Masonry questions, answered straight.

JS Masonry Inc is a licensed and insured masonry contractor that designs and builds complete outdoor living spaces — pool patios, outdoor kitchens, fireplaces, fire pits, seating walls and pergola or gazebo bases — and also builds and repairs chimneys, installs natural stone and brick veneer, lays brick and bluestone patios and walkways, constructs stone retaining walls, and performs stucco, repointing and masonry waterproofing. We serve both residential and commercial clients in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Maine. Residential and commercial masonry work is performed by our own crews — we do not subcontract the masonry itself. Founder Juliano has led the company since 2004 and oversees consultations and key stages of every project.

Outdoor living design is planning and building your backyard as one connected living area — patio or pool surround, outdoor kitchen, fireplace or fire pit, seating walls, lighting and a pergola or gazebo — rather than adding disconnected pieces over time. It is JS Masonry's specialty across Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Maine. We start with a layout of your property, plan grades and drainage before any stone is set, then build each element in natural stone, brick or bluestone so the whole space ages together and survives New England freeze-thaw cycles. • Pool patios and pool surrounds • Outdoor kitchens, grill stations and bars • Outdoor fireplaces, fire pits and pizza ovens • Pergola, gazebo and pavilion bases • Seating and retaining walls with integrated lighting

JS Masonry serves homeowners and businesses throughout Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Maine — including Greater Boston, MetroWest, the North Shore, the South Shore, Worcester County, Cape Cod, southern New Hampshire and the Providence and Newport areas. • Greater Boston — Boston, Newton, Brookline, Cambridge, Somerville • MetroWest — Framingham, Natick, Wellesley, Needham, Marlborough, Ashland • North Shore — Peabody, Danvers, Beverly, Salem, Andover • South Shore — Quincy, Braintree, Hingham, Plymouth • Worcester County and Cape Cod • New Hampshire — Nashua, Salem, Manchester, Portsmouth and southern NH • Rhode Island — Providence, Newport and surrounding towns • Maine

Yes. Alongside residential work, JS Masonry builds and restores commercial masonry and hardscaping — storefronts and facades, restaurant and hotel patios, stairs, walkways, retaining walls and property restoration — in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Maine.

Yes. License and insurance details are included with every written estimate.

Free estimate: on-site visit if needed, then your written estimate within 24 hours.

Sometimes, but the patio should be assessed before adding heavy masonry cabinets or counters. Pavers typically sit on a compacted aggregate base, which may not provide adequate support for concentrated loads. A masonry kitchen may need a separate concrete foundation or footings designed for its weight, soil conditions and frost exposure. Plan utility routes before construction, preserve drainage, and follow appliance instructions for ventilation and clearances from combustible materials. Check local requirements for foundations, gas, electrical and plumbing work.

Often, yes—if the brick is sound, firmly bonded and properly prepared. Paint, soot, sealers and loose mortar can prevent a reliable bond, so they must be addressed before installation. Some surfaces need an approved lath-and-mortar system rather than direct bonding. The veneer’s weight, supporting construction and added thickness also need evaluation. Keep required clearances to wood mantels and trim, and do not cover fireplace vents or access panels. Decorative veneer is not a substitute for firebrick inside the firebox. Follow the fireplace and veneer manufacturers’ instructions, check local requirements, and have a qualified professional assess the existing surround.

Yes. JS Masonry designs and builds wood-burning and gas outdoor fireplaces, chimneys, pizza ovens and fire pits with firebrick fireboxes, and can integrate them into a new or existing patio.

Yes. JS Masonry's patio service includes patio extensions, with attention to grading, drainage and compacted bases.

Yes. JS Masonry repairs and rebuilds foundation parging, block and stone foundation walls, bulkheads, and brick or granite steps and stoops.

Yes. We source brick, stone and mortar to match the color, texture, size and joint profile of your existing masonry so repairs and additions blend rather than stand out.

No. Most exterior masonry work requires no interior access, so you don't need to take time off. We confirm the plan up front and send progress updates.

Yes. We build natural stone, block and mortared retaining walls with engineered drainage, geogrid reinforcement where required, and proper batter so the wall holds its line for decades.

Every masonry task — chimney work, veneer, patios, fireplaces and restoration — is performed by JS Masonry's own trained crew, supervised directly by the owner.

When a project requires a building permit — most structural chimneys, fireplaces and larger retaining walls — JS Masonry pulls and manages the permit with your town's building department.

Yes. JS Masonry warrants its workmanship in writing, and manufacturer warranties on materials such as stone veneer, pavers and waterproofing products are passed through to the homeowner.

Both. JS Masonry repoints deteriorated joints, rebuilds the top courses, replaces crowns, caps and flashing, relines flues, and performs full top-down chimney rebuilds and new chimney construction.

