Masonry bids that hold up
when the walls go up.
Masonry is one of those trades where the gap between a careful estimate and a rushed one shows up fast in waste on site, in short deliveries, in mortar ratios that don't stretch as far as expected. At Remarkable Estimating, we count every unit, every bag, every lineal foot of reinforcement before you commit to a number. Because fixing a masonry estimate after the job starts isn't really an option.
What Is Masonry Estimating?
Masonry estimating is the process of counting brick, block and stone units wall by wall, calculating mortar and grout from the specified joint and core sizes, and pricing the reinforcement, ties, lintels, accessories, scaffolding and labor needed to build the masonry. A masonry takeoff is the quantity part of that work; the estimate adds pricing.
Remarkable Estimating Services, LLC, based in Hawthorne, California, prepares masonry takeoffs and cost estimates for masonry contractors, general contractors, developers and owners in all 50 states. We work remotely from your architectural and structural drawings and Division 04 specifications and deliver an itemized Excel or PDF estimate, typically within 48–72 hours. We are an estimating firm: we do not perform masonry work.
Foundations and slabs are covered in concrete estimating. For the whole building, see our full-project cost estimating and quantity takeoffs.
Why Masonry Estimates Are Harder to Get Right Than Most People Think
Brick, block, and stone seem straightforward you count the units and price the labor. But masonry estimating has more moving parts than most trades give it credit for. Mortar waste varies by joint width and mason experience. Brick coursing changes around openings, corners, and bond beam locations. CMU walls with grout and rebar are a completely different cost calculation than unfilled block. Decorative stone has lead times and regional availability issues that affect both price and schedule.
Most masonry bid errors trace back to one of three things: unit counts that didn't account for cuts and waste properly, mortar quantities based on a rule of thumb instead of the actual joint size in the spec, or labor rates that don't reflect how long the specific bond pattern or stone type actually takes to lay.
We work through all of it from your drawings wall by wall, opening by opening, material by material so the number you submit is one you can stand behind when the masonry crew shows up.
Masonry looks like a simple count until you're on site ordering a second delivery because the first one ran short, or explaining to a client why the decorative stone didn't come in on budget. We'd rather catch those problems at the takeoff stage, not after the scaffold is up.
What Our Masonry Estimating Services Actually Include
A complete masonry estimate isn't just a unit count and a labor rate. It covers the full scope of materials, installation methods, accessories, and regional pricing that determines what the work actually costs to build. Here's everything we include in our masonry takeoffs.
Our Masonry Takeoffs Include
- Brick masonry face brick, common brick, veneer, and structural applications
- Concrete masonry units (CMU) standard block, filled and grouted block, bond beam, lintel block
- Glass block and specialty unit masonry
- Natural stone granite, limestone, marble, sandstone, soapstone, and fieldstone
- Cast stone and architectural precast masonry elements
- Terra cotta and decorative masonry finishes
- Stone cladding and veneer systems anchored and adhered
- Structural masonry walls load-bearing block and reinforced masonry
- Mortar and grout quantities calculated by joint size, not assumed by rule
- Masonry reinforcement horizontal joint reinforcing, vertical rebar, ties, and anchors
- Lintels, sills, and masonry arches
- Chimneys, fireplaces, and decorative masonry features
- Masonry insulation cavity fill, rigid insulation in CMU cores
- Waterproofing, sealers, and surface treatments
- Scaffolding and equipment allowances
- Labor hours by masonry type, bond pattern, and installation complexity
Every material type, every wall condition, every accessory item counted from your drawings, not estimated from square footage.
How Our Masonry Estimating Process Works
From the time your drawings arrive to the time you have a finished, submission-ready estimate here's exactly what we do and in what order.
You send us your project documents
Architectural drawings, structural plans, masonry specs, and any material schedules or product submittals you have. The more complete the package, the more precise the estimate. If we spot missing information before we start a spec section that doesn't match the drawings, a material called out without a size we'll flag it rather than assume our way through it.
PDF, CAD, Bluebeam all formats accepted
We read the masonry spec before we touch the drawings
Masonry specifications tell us things the drawings don't joint width, mortar type, coursing requirements, acceptable waste thresholds, grout mix design. These details directly affect material quantities and labor productivity. A mason laying a running bond in standard modular brick works at a completely different rate than one laying a Flemish bond in oversized antique brick. We account for that before a single wall gets measured.
Spec-first approach not just drawing takeoff
Wall-by-wall digital takeoff cuts, openings, and coursing included
Using PlanSwift or Bluebeam Revu, we measure every wall face by wall type. Openings get deducted properly. Corner conditions, pilasters, and returns get measured as the extra units they actually require. Walls with mixed masonry types say, CMU backup with brick veneer get broken out separately so labor and material don't get blended into a number that doesn't hold up on site.
Digital precision no eyeballing, no scaling
Pricing that reflects your actual market
Brick prices in the Northeast, stone availability in the Mountain West, block costs in Texas they're all different conversations. We price using RSMeans data updated quarterly, cross-referenced with regional supplier pricing wherever we can source it. Labor rates reflect local union and open-shop conditions as applicable. If your project requires prevailing wages, those rates are used for labor; see our labor cost estimating guide.
