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We deliver commercial brick masonry in Allentown, PA for office buildings, retail centers, schools, and multifamily projects. Our team follows project specifications, safety standards, and schedules while constructing durable brick walls, veneers, and architectural details that meet demanding commercial performance and appearance requirements.
Legendary Masonry Allentown provides professional commercial brick masonry throughout Allentown, PA, Pennsylvania and the surrounding area. Our licensed, insured crew delivers safe, clean, on-time work with a free estimate before anything begins. Call 484-284-5120 or request your free quote.
Commercial Brick Masonry for Allentown Businesses
Legendary Masonry Allentown focuses on commercial brick masonry that is tailored to the way buildings are actually built and used in Allentown, PA. From downtown storefronts along Hamilton Street to light industrial properties and medical offices, we understand how local zoning, pedestrian traffic, and weather exposure affect brick design and performance.
When you call us, we start by asking how your building is used. A restaurant or brewery needs durable, easy to clean brick surfaces and grease resistant mortar joints. An office building or bank needs a clean, professional facade that meets brand standards. Warehouses in older brick structures around Allentown’s former industrial corridors often need structural assessment before any cosmetic work is done. This use driven approach helps us recommend the right brick type, wall thickness, and flashing details for your specific property.
We are familiar with Allentown’s building department requirements, accessibility rules, and common inspection items for commercial brick work. That includes control joint placement to manage cracking, through wall flashing at parapets and above windows, proper weep vents to let moisture escape, and reinforcement details when walls carry structural loads. Our goal is to build or restore brickwork that not only looks good on opening day but also passes inspection and holds up to decades of Pennsylvania freeze and thaw cycles.
How Our Commercial Brick Masonry Process Works
Our process is built around reducing disruption to your business while getting the technical details right.
1. Site assessment and documentation: A Legendary Masonry Allentown estimator visits your property, reviews any existing drawings, and walks the building with you. We check wall movement, existing cracks, spalled bricks, mortar condition, and water entry points. For older buildings, we often core sample or probe joints to match existing mortar hardness.
2. Design and specifications: For new work or significant alterations, we coordinate with your architect or engineer. If you do not have one, we can work from photographs, material samples, and practical needs to recommend brick size, color range, bond pattern, joint profile, and reinforcement. For example, retail facades along high traffic streets might use a harder face brick and a flush or slightly tooled joint to resist dirt buildup.
3. Scheduling around operations: Commercial projects in Allentown often need phasing to keep doors open. We plan work zones, dust control, and safe access routes for staff and customers. On multi story work, we design scaffold layout so that entrances remain usable when possible.
4. Preparation: Before laying any new brick, we set up protection for windows, signage, and landscaping. On repairs, we carefully remove damaged brick with hand tools, not just hammers, to avoid shock damage to adjacent units. At this stage we also install or repair flashing, drip edges, and backup waterproofing that will be concealed once the brick is laid.
5. Bricklaying and quality control: Our masons follow a layout plan that establishes bond pattern, alignment with existing courses, and control joint locations. Mortar is batched to consistent color and workability, then joints are tooled at the right set time to achieve uniform appearance and weather resistance. A foreman checks coursing, plumb, and level throughout the day, not after the wall is finished.
6. Cleanup and final review: We perform gentle cleaning using detergents approved for masonry, not harsh acids that can burn the brick face. Together we walk the project, verify joint consistency, check for any small touch ups, and review maintenance tips so your brickwork continues to perform.
Brick and Mortar Options for Commercial Projects
Commercial properties in Allentown often need brick that is both attractive and resilient. Legendary Masonry Allentown helps you choose materials that hold up to Pennsylvania winters, deicing salts, and local air quality.
Brick types: We commonly use modular face brick for office and retail fronts, engineer brick for areas with higher load or moisture exposure, and thin brick veneer for interior feature walls or where structure cannot support full depth masonry. If your building is in a historic area or part of an older mill or warehouse conversion, we can source tumbled or reclaimed look brick that visually matches existing masonry.
Mortar selection: For modern commercial construction, we frequently use Type N or Type S mortar depending on structural requirements and exposure. On historic restorations, we avoid overly hard mortars that can damage soft old brick. We test existing mortar where needed, then design a compatible mix so repairs blend in and allow the wall to move correctly.
Bond patterns and aesthetics: Commercial projects often use running bond for efficiency, but we can introduce soldier courses above windows, rowlock sills, or accent bands with contrasting brick or stone. For multi tenant buildings, we sometimes vary brick color or joint profile between storefronts to visually separate businesses while keeping a unified facade.