Yes. We patch, re-coat and fully re-stucco walls and chimneys, correcting the underlying cracking or moisture cause before the new finish goes on.

Yes. A deposit secures your spot on the schedule and covers material ordering, with the balance tied to clearly defined project milestones in your written contract.

Yes. JS Masonry restores older New England masonry using soft, lime-based mortar mixes compatible with historic brick, which prevents the brick damage caused by modern high-Portland mortar.

Exposed chimneys, foundations and older brick benefit from a vapor-permeable masonry water repellent, which blocks liquid water while still letting the wall dry. Non-breathable sealers trap moisture and cause spalling, so we never use them.

Call (508) 816-6816 or submit the online estimate form. We'll discuss your project, visit in person if needed, then provide your free written estimate within 24 hours.

Common signs a chimney needs masonry repair are crumbling or missing mortar joints, spalling or flaking bricks, a cracked crown, white efflorescence staining, rust on the damper, water stains on ceilings near the chimney, and any visible lean. • Mortar you can scratch out with a screwdriver • Brick faces flaking, popping or shedding grit • Cracked or missing chimney crown or cap • Water stains on the ceiling or in the firebox • Loose or rusted flashing where the chimney meets the roof

We call to discuss your project and arrange an on-site visit only if needed. After that consultation, your written estimate follows within 24 hours.

A properly built brick or bluestone patio lasts 30 to 50 years or more in Massachusetts when installed over a compacted, well-drained base below frost depth with correctly set edge restraints.

Most residential masonry projects take 2 to 10 working days: a chimney crown or cap replacement is often 1-2 days, repointing 2-4 days, a patio 3-7 days, and a full chimney rebuild or large stone veneer facade 1-3 weeks.

JS Masonry has been building and restoring masonry in Massachusetts for over 20 years, with more than 1,000 completed projects since 2004.

Masonry cost depends on scope, access and material. In Massachusetts, chimney repointing typically starts in the low thousands, a full chimney rebuild is a mid-four-figure to five-figure project, and patios and stone veneer are priced by square foot, with on-site measurement if needed. We discuss scope, access, existing structure condition and drainage with you, and visit in person if needed. Your estimate is free, itemized and provided in writing within 24 hours after the consultation. • Scope and square footage of the work • Material selection — brick, bluestone, granite, natural or manufactured veneer, pavers • Condition of the existing structure and how much demolition is needed • Site access for materials, staging and scaffolding • Drainage, footings and frost-depth requirements

A Massachusetts masonry chimney typically needs repointing every 20 to 30 years, and sooner if it is exposed to heavy wind-driven rain or has previously been repaired with the wrong mortar mix.

Start with a soft-bristle brush and gentle rinsing, where water can drain safely. For stubborn dirt, use a cleaner approved for your specific stone and mortar, following its directions and testing a hidden spot first. Avoid wire brushes, abrasive tools, acidic cleaners and pressure washing unless the veneer manufacturer specifically permits them; these can damage stone faces or mortar joints. Indoors, protect nearby finishes and use minimal water. If stones are loose, joints are cracked or staining keeps returning, have the cause assessed before further cleaning.

Repointing is right when the bricks are sound and only the mortar has failed. A rebuild is required when bricks are spalling, the structure is leaning, or deterioration extends deeper than the outer joints — usually above the roofline first, in a partial rebuild.

Efflorescence is the white powdery deposit left when water travels through masonry and carries salts to the surface. The staining itself is cosmetic, but it signals that water is moving through the wall and should be investigated.

Natural stone veneer is quarried stone cut thin, offering unmatched depth and lifetime durability. Manufactured veneer is molded concrete that costs less and weighs less. Both are installed over a proper drainage plane, and JS Masonry installs either.

JS Masonry’s patio and walkway service offers bluestone, granite, brick and pavers. Available paver brands include Cambridge (ArmorTec), Unilock, Techo-Bloc and Belgard. Patios and walkways are planned around your property with attention to grading, drainage and compacted bases.

April through November is ideal for masonry in Massachusetts, because mortar needs temperatures consistently above 40°F to cure properly. We book spring and summer projects months in advance, so requesting an estimate early secures a better date.

Settling and heaving are caused by an inadequate base, poor drainage or insufficient compaction — water freezes below the surface and lifts the stone. JS Masonry excavates to the correct depth and compacts in lifts so freeze-thaw cycles cannot move the surface.

Chimney leaks almost always come from a cracked crown, failed flashing, missing cap, or porous brick and mortar absorbing water. JS Masonry diagnoses the actual entry point and repairs it, rather than sealing over the symptom.

Yes. We tarp landscaping and walkways, stage materials on protective boards, contain dust and debris daily, and leave the site broom-clean at the end of every workday.