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Legendary Masonry Spokane provides commercial brick masonry in Spokane, WA for offices, retail centers, schools, and multifamily projects. Our crews build straight, plumb brick walls and veneers that meet plans and specs, coordinate with other trades, and deliver a professional appearance that lasts.
Legendary Masonry Spokane provides professional commercial brick masonry throughout Spokane, WA, Washington and the surrounding area. Our licensed, insured crew delivers safe, clean, on-time work with a free estimate before anything begins. Call 509-250-8836 or request your free quote.
Commercial brick masonry for Spokane properties that need to last
Commercial brick masonry is different from residential work because the building has to handle more traffic, stricter codes, and higher visibility. At Legendary Masonry Spokane, we treat every commercial brick project as a structural and business investment, not just a facade. Whether you are a property manager on North Division, a contractor building on the West Plains, or an owner rehabbing a small storefront on Sprague, the process starts with the building’s use and the way Spokane’s weather will hit it over time.
We begin with a site walk and blueprint review. We look at footing locations, structural support, expansion joint layout, and how the brick veneer or structural brick will tie back to the framing or concrete. Spokane’s freeze and thaw cycles are tough on masonry, so we pay special attention to water management and movement. This includes flashing details, through-wall flashing at windows and parapets, weep vents at the base of walls, and planned expansion joints so the brick can move slightly without cracking.
For commercial work we typically use modular or utility brick, depending on the scale of the building. Utility units speed up production on larger walls, which can cut your labor time and staging costs. Face brick is chosen for color, texture, and absorption rate. For Spokane, we prefer medium to low absorption brick with a proven track record in cold climates, which limits the risk of spalling when temperatures drop below freezing.
How our commercial brick projects actually get built
Once design and specs are set, Legendary Masonry Spokane sequences the work around your schedule and other trades on site. We coordinate staging areas for brick pallets, sand, and mortar, and establish scaffold lines that keep walkways and entries clear. On occupied properties, like working retail centers or medical offices, we phase the work so access remains open and safety fencing and signage stay clear and predictable for tenants and customers.
The build itself follows a disciplined routine. We set control lines, snap layout, and build leads (corner guides) to ensure the wall runs straight and true. Wall ties or anchors are installed at the spacing required by code and the project engineer, usually 16 inches on center vertically and horizontally for veneers, so the brick and backup wall act as a system in high wind or seismic events. We mix mortar to the specified type (often Type N for veneers and Type S where higher strength is needed) and control water content so the joints cure properly in Spokane’s sometimes dry, sometimes damp conditions.
Lift heights are managed so the wall does not slump, typically around 4 to 5 feet per lift, and tooling is done when the mortar is thumbprint hard, not too wet and not too dry. This produces tight joints that shed water instead of soaking it in. We cover fresh work with breathable tarps during cold snaps or rain to protect against washout, rapid freezing, and uneven curing. On winter projects, we may use heated enclosures and warm water in the mortar mix to keep temperatures in the safe range, which is crucial for long term bond strength.
Design, brick options, and finishes that fit Spokane businesses
Commercial brick masonry is as much about image as it is about structure. A medical office in the Valley does not need the same look as a brewery in Kendall Yards or a warehouse on the West Plains. Legendary Masonry Spokane works with you and your architect to choose brick size, color blends, and patterns that match your brand and neighborhood.
Common patterns include running bond for clean, efficient walls, stack bond for modern storefronts, and accent bands or soldier courses at window heads and sills. We can blend multiple brick colors or textures to break up large walls, which is useful for big box style buildings or long retail strips. Thin brick systems can also be used in some commercial interiors, like lobbies or restaurants, where weight and wall thickness are limited but you still want a true brick surface.
Joint style makes a big difference. A concave or V joint is usually best for exterior Spokane walls because it compacts the mortar and sheds water. Raked joints may look sharp on modern projects but they can hold moisture if used extensively on exposed walls, so we reserve them for protected areas. We also talk through sealing options. Many commercial brick walls perform best without sealers, relying on good detailing instead, but in some high exposure areas, like wind-driven rain on west facing elevations, a breathable masonry sealer can help control staining and efflorescence.
What affects cost and schedule for commercial brick masonry in Spokane
Commercial brick masonry cost is driven by several concrete factors, not just square footage. Wall height, access, and layout complexity all matter. A straightforward one story retail strip with easy forklift access to the walls will cost less per square foot than a three story hotel with limited staging space in downtown Spokane. Corners, window openings, and decorative bands all add layout and cutting time, so a heavily articulated design will carry more labor cost.
Material choices have a direct impact as well. Imported or custom blended brick, specialty shapes for arches or curved walls, and proprietary thin brick systems all cost more than standard modular units. Mortar color changes can also increase cost because they require careful cleanup and sometimes separate mixing setups to avoid cross contamination. We will walk you through the price difference between options at the estimate stage so you know where your budget is going.
Weather and season matter in our region. In late fall and winter, cold weather protection and shorter daylight hours can lengthen the schedule and add costs for tenting, heating, and additional labor coordination. During peak construction season in Spokane, lead times for certain bricks can run several weeks. Legendary Masonry Spokane fronts this information to general contractors and owners, building realistic timelines that align with inspections, interior buildout, and tenant move-in dates.
Common brick problems on commercial buildings and how we handle them
Many of our commercial brick projects in Spokane are not just new builds. We also repair and upgrade older masonry that has started to show its age. Frequent issues include step cracking around windows, spalled brick faces, loose parapet caps, and bulging veneers where original ties have corroded or were never installed correctly. Before we touch a wall, we assess whether the issue is cosmetic, structural, or moisture driven.
For cracking and displacement, we may open test areas to inspect the backup wall and ties. Repairs can involve grinding out failing joints, installing new helical or mechanical anchors back into the structural framing, and then repointing (tuckpointing) with a compatible mortar. This work stabilizes the veneer without tearing down large sections of wall, which is important when a business needs to stay open during repairs. Where bricks have spalled from decades of freeze and thaw or de-icing chemicals, we remove and replace individual units with matching or closely compatible brick so the repair blends with the existing field.
Water problems get special attention in Spokane’s climate. We check flashing details at window heads, shelf angles, and parapets, look for blocked or missing weeps, and identify mortar joints that have lost their seal. Legendary Masonry Spokane then corrects the water path, not just the visible damage. That might mean adding new through wall flashing with end dams, opening clogged weeps, and repointing in targeted areas. For owners, this approach extends the life of the entire facade and reduces future maintenance costs, instead of chasing leaks one stain at a time.
