Home › Brick Veneer Installation
Our brick veneers in New Orleans, LA give you the classic brick look without the weight and cost of full brick. We install thin brick veneer on siding, accent walls, and facades with proper anchors, flashing, and weep systems so your cladding looks authentic and performs well over time.
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 that fit New Orleans homes and weather
Brick veneers give you the look of a full brick wall without rebuilding your structure. In New Orleans, that means you can update an older shotgun house, a brick bungalow, or a commercial storefront without tearing everything down. Superior Masonry New Orleans focuses on brick veneer installations that hold up to local heat, humidity, and sudden storms, not just how the wall looks on day one.
A brick veneer is a single layer of brick or thin brick units installed over a structural wall. The existing wall still carries the load. Our job is to create a durable, ventilated, and properly flashed skin that sheds water and stays put during Gulf Coast weather. Done right, brick veneers here can last decades with minimal upkeep. Done wrong, they trap moisture, crack, or separate from the wall.
Before we recommend brick veneers for your property, we look at your current wall construction: wood framing with siding, CMU block, older brick, or stucco. Some walls are ready for veneer with limited prep. Others need sheathing repairs, added moisture barriers, or structural adjustments. We explain exactly what your existing walls can handle, what needs to be corrected, and what is not worth veneering at all.
How our brick veneer installation process actually works
Superior Masonry New Orleans follows a clear, repeatable process so there are no surprises once work starts.
1. Site visit and wall inspection: We check for soft or rotted siding, bulging or cracked masonry, prior water damage, and termite or moisture issues that are common in New Orleans. We note window and door locations, electrical penetrations, and any areas that will require custom flashing.
2. Measuring, layout, and design choices: We measure the walls, account for window and door trims, and lay out the brick pattern so cut pieces are minimized at corners and openings. On older New Orleans homes that are not perfectly plumb, we plan slight adjustments to the mortar joints so the finished veneer looks straight even if the house is not.
3. Substrate and moisture barrier prep: For wood-framed homes, we repair damaged sheathing, then install a code-compliant water-resistive barrier and, where needed, a drainage mat. For block or concrete, we clean and roughen the surface if needed so mortar or adhesive bonds correctly. We install flashing at the base of the wall and over windows and doors to move water out, not into, the wall.
4. Brick support and ties: Traditional full-depth brick veneer is built on a concrete footing or structural angle. Thin brick systems may use metal tracks or specialty panels. We install corrosion-resistant brick ties or panel fasteners at the pattern and spacing that matches both manufacturer specs and local code, which is critical in a high-wind region.
5. Laying the brick veneer: We set our control lines, then start laying brick from the corners, checking level and plumb frequently. For thin brick, we set each unit into a bed of mortar or adhesive and maintain consistent joint sizes. On full-depth veneers, we maintain proper air space and weep holes so trapped moisture can escape.
6. Mortar joint finishing and cleanup: After the brick sets up, we strike the joints for the profile you chose, such as concave or flush. We then brush the wall, wash as needed without forcing water into joints, and clean up the site so it looks like a finished project, not a jobsite.
7. Final walkthrough: We show you how water is directed away from the wall, where expansion joints are, and what to watch for after the first few heavy rains.
Brick veneer styles, materials, and design options
New Orleans properties have a wide range of looks, from Creole cottages to modern infill. Brick veneers can match that variety if the right materials and patterns are chosen up front.
Color and finish: Superior Masonry New Orleans works with local and regional suppliers so we can match traditional New Orleans reds, weathered buff and brown tones, charcoal, or mixed blends that mimic older reclaimed brick. For historic-style homes, we often recommend multi-tone blends with slight size variations to avoid a too-perfect, new-subdivision look. For modern facades, we can specify more uniform brick with clean edges.
Brick type: You can choose full-depth brick veneer, which uses standard bricks, or thin brick veneer, which is much lighter. Thin brick works well where adding a foundation extension is not practical or where existing balconies, porches, or elevated homes cannot take additional load. Full-depth veneer gives a deeper shadow line and more traditional detail, which many New Orleans homeowners prefer on front elevations.
Patterns and details: Running bond is common, but it is not your only option. We can install Flemish or English bond for historic character, soldier courses over windows, or rowlock sills at window bases. Accent bands in a contrasting color or texture can break up large wall areas on commercial buildings. At corners, we use proper corner units or carefully planned cuts so the veneer looks like full brick construction, not a thin wrap.
