Cracked brick, crumbling mortar, and leaning retaining walls don’t just look bad. They let water in, create safety hazards, and signal to buyers that maintenance has been deferred. In Montclair’s real estate market, where median home values sit near $970,000, that’s a problem you can’t ignore.
Quality masonry work fixes what’s broken and prevents bigger issues down the line. Repointed brick stops moisture damage before it reaches your foundation. A properly built retaining wall holds back soil and manages drainage instead of collapsing after the next heavy rain. Chimney repair keeps your home safe and your heating system venting correctly.
You’re not just fixing cosmetics. You’re protecting one of your largest investments from weather damage, structural issues, and the kind of deferred maintenance that shows up during inspections. Good masonry work gives you a home that looks sharp, functions correctly, and holds its value when it’s time to sell.
Proline Construction has spent years working on homes throughout Bergen County and Essex County. We’re licensed, insured, and we know what New Jersey weather does to brick, stone, and mortar. We’ve seen what happens when masonry work is done right and what it looks like when it’s done wrong.
Montclair homeowners deal with freeze-thaw cycles, heavy rain, and the kind of weather that tests every joint and surface. Your masonry needs to be built and maintained correctly, or you’ll be dealing with water intrusion, structural movement, and expensive repairs.
We don’t take deposits and disappear. We don’t hide fees or change prices halfway through. You get upfront pricing, a clear timeline, and contractors who show up when they say they will. That’s how we’ve built our reputation here, and it’s how we plan to keep it.
You call us at 551-248-2375 or reach out through our website. We schedule a time to come look at your property, assess what needs to be done, and talk through your options. This consultation is free, and we’re not there to sell you services you don’t need.
Once we understand the scope, we give you a detailed estimate with clear pricing. No hidden fees, no surprises later. If you decide to move forward, we schedule the work around your timeline and handle all the permits and code requirements.
During the project, our crew shows up on time, protects your property, and manages the job from demo to cleanup. We’re hands-on with every project because that’s the only way to make sure it’s done right. When we’re finished, you get masonry work that’s built to last, looks clean, and functions the way it should.
You’re not guessing what’s happening or when we’ll be back. You know the plan, the price, and the timeline before we start.
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We handle brick repair, stone work, chimney repair, retaining walls, brick paving, and brick veneers. If it’s masonry, we’ve built it, fixed it, or torn it down and rebuilt it correctly.
Montclair homes—especially older ones in the historic districts—need contractors who understand how original masonry was built and how to repair it without compromising the structure or the look. We match existing brick, use the right mortar mix for the application, and make sure repairs blend in instead of standing out.
Retaining walls are a big part of what we do here. Montclair’s terrain means a lot of properties have grade changes, and poorly built walls fail fast. We build walls that manage water correctly, use proper drainage, and stay level for decades.
Chimney repair is another common need. Older chimneys crack, lean, and deteriorate from weather exposure. We rebuild crowns, repoint brick, replace damaged flue liners, and make sure your chimney is safe and functional. If you’re seeing water stains inside near your fireplace or chunks of mortar in your yard, that’s a sign your chimney needs attention before the damage gets worse.
It depends entirely on what needs to be done. Repointing a small section of brick might run a few hundred dollars. Rebuilding a chimney or constructing a new retaining wall can cost several thousand. The scope, materials, and access all affect pricing.
What matters more than a ballpark number is getting an accurate estimate based on your actual property. We come out, look at the work, and give you a detailed price before anything starts. No guessing, no “we’ll figure it out as we go.” You know what you’re paying upfront.
If a contractor gives you a price over the phone without seeing the job, that’s a red flag. Masonry work has too many variables—existing damage, hidden issues, material matching—to quote blindly. We don’t work that way.
Small repairs—repointing, patching cracks, fixing a few loose bricks—can often be done in a day or two. Larger projects like building a retaining wall, installing a new patio, or rebuilding a chimney take longer, usually a week or more depending on size and complexity.
Weather plays a role too. Mortar needs the right temperature range to cure properly. If it’s too cold or too hot, we have to adjust the schedule. We’re not going to rush a job and compromise quality just to check a box.
When we give you a timeline, we build in realistic expectations. We’d rather tell you it’ll take a week and finish in five days than promise three days and still be there a week later. You’ll know the schedule before we start, and we’ll keep you updated if anything changes.
Repointing means removing old, damaged mortar from the joints between bricks and replacing it with new mortar. The bricks themselves stay in place. This is what you need when the mortar is crumbling, cracked, or missing, but the brick is still solid.
Replacing brick means removing damaged bricks and installing new ones. You need this when bricks are cracked, spalling (flaking apart), or so deteriorated that repointing won’t help. Sometimes water damage or structural movement breaks the brick itself, and mortar work alone won’t fix it.
Most masonry repairs involve repointing. It’s less invasive, costs less, and solves the problem when caught early. But if you wait too long and the brick starts failing, you’re looking at replacement. That’s why catching mortar issues early saves money. Once water gets behind the brick and starts the freeze-thaw cycle, damage accelerates fast.
It depends on the project. Small repairs like repointing or patching usually don’t require a permit. Larger structural work—building a new retaining wall over a certain height, adding a chimney, or constructing a new outdoor fireplace—typically does.
Montclair has specific building codes, and Essex County has requirements that apply to structural masonry. We handle the permit process as part of the job. You don’t need to figure out what’s required or stand in line at the building department. We know what needs approval and what doesn’t.
Working without permits when they’re required creates problems down the line. If you ever sell your home, unpermitted work can hold up the sale or force you to tear it out and redo it. We pull permits when needed, follow code, and make sure inspections are scheduled and passed. You get work that’s legal, safe, and won’t come back to bite you later.
Look for visible cracks in the brick or mortar, white staining (efflorescence) on the exterior, pieces of brick or mortar in your yard, or a chimney that’s leaning. Inside, water stains on the ceiling near the fireplace or a musty smell are signs of chimney leaks.
If you’re seeing any of those, your chimney needs attention. Chimneys take a beating from weather because they’re fully exposed and built tall. Freeze-thaw cycles crack mortar, water gets in, and damage spreads fast. A small crack this year becomes a major structural issue next year.
Chimney problems don’t fix themselves, and they’re not cosmetic. A damaged chimney can let carbon monoxide into your home, cause fires, or collapse entirely. If you’re not sure about the condition, we’ll come look at it and tell you what’s actually wrong. Sometimes it’s a simple fix. Sometimes it’s not. Either way, you’ll know what you’re dealing with.
It depends on the temperature. Mortar needs to cure properly, and that requires temperatures above freezing—ideally above 40°F—for several days after installation. If it’s too cold, the mortar won’t set correctly, and you’ll end up with weak joints that fail prematurely.
We can work in cooler weather using additives and protective measures, but there’s a limit. Deep winter days when it’s below freezing all day and night aren’t ideal for masonry work. We’re not going to schedule a job in January and hope for the best.
Spring and fall are the best times for masonry projects in New Jersey. Temperatures are stable, and mortar cures correctly. If you need emergency repairs in winter—like a chimney issue that’s letting water in—we can handle it with the right precautions. But for planned projects, timing matters. We’ll tell you honestly when it makes sense to schedule the work and when it’s better to wait a few weeks.
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