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Our team installs high quality brick veneers in New Orleans, LA, giving your home the look of full brick at a lower weight and cost. We expertly fasten and detail thin brick veneer siding, façades, and accents so your exterior is attractive, durable, and low maintenance.
Superior Masonry New Orleans provides professional brick veneers throughout New Orleans, LA, Louisiana and the surrounding area. Our licensed, insured crew delivers safe, clean, on-time work with a free estimate before anything begins. Call (504) 321-4818 or request your free quote.
Brick veneers in New Orleans: what you are actually getting
When you ask Superior Masonry New Orleans for brick veneers, you are not getting a full structural brick wall. You are getting a thin brick facing that is anchored to a wood or metal framed wall or sometimes to existing masonry. It gives you the look of solid brick without the weight and cost, which is important in many New Orleans houses that sit on raised piers or older foundations.
A typical brick veneer is 1 to 1.5 inches thick. It is installed over a prepared substrate with a moisture barrier and a drainage plane so any water that gets behind the veneer can escape instead of rotting the framing. This detail matters in our humid, storm prone climate. A properly installed veneer should shed rain, handle summer heat, and survive wind driven storms without loosening or letting water run into your walls.
Brick veneers work well for front facades, porch walls, interior feature walls, chimney surrounds, and around new additions where you want the new work to blend with an older New Orleans brick look. At Superior Masonry New Orleans, we match the system (anchored veneer, thin brick over cement board, or adhered veneer over existing masonry) to what your structure can actually support, not just what looks good in a photo.
How brick veneer installation is actually done
For exterior work, we start by looking at the framing, sheathing, and foundation line. If the existing sheathing is solid, we add a weather resistant barrier, flashing at windows, doors, and base, and a drainage mat or furring to create a small air space. This is critical in New Orleans because of heavy rain and high humidity. Without that gap and weep points, water stays trapped and feeds mold.
Next, we install metal brick ties or lath, depending on whether we are doing a traditional anchored veneer or an adhered thin brick system. For anchored veneer, ties are screwed into the studs on a regular pattern, then bent into mortar joints to lock the brick mechanically to the wall. For adhered veneers, we fasten corrosion resistant lath, then apply a scratch coat of mortar to create a solid, rough surface for the thin brick to bond to.
We then set the bricks in courses, checking level and plumb as we go. For thin brick veneers, we typically use a polymer modified mortar suited to Gulf Coast conditions. Joints are struck and tooled once the mortar firms up, which tightens the surface and sheds water better. At the base of exterior walls we install weep vents or rope wicks so any water that gets behind the brick veneer has a way out.
On interior walls, the sequence is simpler but still technical. We review the wall for movement or moisture problems, install backer board or lath as needed, then lay out the brick pattern so cut pieces land in low visibility areas. We set the veneer, tool the joints, and clean the surface before mortar fully cures so you do not end up with smeared, cloudy brick faces.
Brick veneer options that work in New Orleans
Superior Masonry New Orleans typically divides brick veneer choices into three categories: full face brick veneer, modular thin brick, and reclaimed or antique style veneer. Full face veneer uses standard face bricks but in a non structural one wythe layer attached to the wall. It gives deeper joints and a more traditional shadow line, often preferred on historic style homes in Uptown and the Garden District.
Modular thin brick is lighter, usually 1/2 to 3/4 inch thick, and is often used on upper stories, over framed walls, or on interior features where weight matters. There are clay and concrete versions. For exteriors in Louisiana, we lean toward frost resistant clay products that have proven performance in hot, wet climates. We pay attention to absorption rates so the brick and mortar are compatible, which reduces surface spalling and efflorescence.
Reclaimed look veneers are popular for tying new work into older New Orleans neighborhoods. We can source molded and tumbled brick veneers that mimic old soft brick without the structural headaches of using actual salvaged brick on a new assembly. Color choices include standard reds, buff and cream mixes for a French Quarter feel, and darker blends that hide airborne dirt from traffic and nearby industry.
