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Our team installs high performing brick veneers in Lincoln, NE for siding, accents, and full facades. We provide thin brick systems that deliver the look of full brick with less weight and easier installation.
Superior Masonry Lincoln provides professional brick veneers throughout Lincoln, NE, Nebraska and the surrounding area. Our licensed, insured crew delivers safe, clean, on-time work with a free estimate before anything begins. Call (402) 413-7465 or request your free quote.
Brick veneers tailored to Lincoln homes and weather
Brick veneers give you the look and feel of real brick without rebuilding your walls, which makes them a smart option for many homes and small commercial buildings around Lincoln. Between older bungalows near the Historic Haymarket, ranch homes from the 60s and 70s, and newer developments on the edges of town, the existing wall construction and condition can vary a lot. Superior Masonry Lincoln starts each brick veneer project with a close look at your current siding, framing, and foundation so the veneer is not just attractive, but properly supported and detailed for our freeze-thaw cycles.
A brick veneer is a single layer of brick or thin brick units installed on the outside of a structural wall. The structure itself can be wood framing, concrete block, or poured concrete, which is common in basements around Lincoln. We anchor the veneer to that structure using corrosion-resistant ties and fasteners, then include a drainage space so water that gets behind the brick has a way out. Done correctly, brick veneers hold up well in Nebraska’s hot summers, heavy rains, and winter temperature swings, and they do it without adding unnecessary load to your foundation.
Superior Masonry Lincoln helps you compare full-depth brick veneer to thin brick systems. Full-depth brick uses standard bricks set on a brick ledge or footing. Thin brick uses slices of brick that can be installed where there is no existing brick ledge. Which one makes sense for you depends on your current wall, budget, and how much thickness you can add without messing up roof overhangs, window trim, or property line setbacks.
How our brick veneer installation process actually works
Our work on brick veneers follows a clear sequence so there are no surprises and so you can see progress day by day.
1. Site visit and wall assessment: We measure all elevations and check how plumb the walls are, what the current siding is, and whether there is a brick ledge or not. On many Lincoln houses with vinyl or older wood lap siding, we verify that the sheathing is sound and that there is no hidden moisture or rot before adding weight to the wall.
2. Design and layout decisions: We work with you to select brick type, color blend, and joint style. On older Lincoln neighborhoods, many homeowners want veneers that coordinate with existing clay brick on front steps or chimneys, so we bring sample boards of locally available brick lines and blends. We also talk through details like corner returns, soldier courses over windows, and whether you want brick window sills or to keep existing trim.
3. Substrate prep and moisture control: For framed walls, we remove existing siding as needed and install a code-approved weather-resistive barrier, flashing at windows and doors, and weep screeds or base flashing. For basements or concrete walls, we clean the surface, address any efflorescence or loose material, and install the appropriate drainage plane if a veneer system requires it. Proper flashing and weeps are critical in Lincoln’s storm seasons to prevent water from getting trapped behind the brick and freezing.
4. Anchors and support: If your house has a concrete foundation with a brick ledge, we clean and prepare it for new veneer. If it does not, and full-depth brick is requested, we discuss adding a new ledge or using a structural angle iron where feasible. For thin brick, we install the manufacturer-specified backer, lath, and mortar scratch coat, then embed corrosion-resistant anchors or fasteners at the right spacing.
5. Laying the brick veneer: We snap chalk lines for each course so the brick runs true even if the old wall is a little out of level, which is common in 1950s and 1960s homes. We lay bricks in the chosen pattern, maintain consistent joint width, and constantly check for plumb and level. Around doors and windows, we cut bricks cleanly and align head joints to avoid a patchwork look.
6. Joint tooling and cleanup: Once the mortar firms up, we tool the joints to the specified profile, usually concave or flush for Lincoln weather, since both shed water well. We clean the face of the brick carefully so we do not burn the surface and leave it streaky. Finally, we inspect weep holes, flashing edges, and transitions to other materials like siding or stone to confirm they are open and properly sealed.
Brick veneer choices, patterns, and details that matter
With brick veneers, many of the most important decisions are not about the basic color, but about the combination of size, pattern, mortar color, and trim details. Superior Masonry Lincoln walks you through these because they directly affect the finished look and long-term performance.
Brick size and type: Common sizes used in our area include modular, queen, and utility bricks. Modular works well for most homes and keeps mortar joints consistent around existing windows. Queen bricks are taller and can make walls look a little more contemporary, which some Lincoln homeowners prefer for newer builds on the south and east sides of town. Thin brick options are available in matching sizes so you can use them on interior accent walls or chimney chases and still line up with exterior work.
