What a masonry proposal is for
Owners see a wall that looks tired and do not know whether it needs a patch or a full repoint. Three options on the same wall show what each buys: a cheaper fix that may need doing again, a full repoint that lasts, or the full repoint plus the replacements and protection that address the cause. They choose on how long they plan to stay.
What to put on a masonry proposal
- The same wall and area in each option.
- What is ground out and refilled in each.
- Bricks replaced or not.
- Protection or repellent where offered.
- How long each is likely to last, in plain words.
- One acceptance line.
A worked example
The same 80 sq ft front wall. The full repoint uses the calculator's typical price; the rest are yours to price.
Option 1: Good: spot repairs. Repoint the worst joints only.
| Line | Qty | Unit | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spot repoint worst joints | 25 | sq ft | Your price |
| Replace spalled bricks | 6 | each | Your price |
Option 2: Better: full repoint. Every joint ground out and refilled.
| Line | Qty | Unit | Price | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Repoint brick, grind out and refill mortar joints * | 80 | sq ft | $6.25 | $500.00 |
| Replace spalled bricks | 6 | each | Your price |
Option 3: Best: full repoint and protection. Full repoint, bricks replaced and a breathable water repellent.
| Line | Qty | Unit | Price | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Repoint brick, grind out and refill mortar joints * | 80 | sq ft | $6.25 | $500.00 |
| Replace spalled bricks | 6 | each | Your price | |
| Breathable water repellent | 80 | sq ft | Your price | |
| Fix downspout splash block | 1 | each | Your price |
In each note, say plainly how long the owner can expect the work to hold. That is what they are choosing between.
* Typical price from our free brick repointing cost calculator, which lists its sources. Your own costs and market come first.
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
- Fill in the customer and the job.
- Check each option's name, its one-line difference and its lines.
- Add your prices; each option totals on its own.
- Set tax, the deposit and the good-until date.
- Print it, download it, or send it from Koira so the customer can pick and sign on the phone.
Free tools for masonry
- Brick repointing cost calculator
- Asphalt sealcoating cost calculator
- Concrete block calculator
- Satellite measuring tool
The same proposal 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.