Mortar joints: Joint color and profile change the appearance as much as the brick itself. Light mortar with dark brick highlights the joints, darker mortar with red brick blends them. Profiles like concave or vee joints shed water better in high-rainfall climates like New Orleans. Raked joints can look sharp but can also hold more dirt and water, so we discuss where that look makes sense and where it does not.
What affects the cost of brick veneers in New Orleans
Brick veneer pricing depends on more than just the square footage. When Superior Masonry New Orleans prepares a proposal, we break down the main cost drivers so you see what you are paying for.
Existing wall condition: If your siding or sheathing is soft from years of Gulf humidity or past leaks, we need to repair or replace it before installing brick veneers. Structural repairs, insulation upgrades, and sheathing replacement add cost but also prevent the veneer from becoming a trap for hidden moisture.
Type of veneer system: Full-depth brick veneer requires adequate footing or a steel angle for support, which can mean new concrete work or structural steel on older homes that were never designed for a brick exterior. Thin brick systems usually reduce structural work but may require proprietary panels or adhesives that cost more per square foot.
Height and access: One-story front walls with easy ground access cost less than tall gable ends, chimneys, or walls that require extensive scaffolding on tight New Orleans lots. In denser neighborhoods, we factor in staging, alley access, and protection for neighboring properties.
Detail level: Simple walls with minimal openings are faster to veneer than facades with many windows, curved features, or accent bands. Custom sills, arches, and patterned courses add labor time but can drastically improve curb appeal and resale value.
Weather and scheduling: While we work year-round, heavy summer rains and extreme humidity can slow down mortar curing. If you want work completed before hurricane season or tied to another renovation schedule, we plan crew size and sequencing accordingly. None of these factors are hidden; we explain them line by line before any work begins.
Local considerations: moisture, heat, and hurricane conditions
New Orleans weather is tough on exterior walls, and brick veneers have to be detailed accordingly. Superior Masonry New Orleans designs and installs with local conditions in mind so your veneer is not just decorative.
Moisture and drainage: With frequent downpours and high humidity, the wall behind your brick veneer must be able to dry out. We use flashing at the base of the wall and above openings, weep holes on full-depth veneers, and drainage mats where appropriate. This lets water that gets behind the brick move out instead of into your framing or interior.
Wind and impact: In a hurricane-prone area, poorly attached veneers can fail. We use corrosion-resistant ties and anchors rated for the wall type and exposure. On elevated homes, we pay particular attention to connection details at the floor line so the veneer remains secure even when exposed to strong crosswinds.
Heat and movement: New Orleans heat causes expansion and contraction. Without expansion joints in long runs of veneer, you can end up with cracks or bulges. We place expansion joints where they can function properly and still blend into the design, such as at inside corners or behind downspouts.
Best times for installation: Brick veneer work can be done any season here, but spring and fall usually provide the best conditions for consistent mortar curing. In the peak of summer, we may adjust work hours or use additives and shading to manage rapid drying and avoid weak joints. If you are planning a larger renovation, we coordinate with your other contractors so wall prep, window replacement, and veneer installation happen in the right order.
Working with Superior Masonry New Orleans on your project
A brick veneer project touches structure, waterproofing, and appearance, so you want a contractor who understands more than just how to lay brick. When you contact Superior Masonry New Orleans, we start with a straightforward conversation about why you want brick veneers, what your budget looks like, and what is realistic for your particular building.
We typically begin with a site visit, then provide a written proposal that spells out the veneer type, brick and mortar selections, prep work, and any allowances for hidden conditions, such as concealed water damage. You see the plan and the numbers clearly before we schedule work.
During installation, we keep you informed of what we are doing each week: wall prep, tie installation, brick setting, and joint finishing. If we uncover anything unexpected behind your existing siding or stucco, we show it to you, explain your options, and price any changes before moving forward.
After completion, we review basic maintenance: how to safely wash your brick veneer, what minor cracks are normal and which would justify a call, and how gutters or grading around the foundation affect the veneer over time. We build brick veneers to be low maintenance, not no maintenance, and explaining that up front keeps expectations realistic.
If you are in New Orleans or the surrounding parishes and are considering brick veneers for a home or commercial property, Superior Masonry New Orleans can walk you through design, cost, and construction in clear terms so you can decide if it is the right move for your building.