Patterns and accents: Running bond is the standard, but small changes can make a big difference. We often add a soldier course above garage doors, a rowlock course at the base of the wall, or a contrasting band to break up tall elevations on walk-out basements. Corners can be done with full corner bricks or specially made thin brick corners, which keep the look of real brick returns instead of sharp cut edges.
Mortar color and joint profile: On Lincoln’s more traditional houses, a light gray mortar with a concave joint often blends well with existing work in the neighborhood. For darker bricks, we may suggest a colored mortar to avoid a checkerboard effect. Joint profile is also practical. Raked or very recessed joints tend to collect water and debris. We typically recommend concave or V joints for veneers exposed to strong wind-driven rain off the plains, because they compress the mortar and help shed water.
Transitions and caps: Where the brick veneer meets siding, stone, or foundation, we plan those lines on paper before we start. For example, if you want brick half walls with siding above, we set the brick height so it lines up with your interior floor or window sill lines for a more intentional look. At the top of garden walls or porch columns, we install stone or precast caps with slight slope and drip edges so water does not run down and stain the brick more than necessary.
What drives brick veneer cost in Lincoln and how to avoid surprises
Project budgets for brick veneers in Lincoln vary widely, even for houses that look similar from the street. Superior Masonry Lincoln is upfront about what affects cost so you can make informed choices before we start.
Wall condition and access: If your existing siding is failing, has rot, or there is little sheathing, we will need to repair that first. This costs more than installing veneer over a sound, flat wall. Access matters too. A flat front elevation with good driveway access is more efficient to scaffold than a steep lot behind a walk-out basement. Tight side yards found in many in-town neighborhoods can also slow work, especially if we have to stage materials carefully around air conditioners and existing plantings.
Type of veneer system: Full-depth brick with a new brick ledge is usually more material and labor than thin brick on a backer panel, but it offers higher durability and a more traditional appearance. Thin brick can be more cost-effective where we are working above roofs or on second and third stories, or where the foundation was never designed to hold the weight of full brick.
Detail complexity: Simple running bond with minimal trim details costs less than multi-color blends with accent bands, special shapes, and intricate patterns. Around entryways and garage doors, custom arches or keystones add cutting and layout time. We will price those options separately so you can decide which accents matter most.
Lincoln-specific factors: Winter conditions and rain can affect scheduling. Exterior veneer work needs the right temperature range for mortar to cure. If a project is done in late fall or early spring, we may need cold-weather protection like tenting or heated enclosures, which we discuss ahead of time. On some older Lincoln homes, past repairs or hidden issues in the foundation can appear once we remove old materials. We build a contingency plan into the proposal so you know how we will handle any surprises without stalling the job.
By reviewing all of this at the start, we keep change orders to a minimum. When they are unavoidable, such as uncovering significant sheathing damage, we document the issue with photos and options before you approve any extra work.
Local concerns, common problems, and why installation quality matters
Brick veneers in Nebraska need to handle hot sun, strong winds, and repeated freeze-thaw cycles. Many of the veneer problems we repair around Lincoln trace back to shortcuts in the original installation. Superior Masonry Lincoln focuses on details that keep you from facing the same issues again.
Water management: One of the biggest problems we see is veneers without proper weep holes or flashing. Water that gets behind the brick has nowhere to go, so it sits, freezes, and breaks down mortar and sometimes the sheathing behind it. We install weep vents at the base of the wall and above openings, and we tie in metal or flexible flashing that directs water out to the exterior face. Around concrete stoops and driveways, we pay special attention so that expansion and settlement do not pinch off those drainage paths.
Efflorescence and staining: White staining (efflorescence) on brick veneers is common but avoidable. We reduce it by using the right mortar mix, keeping bricks dry before installation, and allowing walls to drain and breathe. If your existing veneer has efflorescence, we evaluate whether it is a surface issue or a sign of ongoing moisture problems so we address both the appearance and the cause.
Movement and cracking: Lincoln soils can shrink and swell, and some neighborhoods have more movement than others. Small hairline cracks in mortar joints are often cosmetic, but stepped or wider cracks usually point to stress. When we install new veneers, we place control and expansion joints where needed so normal building movement is absorbed without random cracking across the face of the wall.
Tying into older structures: Many local projects involve adding brick veneers to houses from the mid 1900s that were never designed for it. We make sure anchors are secured to actual framing or masonry, not just thin sheathing. On basements that are partially below grade, we detail the transition between veneer and foundation waterproofing so you are not trading one moisture problem for another.
By focusing on these local realities instead of a one-size-fits-all approach, Superior Masonry Lincoln installs brick veneers that look right on day one and continue to perform through Lincoln’s changing seasons.
