What a masonry change order is for
Grinding out joints and digging out a patio both uncover surprises: soft bricks behind good faces, soft soil, an old slab. The owner should see and sign the change while the crew is there, with photos, so the invoice holds no surprise and the work does not stall waiting for a call back.
What to put on a masonry change order
- What was found and where, with photos.
- Added bricks, base or steps.
- Credits for work dropped.
- The new total.
- Signature before the added work.
A worked example
Grinding uncovers four more soft bricks, the owner adds a new step at the side door, and drops the splash block fix.
| Line | Qty | Unit | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Replace additional soft bricks | 4 | each | Your price |
| Add block step at side door | 1 | each | Your price |
| Credit: splash block fix | -1 | each | Your price |
Get the signature before you cut out the extra bricks. Once they are out, the owner cannot see why it was needed.
Line items masons use
| Line item | Unit | How to write it |
|---|---|---|
| Paver patio, laid on compacted base | sq ft | Paver style, color and pattern; base depth in the note. |
| Excavation and haul-off | cu yd | Dig depth and where the spoils go. |
| Compacted gravel base | ton | Depth after compaction. |
| Segmental retaining wall | sq ft | Face area; block style and caps. |
| Drain pipe and gravel behind wall | ft | Where the water outlets. |
| Repoint brick joints | sq ft | Grind out and refill; mortar type and color match. |
| Brick replacement | each | Spalled or cracked bricks swapped, matched as close as possible. |
| Chimney crown rebuild | each | Cast or formed crown with overhang. |
| Polymeric sand and sealer | sq ft | Joint sand swept and set; sealer if chosen. |
| Steps, block or stone | each | Per step; tread size and riser height. |
| Scaffold setup | day | For brick work above ladder height. |
| Permit and engineering | each | Walls over local height limits often need both. |
Terms and deposit language for masonry
- Deposit. A deposit at signing holds the start date and pays for pavers, block or brick ordered for the job. Home improvement deposit limits vary by state, so confirm yours.
- Payment. Balance due when the patio, wall or repair is finished and walked with the owner.
- Warranty. Say what you stand behind, like settling of a patio base or mortar joints letting go, and for how long. Leave out damage from frost heave the base was not built for, salt, and heavy vehicles.
- Buried lines, sprinkler pipe and invisible fences in the dig area are the owner's to locate before work starts.
- Efflorescence, the white bloom on new masonry, is normal and usually fades.
- Matching old brick and mortar is close, not exact.
How to fill it in
- Put in the original estimate number and amount.
- Write what changed in the reason box, plainly.
- Add the new work; type a minus quantity for any credit.
- Fill in the days added.
- Print it for a signature on site, or send it from Koira to sign by phone.
Free tools for masonry
- Brick repointing cost calculator
- Asphalt sealcoating cost calculator
- Concrete block calculator
- Satellite measuring tool
The same change order for other trades: appliance repair, auto detailing, carpentry, carpet cleaning, chimney, house cleaning, commercial cleaning, concrete, deck, drywall, duct cleaning, electrical, fence, flooring, garage door, general contractor, glass, gutter, handyman, holiday lighting, home inspection, hood cleaning, hvac, insulation, irrigation, junk removal, landscaping, lawn care, locksmith, moving, painting, pest control, plumbing, pool service, pressure washing, property maintenance, remodeling, restoration, roofing, security system, septic, siding, snow removal, solar, tile, tree service, water treatment, waterproofing, window cleaning, window and door.
More for masons: how masons run on Koira.