businesses the look and durability of real brick without rebuilding walls. Legendary Masonry Cleveland specializes in properly installed brick veneer systems that hold up to lake effect winters, wind, and freeze-thaw cycles.
Unlike panelized faux products, our brick veneers use real clay brick or high quality thin brick units that are anchored to your structure with a tested drainage system behind them. This means you get authentic texture and color, long service life, and fewer moisture problems.
We work on residential facades, chimneys, entryways, interior feature walls, and commercial storefronts across Cleveland, Lakewood, Parma, Shaker Heights, and surrounding communities. Every project starts with a site review, so we can match the veneer system to your building type, existing wall conditions, and local exposure off Lake Erie.
How brick veneer installation actually works
A typical brick veneer installation with Legendary Masonry Cleveland follows a clear, step-by-step process so there are no surprises.
1. Assessment and measurement: We inspect your existing wall, check framing, sheathing, or masonry, look for signs of moisture intrusion or movement, and measure for layout. For older Cleveland homes, we pay close attention to settled foundations and out-of-plumb walls, since these affect veneer alignment.
2. Substrate preparation: For framed walls, we confirm or install proper sheathing and code-approved weather-resistant barriers. On masonry walls, we clean, repair loose joints, and sometimes apply a bonding coat so the veneer system adheres correctly.
3. Flashing and drainage plane: We install metal or flexible flashing at base courses, window heads, and roof-to-wall intersections, then create a drainage cavity using furring or drainage mats. Weep vents or weep holes are added so any water that gets behind the veneer has a way out instead of into your house.
4. Lath and anchoring: For adhered thin brick systems, we install corrosion-resistant metal lath with proper fasteners and spacing. For anchored veneers, we install masonry ties at specified intervals so the veneer is locked to the structure.
5. Mortar application and brick setting: We mix mortar suited to Cleveland's climate, then either trowel a scratch and setting coat for thin brick or lay units in full mortar beds for anchored veneer. Brick courses are laid level, with consistent joint thickness, pattern, and alignment around windows and doors.
6. Joint tooling and cleanup: Once the mortar reaches the right firmness, we tool the joints for weather resistance and appearance. Then we carefully clean the face of the brick so there is no haze or etching.
7. Final inspection: We check movement joints, terminations, sealants, and overall plane of the wall. You walk the project with us so you understand where flashing and vents are and how to maintain the veneer.
Brick veneer options for Cleveland homes and businesses
Legendary Masonry Cleveland helps you select veneer options that fit your architecture, neighborhood, and budget. We bring actual brick samples to your property so you can see them in natural light against your existing materials.
Common choices include:
• Thin brick veneer (adhered): Real clay units cut thinner and bonded to a prepared substrate. Ideal for interior accent walls, foundation faces, and retrofits on framed exteriors where adding full brick weight is not practical.
• Anchored brick veneer: Full-depth brick units installed with ties over a drainage cavity. This provides the most traditional look and feel and is excellent for new construction or major exterior renovations.
Color and finish options matter in Cleveland's light conditions. Deep reds and browns hide winter grime and road salt spray better along busy streets. Lighter creams and buffs soften tall facades in dense neighborhoods like Ohio City. We also install blends that mix several tones, which can help new veneer tie into older original brick.
Pattern choices include running bond, stacked, Flemish, and accent courses at window heads and sills. For commercial properties, we often use more impact at the base courses and at entrances, while keeping upper levels simple to control costs. For historic areas, we can closely mimic existing brick sizes and mortar colors so the veneer does not look patched-on.
What affects the cost of brick veneers in Cleveland
Homeowners often ask why veneer prices vary so much. The final cost is driven by several specific factors that we walk through in detail during our estimate.
1. Type of veneer system: Thin brick adhered systems are usually lighter and sometimes faster, but require high quality substrate preparation and lath. Anchored veneer needs ties, a larger cavity, and more material weight, which affects labor and structural requirements.
2. Wall condition and access: Straight, open walls at ground level are the most economical. Complex elevations, upper stories that need staging or lifts, or walls with significant rot or cracking require more prep and more time.
