Ann Arbor’s housing ranges from the 1800s to the present. There are Victorian and Craftsman homes on the Old West Side, brick Colonials and Tudors in Burns Park, mid-century moderns in Ann Arbor Hills, and new infill homes in Water Hill and on the north side. Plenty of these homes feature beautiful brick and stone, and many of them need a mason who knows how to repair old masonry the right way.
Next Level Custom Brick is a family-owned masonry contractor with more than 15 years of experience in Southeast Michigan. In Ann Arbor we restore historic brick with compatible mortar, rebuild chimneys, porches and steps, install stone veneer, and design custom brick and stone features that fit the style of your home and street.
Masonry Services for Ann Arbor Homes
Ann Arbor homeowners tend to care about doing things right, both for the house and for its history. Here’s how we help:
Historic Brick Repair & Repointing
Older Ann Arbor homes were built with soft brick and lime mortar. We repoint with mortar matched in strength, color and joint profile, and we replace damaged brick with reclaimed or carefully matched units so repairs protect the wall instead of harming it.
Chimney Restoration & Rebuilds
We repair crowns, flashing transitions and spalled brick, and rebuild chimneys above the roofline when the masonry is failing, matching corbels and decorative details where we can.
Porch, Stoop & Step Restoration
From brick stoops on Burns Park colonials to stone steps on Old West Side homes, we repair or rebuild entries on solid bases so they stay level and safe.
Stone Veneer & Cultured Stone
Natural thin stone or cultured stone for fireplaces, foundations, entries and additions. This is a popular way to give newer homes the warmth of older Ann Arbor architecture.
Custom Brick & Stone Features
Garden walls, brick walkways and borders, archways, pillars and outdoor fireplaces, designed to suit the scale of your lot and the style of your home.
Ann Arbor Neighborhoods We Serve
Every Ann Arbor neighborhood has its own architectural personality, and that shapes the masonry work it needs.
Old West Side
One of the city’s best-preserved historic neighborhoods, with Victorian homes, workers’ cottages, bungalows and Craftsman houses. Foundations, chimneys and porches here call for gentle, compatible repairs. Exterior changes in the city’s historic districts may need review by the Ann Arbor Historic District Commission, and we plan for that from the start.
Burns Park & Lower Burns Park
Tree-lined streets near Burns Park and the University of Michigan campus are full of brick and stucco Colonials, Tudors and foursquares from the early 1900s. Chimneys, front steps and tuckpointing are the most common needs.
Kerrytown, Old Fourth Ward & Water Hill
Near Kerrytown Market and the Farmers Market, homes range from 1800s originals to brand-new infill. We restore older brick and build new brick and stone features that fit in with their historic neighbors.
Ann Arbor Hills & the East Side
Around Ann Arbor Hills, Nichols Arboretum and Gallup Park are larger lots with 1920s homes and mid-century moderns. Projects here often include stone walls, terraces, steps and fireplace work.
Doing Historic Masonry the Right Way
The biggest risk to old brick is the wrong repair. Portland-cement-heavy mortar is harder and less breathable than the original lime mortar, and it forces moisture out through the brick instead of the joints. After a few Michigan winters, brick faces crack and fall off. We assess your existing brick and mortar, choose a compatible mortar mix, and hand-rake joints instead of cutting into the brick edges.
If your home is in one of Ann Arbor’s historic districts, exterior work may require approval before it starts. We provide material samples, photos and clear descriptions of the work to help with that process, and we pull building permits when the project calls for one.
Examples of Our Brick and Stone Work
Real Next Level Custom Brick projects, not stock photos, showing the fireplace and chimney work Ann Arbor homeowners request often.
Why Ann Arbor Homeowners Choose Next Level Custom Brick
- Respect for older homes and the materials they were built with.
- Family-owned, 15+ years serving Washtenaw, Oakland, Wayne and Macomb counties.
- Licensed & insured with our own Michigan builder’s license.
- Design help choosing brick, stone and mortar that suit your home.
- No-pressure estimates, on site Monday through Saturday.
Ann Arbor Masonry FAQs
Do I need approval to repair brick on a historic Ann Arbor home?
If your home is in one of Ann Arbor’s local historic districts, many exterior changes require review. In-kind repairs and repointing with matching materials are often handled differently from new construction. Check with the city’s historic preservation staff, and we’ll provide whatever details you need.
What mortar do you use on old Ann Arbor brick?
We match the original. For most pre-1940s homes, that means a softer, lime-based mortar tinted and tooled to match the existing joints. For newer homes, we use a standard mortar type that suits the brick.
Can you rebuild a chimney and keep its decorative details?
Often, yes. We document the chimney’s corbelling and patterns before taking it down and rebuild with matching brick to recreate the original look.
Do you serve the Ann Arbor townships too?
Yes. We work in the city and in surrounding areas including Pittsfield, Scio and Ann Arbor townships.
Request a Free Masonry Estimate in Ann Arbor
Whether it’s a chimney on the Old West Side or a stone fireplace in a newer home, we’d be glad to help. Call 734-292-5250 or request your free estimate online.
Also serving near Ann Arbor: Brighton, Novi, Milford, Commerce Township, West Bloomfield. View all service areas.
