Brick Replacement
When a brick is spalled or cracked through, it can't be patched — it's replaced and matched.
Quick Answer
Paul Lally's Masonry replaces spalled, cracked, and loose brick across Chicago and the Chicagoland suburbs, matching new brick to your wall in size, color, and texture and stopping the water source so it won't fail again. Family-owned since 1988. Free on-site estimates — call (708) 448-8866.
About This Service
Brick Replacement in Chicagoland
Once a brick's face has spalled off or it's cracked through, that unit can no longer shed water or carry load the way it should. Smearing patching compound over a failed brick is a short-term cosmetic fix that traps moisture and fails again. The right repair is to remove the damaged brick and replace it with a sound unit matched to your wall.
The craft is in the matching and the mortar. We source replacement brick as close as possible in size, color, and texture — critical on older Chicago bungalows and greystones where the original brick hasn't been made in decades — and set it with mortar matched in color and joint profile so the repair disappears into the wall. Just as important, we find and stop the water source so the new brick doesn't spall like the old one.
What's Included
- Removal and replacement of spalled, cracked, or loose brick
- Brick matching by size, color, and texture
- Salvage matching for historic Chicago brick
- Mortar color and joint-profile matching
- Single brick to full-section replacement
- Residential and commercial walls
Our Work
Project Photos
Brick replacement blended into the wall
Matched brick and mortar — Chicago suburb
Spalled brick removed and replaced
Section brick replacement complete
Warning Signs
Signs You Need Brick Replacement
Spalling or Flaking Brick Faces
When the hard outer face flakes or pops off, the brick can't shed water anymore and deteriorates faster. Spalled units are removed and replaced, not patched.
Cracked-Through Bricks
A brick cracked all the way through has lost its integrity and lets water into the wall. Replacing it restores both the look and the water barrier.
Loose or Shifting Brick
Bricks that move or sound hollow have lost their mortar bond. Left in place they work loose — a hazard on upper walls and above walkways.
Failed Patch or Caulk Repairs
Previous cosmetic patches over damaged brick trap moisture and fail again. The unit underneath needs to be properly replaced.
FAQ
Common Questions
Can a spalled brick be repaired instead of replaced?
Once the face has spalled off, the brick can't be restored to full strength — it's removed and replaced with a matching unit. The key is fixing the water source so the new brick doesn't spall too.
Will the new brick match my old brick?
We match replacement brick as closely as possible in size, color, and texture, using salvage where a true match exists. On older bungalows and greystones we blend replacements so the repair isn't obvious from the street.
Why do bricks fail in the first place?
Almost always water plus freeze-thaw — water soaks into the brick or failing mortar and freezes, prying the face apart. That's why we fix the water source, not just the brick.
Do you fix the cause, not just the brick?
Yes. Replacing brick without stopping the water just guarantees the new brick fails. We tuckpoint failing joints and address flashing or drainage so the repair lasts.
More Services
Other Masonry Services We Offer
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Tell us about your brick replacementproject. We'll respond same business day.