Performance details: For parapet walls, sign bands, and areas that see standing water or snow, we often recommend solid units or proper capping with continuous flashing and weeps. Along sidewalks where salt is used, we choose bricks rated for severe weathering and design joint details that limit salt intrusion. These choices are not decorative only. They directly influence how long your investment will last before repairs are needed.
Common Commercial Brick Problems in Allentown and How We Fix Them
Allentown’s temperature swings and snow loads can be tough on commercial brick buildings. Legendary Masonry Allentown is often called in when owners notice cracks, bowing walls, water stains, or bricks flaking apart.
Cracking and movement: Vertical cracks at window corners or long horizontal cracks along floor lines usually indicate structural movement or poor joint placement. We start by identifying whether the issue is cosmetic or structural. Repairs might involve installing or relocating control joints, stitching cracks with helical bars, or coordinating with an engineer if interior structure has shifted.
Spalling and flaking: Spalled bricks are common where old sealers trapped moisture, at parapets without proper caps, or near grade where snow piles up. We remove damaged units, check for rusting embedded steel, improve drainage or flashing, then install replacement brick and compatible mortar. Where many bricks are failing, we may recommend facade resurfacing or partial wall rebuild instead of endless patching.
Water intrusion: Efflorescence (white staining), damp interior walls, or bubbling paint often indicate that water is moving through the brick or joints. We look for missing flashing, clogged or absent weep holes, deteriorated sealant at windows, and hairline mortar cracks. Solutions can include repointing, adding or repairing flashings, opening or creating weeps, and addressing adjacent roof or gutter issues that dump water onto walls.
Historic and older buildings: Many commercial properties in Allentown date from the early to mid 1900s, with multi wythe brick walls that behave differently than modern cavity walls. We repair these with soft, breathable mortars and avoid sealing treatments that trap moisture. On these structures, our focus is often on stabilizing and maintaining, not forcing them to behave like new construction.
What Affects the Cost of Commercial Brick Masonry
Every commercial brick project is unique, but several predictable factors drive cost. Understanding these helps Allentown property owners budget realistically and compare bids fairly.
Access and height: A single story storefront in West End Allentown with clear ground access will cost less per square foot than a multi story facade downtown that requires engineered scaffold, sidewalk protection, and staging around traffic. Corner buildings, tight alleys, and limited staging areas can add setup time and rental costs.
Scope of work: New construction brick veneer on a framed backup wall is generally more straightforward than complex restoration of a century old load bearing brick wall. Repointing narrow bands of mortar at selective locations is less expensive than deep cut and full repointing of an entire elevation. When we visit your site, we help you decide which areas are critical and which can be scheduled for later phases.
Material choices: Standard modular bricks in common colors are more economical than custom blends, glazed units, or special shapes for arches and detailed cornices. Similarly, specialty mortars, integral water repellents, and high performance flashing systems add cost but may reduce long term maintenance, especially on exposed facades and parapets.
Hidden conditions: Commercial brick jobs often uncover concealed issues, such as rotted sheathing behind veneer, rusted shelf angles, or failed lintels above windows and doors. In our proposals, Legendary Masonry Allentown clearly identifies allowances or unit prices for this type of work so you know ahead of time how changes will be handled.
Timeline and coordination: Accelerated schedules, night work, and coordination with other trades (such as glass installers or sign contractors) can influence cost. Working with us early in the planning process allows more efficient sequencing, which often saves money compared to last minute rush work.
Why Allentown Businesses Choose Legendary Masonry Allentown
Choosing a commercial brick masonry contractor is not just about the lowest number on a bid sheet. Allentown property owners tell us they value clear communication, respect for their tenants and customers, and work that stands up to real world use.
Legendary Masonry Allentown focuses on commercial needs from the first meeting. We provide written scopes that spell out brick types, mortar mix, joint profile, cleaning methods, flashing locations, and how we will protect your property and maintain access. For multi tenant buildings, we coordinate with your management team so tenants know when and where we will be working.
We are comfortable working on a range of commercial property types in the Allentown area, including medical offices, schools, churches, light industrial facilities, and retail plazas. Each use has its own demands. For example, schools and childcare centers require secure work zones and careful dust control. Restaurants need grease resistant masonry details around kitchen exhausts and back alley service areas. Offices and banks often require branded color palettes and strict schedules.
Our crews are trained in commercial safety practices, including scaffold safety, fall protection, and pedestrian traffic control. This protects everyone on site and helps prevent delays from safety violations. We also maintain relationships with local suppliers, which helps with timely deliveries of brick and mortar materials that match existing work.
If you are planning a new commercial build, renovating a facade, or correcting long standing brick problems on your Allentown property, you can reach out to Legendary Masonry Allentown for a site visit and detailed proposal. We will walk you through options, from cost conscious repairs to higher end upgrades, so you can choose the approach that fits your budget and long term plans for the building.
