St. Clair Shores is a lake town. Its eastern edge runs along Lake St. Clair, with canals, marinas and the Nautical Mile on Jefferson Avenue. Most of the city is block after block of solid brick ranches built from the 1940s through the 1960s. Those homes were built well, but after 60-plus years of lake wind, moisture and Michigan winters, their porches, chimneys and mortar joints often need attention.

Next Level Custom Brick is a family-owned masonry contractor with more than 15 years of experience in Metro Detroit. In St. Clair Shores, we rebuild brick porches and steps, repair and rebuild chimneys, tuckpoint and replace brick, and build new brick and stone features that give classic ranches fresh curb appeal.

Masonry Services for St. Clair Shores Homes

St. Clair Shores homes have a lot in common, and so do the masonry repairs they need. Our most-requested services here:

Brick Porch & Front Step Rebuilds

The classic St. Clair Shores front stoop, a small brick porch with concrete cap and steps, eventually cracks, settles or pulls away from the house. We repair or fully rebuild porches and steps on a new base, matching your home’s brick.

Chimney Repair & Rebuilds

Ranch chimneys are short, but they still take a beating from lake weather. We replace cracked crowns, install caps, tuckpoint and rebuild deteriorated chimneys from the roofline up.

Tuckpointing & Brick Replacement

Wind-driven rain off the lake wears down mortar joints, especially on east-facing walls. We repoint failing joints and replace spalled or cracked brick so your walls shed water again.

Brick Planters, Mailboxes & Garden Walls

Updating a brick planter box, adding pillars or building a brick mailbox is an affordable way to boost curb appeal on a ranch home.

Stone Veneer Updates

A stone wainscot on the front elevation or a refaced fireplace can give a mid-century ranch an updated look.

St. Clair Shores Neighborhoods We Serve

We work throughout St. Clair Shores, from the Grosse Pointe border north to the Clinton River and Harrison Township.

Lakefront & Canal Neighborhoods East of Jefferson

Homes along Lake St. Clair and its canals get the most exposure to wind, spray and ice. Porches, steps, seawall-side patios and chimneys here need dense materials, sound mortar and caps that shed water.

The Nautical Mile Area

Near the marinas and restaurants on Jefferson between Nine and Ten Mile, we work on homes and small commercial buildings that need brick repair, steps and entry work.

Brick Ranch Neighborhoods between Harper & Jefferson

The heart of St. Clair Shores is its post-war brick ranches. These homes most often need porch rebuilds, chimney crowns and tuckpointing, and they look great with updated brick or stone at the entry.

Neighborhoods near Blossom Heath & Memorial Park

The streets near the city’s lakefront parks mix ranches, bungalows and Cape Cods. Many owners there are restoring original brickwork and front entries.

Before and after brick pillar rebuilt after winter damage
Before and after: a brick pillar rebuilt after freeze-thaw damage.

Lake St. Clair Is Tough on Brick

Living near the water is the best part of St. Clair Shores, and it’s also why masonry wears faster here. Moist air off the lake, wind-driven rain, a high water table and long freeze-thaw seasons all push water into brick and mortar. Once mortar joints open up or a porch cap cracks, water gets in, freezes and expands, and the damage speeds up every winter.

We build and repair with that in mind. Porch caps and steps are sloped to drain, chimney crowns overhang with a drip edge, mortar is tooled to shed water, and porches are rebuilt on compacted bases. A repair done this way lasts much longer.

Porch and Chimney Work We’re Proud Of

Real before-and-after photos from Next Level Custom Brick projects on brick homes like those across St. Clair Shores.

Before and after front porch and steps rebuilt on a brick ranch home
Before and after: a front porch and steps rebuilt on a brick home.
Before and after brick chimney rebuilt with new crown and flashing
Before and after: a chimney rebuilt with a new crown.

See more before-and-after masonry projects →

Why St. Clair Shores Calls Next Level Custom Brick

  • Brick ranch specialists. We’ve rebuilt countless porches, stoops and chimneys on homes like yours.
  • Family-owned, 15+ years in Metro Detroit.
  • Licensed & insured with our own Michigan builder’s license.
  • Fair, no-pressure estimates with a full masonry inspection.
  • Built for lake weather, with drainage and detailing that make repairs last.

St. Clair Shores Masonry FAQs

How much does it cost to rebuild a front porch in St. Clair Shores?

Cost depends on the porch size, number of steps, whether the base needs replacing and the brick you choose. Most small ranch stoops fall well below a full-size porch rebuild. We give you a free written estimate after measuring on site.

Why does my porch keep pulling away from the house?

Usually the base under the porch has settled or washed out, or the porch was never tied in properly. Patching the gap won’t last. The real fix is rebuilding the porch on a properly compacted base.

Does living near Lake St. Clair mean my brick needs more maintenance?

Generally, yes. Lakeside homes see more moisture and wind-driven rain, so mortar joints, crowns and caps wear faster. A quick inspection every few years helps you catch problems early.

Do you work on homes along the canals?

Yes. We work on canal and lakefront homes throughout St. Clair Shores, including steps, patios, porches and chimneys.

Get a Free Estimate in St. Clair Shores

From a crumbling stoop to a leaning chimney, Next Level Custom Brick will restore your brick home the right way. Call 734-292-5250 or request a free estimate online.

Also serving near St. Clair Shores: Sterling Heights, Shelby Township, Royal Oak, Troy, Rochester Hills. View all service areas.