3. Brick selection: Standard production thin brick or modular sizes tend to be more cost effective. Custom blends, oversized formats, or special textures like tumbled or hand-molded brick carry premium pricing.
4. Weatherproofing details: In Cleveland's climate, skipping proper flashing and drainage is a mistake. Extra details around balconies, complex roofs, or large window systems add material and labor cost, but protect you from expensive rot and mold later.
5. Winter work conditions: We do install brick veneers in colder weather, but when temperatures drop below masonry guidelines we need tenting, heating, or cold-weather additives. Those extra steps protect your investment but can raise project cost compared to work done in late spring through early fall.
Legendary Masonry Cleveland provides itemized proposals that separate substrate repair, veneer material, labor, and any optional design upgrades so you can see exactly where your money is going.
Handling moisture and freeze-thaw in Northeast Ohio
Cleveland's climate is harsh on poorly installed brick veneers. Repeated freeze-thaw cycles, wind-driven rain off Lake Erie, and snowmelt can push water behind the veneer, where it can freeze and expand. Legendary Masonry Cleveland designs every veneer project with that reality in mind.
We focus on three critical defenses:
• Proper drainage plane: Even the best brick and mortar let a little water in. We create a continuous, ventilated cavity and weep system so water moves out at the bottom rather than into your insulation.
• Strategic flashing and terminations: Areas like porch roofs, bay windows, and deck connections are common leak points. We integrate metal and flexible flashing that ties into your existing roofing or siding so water is directed out over the face of the veneer, not behind it.
• Expansion and control joints: Brick and the building behind it move at different rates with temperature and humidity. We add movement joints at corners, long runs, and changes in height so the veneer can move slightly without cracking or bowing.
For older homes, we often see previous veneers installed directly over wood or old siding with no drainage or flashings. When we replace those systems, we document the hidden damage, repair it correctly, and build an exterior that is ready for the next fifty Cleveland winters.
Best timing and project planning for Cleveland brick veneer work
While brick veneer can be installed almost any time of year with the right precautions, certain seasons are more efficient and cost effective in Northeast Ohio.
Late spring through early fall is generally ideal. Temperatures tend to stay within the recommended range for mortar curing, so we avoid the added cost of heating or tenting. We also see fewer weather delays, which keeps your project on schedule.
If you are planning a major exterior renovation, it is smart to contact Legendary Masonry Cleveland at least one season ahead. This matters especially if you are coordinating new windows, roof replacement, or siding removal, since those trades have their own lead times.
For winter projects, we develop a specific cold-weather plan: protected mixing areas, warm water in the mortar, and temporary enclosures and heaters around new work. We also work with shorter wall sections per day, so mortar joints have more time to set up before overnight freezes.
On commercial properties in downtown Cleveland and surrounding suburbs, we schedule noisy or access-heavy phases around your business hours to limit disruption. For residential jobs, we review parking, material staging locations, and daily cleanup routines before we start, so your household can keep functioning during construction.
Why choose Legendary Masonry Cleveland for brick veneers
Brick veneer is more than just sticking thin brick to a wall. It is a system that has to work with your structure, mechanicals, and local climate. Legendary Masonry Cleveland brings specialized masonry experience to every veneer project, so you are not relying on a general contractor learning on your home.
We are familiar with common Cleveland building types: 1920s brick colonials in Cleveland Heights, post-war bungalows in Parma, lakefront properties with heavy wind exposure, and mixed-use buildings downtown with complex facades. That local familiarity allows us to predict problem areas and design details that a non-specialist might overlook.
During your consultation, we explain the trade-offs between veneer types, walk you through sample boards, and show you actual projects nearby that use similar materials. You receive a clear scope of work that covers substrate prep, moisture management, veneer layout, and cleanup.
When the job is complete, we leave you with maintenance guidelines, including how to safely clean your new veneer, what minor cracks are normal and what requires attention, and how often sealant and caulking should be checked around openings. Our goal is that your brick veneer looks intentional and performs well for decades in Cleveland's challenging weather.