Zip-code pricing not national averages
Missed-item review, then clean delivery
Before your estimate leaves our hands, we review every quantity and cost line. Masonry estimates are prone to accessory omissions ties and anchors, joint reinforcing, lintels, weep holes items that seem minor but add up fast on a large wall assembly. We catch those before they become field surprises. Delivery is a clean Excel or PDF: itemized quantities, unit costs, totals, scope notes, and exclusions list.
Delivered 48–72 hrs · Rush available
Types of Masonry Projects We Estimate
Whether it's a brick fireplace in a custom home or a reinforced CMU perimeter wall on a large distribution center the rigor we bring to the estimate doesn't change with the project size.
Residential Masonry Estimating
Brick veneer exteriors, stone accent walls, decorative chimneys, block foundations, retaining walls, garden walls, fireplaces and fire pits residential masonry comes in a lot of forms. We give homeowners and contractors precise material and labor breakdowns so projects start with a realistic budget, not a number someone put together over the phone. No padding, no vague allowances.
Commercial Masonry Estimating
Schools, hospitals, office buildings, retail centers, parking structures commercial masonry scopes are large, specification-heavy, and unforgiving on budget. Structural CMU systems, brick curtain walls, stone facade systems, and precast masonry elements all require different approaches to takeoff and pricing. We handle the full scope, priced to your project location, with a deliverable formatted for professional bid submission.
Industrial Masonry Estimating
Factories, warehouses, manufacturing plants, and utility facilities often rely on heavy-duty CMU or reinforced masonry for fire separation, blast resistance, or load-bearing applications. These specs come with tight tolerances and materials that aren't always locally stocked. We understand industrial masonry requirements and price them with the specificity the work demands not as a line-item approximation.
Why Masonry Contractors Choose Remarkable Estimating
Here's what working with us looks like in practice not just what we say we do.
We Count Every Unit Including the Cuts
Corners, returns, openings, pilasters these are where masonry estimates fall short most often. A wall that looks like a simple rectangle on a plan has a lot of extra units once you account for corner conditions and head/jamb cuts around windows. We measure all of it. The estimate reflects what actually gets ordered and installed, not just the flat face area.
Mortar and Grout Calculated, Not Assumed
Joint size, mortar type, and grout mix all directly affect how far your materials go. We calculate mortar quantities from the actual joint dimensions in your specification not from a generic bags-per-hundred-units rule that was written for a different job. Same with grout in filled CMU: we calculate by core size and fill percentage, not as a flat markup.
Material Pricing That Reflects Availability in Your Region
Brick and stone pricing varies dramatically across the US not just by region, but by specific material type and local supplier availability. Natural stone sourced in the Southeast is priced very differently than the same material spec'd for a project in the Pacific Northwest. We use current market pricing for your zip code, not a number someone averaged across the country.
Accessory Items Don't Get Left Off
Joint reinforcing, ties and anchors, lintels, expansion joint materials, weep holes, flashing these accessories are easy to skip in a fast estimate and expensive to discover on site. We include them as separate line items so you know exactly what's covered and what the client or GC needs to account for on their side.
48–72 Hour Turnaround Tight Deadlines Included
Masonry scopes are often part of larger bid packages with fixed submission dates. Standard turnaround is 48–72 hours. Rush delivery is available for tighter windows; just let us know when you send your documents.
Flat Project Pricing No Hidden Fees
You know what the estimate costs before we start. No retainers, no revision charges for reasonable scope questions, no monthly subscriptions. One project, one quote, delivered upfront. Your drawings and project documents stay confidential we don't share client information with anyone.
Related Trade Estimating
Get a Free Masonry & Brickwork Estimate
Send us your drawings and we'll come back with a clear scope, a realistic turnaround, and a quote for the estimate, usually within 24 hours. Want to see our work first? Ask for a free sample estimate.
Prefer to send plans directly? Email info@remarkableestimating.com or call (424) 441-4101.
Masonry Estimating Services Across All 50 States
We're based in Hawthorne, California, and work remotely with masonry contractors, general contractors, developers, and owners across the entire United States from large commercial masonry scopes in New York and California to residential brick and stone work in the Southeast and Midwest. Wherever your project is, you get the same level of detail and pricing that actually reflects your local market. Hover over your state below.
Masonry & Brickwork Estimating FAQs
What does a masonry & brickwork estimate include?
How fast will I receive my masonry & brickwork estimate?
What pricing data and deliverables do you use?
Can I see a free sample before sending a real project?
What documents do you need for a masonry estimate?
Do you calculate mortar and grout separately?
How much does a masonry estimate cost?
Does Remarkable Estimating perform masonry work?
Got a masonry project to bid? Let's get the numbers right.
Send us your drawings and spec documents. We'll come back with an itemized takeoff, a clear scope, and a quote for the estimate before you commit to anything. Want to see what our work looks like first? Ask for a free sample estimate.
Mon – Fri, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM Pacific · Rush turnaround available