Joint style and mortar color affect the final look more than most people expect. Flush or concave joints shed water best here. Raked joints can be used on protected walls but are not ideal for wind driven rain. We use mortar colors that either match the brick for a quiet look or contrast slightly to highlight the pattern. All recommendations are made with New Orleans sun exposure, rain, and airborne pollutants in mind.
Costs, timelines, and what drives your price
The cost of brick veneers in New Orleans depends on several specific factors: access to the work area, substrate condition, veneer system type, brick selection, and detail work around openings and corners. A simple, low wall with clear access will be much cheaper per square foot than a two story facade with scaffold, lots of windows, and repair work to bad sheathing.
Material choice matters. Standard clay thin brick in a common color is more affordable than specialty or custom blended veneers. Reclaimed look products and complex patterns like herringbone or basketweave increase labor hours. On average, labor is the largest portion of the price because brick veneer is slow, hand work that must be properly aligned and jointed.
Existing conditions can change the budget quickly. If we remove old siding and find rotten sheathing or framing, that has to be repaired before a veneer can go on. In New Orleans, water damage around windows, doors, and near the bottom of walls is common. Superior Masonry New Orleans identifies these issues during the site visit and builds likely repair ranges into the estimate instead of surprising you later.
Timelines depend on weather, scope, and whether we are working on occupied areas. Many veneer projects run from a few days for a small interior feature wall to several weeks for a full exterior on a single family home. Afternoon thunderstorms can slow exterior work in summer. We schedule critical phases like substrate preparation and flashing on drier days so the system has a better chance of long term performance.
Local considerations for New Orleans homes and buildings
Our climate in New Orleans is hard on veneered walls. High humidity, salt in the air in some areas, and intense sun mean that details which might be optional in a drier region are mandatory here. We prioritize drainage, breathable assemblies, and corrosion resistant fasteners and ties.
Hurricane season also affects planning. Brick veneers are not meant to carry structural wind loads. The underlying framing must be sound, and ties and anchors must be installed to manufacturer spacing and embedment specs. We often recommend scheduling larger exterior veneer projects for late fall through early spring when temperatures are moderate, rain is lighter, and the risk of storm interruptions is lower.
In historic districts and along older streets, we look at nearby buildings before we finalize any veneer design. Matching course heights, joint profile, and general color blend helps your project look like it belongs on the block. Superior Masonry New Orleans can prepare sample panels on site so you can see how a veneer choice looks in your actual lighting and against your existing roof shingles or trim colors.
For interior brick veneers in older New Orleans homes with minimal wall insulation, we consider how the new finish will interact with vapor movement. Using the wrong interior sealer can trap moisture in plaster and lead to peeling paint or mold. We choose breathable sealers or sometimes no sealer at all, depending on how the building behaves through our humid seasons.
What to ask before you hire a brick veneer installer
Before you hire anyone for brick veneers, ask exactly what system they are proposing and how it is detailed for moisture and movement. You should hear specific mentions of weather barrier, flashing, weep paths, control joints, and tie or lath type. If an installer cannot explain where water goes once it gets behind the brick, do not use them.
Confirm that the installer understands local building codes and manufacturer instructions for the product being used. Cutting corners on tie spacing, mortar type, or substrate preparation might not show right away, but it tends to show up quickly in New Orleans after a few wet summers or one good storm.
Superior Masonry New Orleans provides written scopes that describe substrate prep, barrier and flashing products, brick type, mortar mix, joint style, and cleaning methods. We also explain what maintenance is realistic in our climate. Most veneers only need occasional gentle washing and inspection of joints and sealant at penetrations.
If you want to plan your own project timeline, the best step is to schedule a site visit. We will look at your existing walls, measure moisture risks, discuss veneer styles that fit your neighborhood, and give you a clear cost range tied to specific conditions. That way you know exactly what is involved in getting a brick veneer that looks right and holds up here in New Orleans.
