Bricklaying and Masonry in Denver: Plan Your Repair

Define the repair before comparing contractors

Prepare photographs of the whole wall or chimney, the damaged area and the access route. Describe what you have noticed, including loose pieces, missing joints, cracking or water entering the house. Give the contractor any previous repair records. Ask them to explain what they propose to repair and what they need to investigate before giving a firm price.

Request separate descriptions for joint work, brick replacement and removal or rebuilding. Ask the contractor to mark the repair limits on a photograph or drawing. For a new masonry feature, describe its purpose, dimensions and proposed location. Request more detail if a proposal names only the trade and a total price.

If you see leaning masonry or loose material above a walkway, keep people away from the affected area and arrange an assessment. Ask whether the contractor needs a design professional to evaluate the work before pricing construction. Have them address your concern about stability before you approve cosmetic repairs.

Settle the Denver approval route

Denver issues quick permits for specified trade work without plan review, but the city excludes structural work from that route. Its quick-permit page also directs readers to the building code for exempt work. These statements do not establish whether your particular masonry repair needs a permit. Describe the scope to Community Planning and Development and ask for a project-specific answer. [1]

For general permitting questions, Denver lists 720-865-2720. Before signing, ask the contractor to identify who will submit applications, pay fees and arrange inspections. Include those responsibilities in the written proposal, together with any work that depends on city approval. [1]

Denver Landmark Preservation reviews exterior work requiring a zoning or building permit on individual landmarks and properties within historic districts. The city identifies separate guidelines and a separate review process for the Lower Downtown Historic District. Confirm the property's designation and applicable review before approving exterior material choices. [2]

Compare complete quotes

Request a written total with a clear description of labor, materials, equipment, debris removal and permit responsibilities. Have the contractor explain how they will choose the replacement brick and mortar, protect adjacent surfaces and obtain your approval of the appearance. Ask to see examples of comparable work and request evidence of insurance.

For work above ground level, have the contractor describe the access equipment and where they intend to place it. Denver identifies the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure as the issuer of permits for right-of-way use and street closures. If the proposal involves a public sidewalk, street or alley, ask the contractor to confirm the access requirements before scheduling delivery or setup. [1]

Use site-specific written quotes to set your budget. Ask each bidder to identify allowances, exclusions and the approval process for added work, including damage they discover after removing material. Compare those terms alongside the total. Have bidders explain differences in their proposed repair areas or methods before choosing a contractor.

Plan removal and weather protection before the start

For work requiring permits, Denver classifies removal of 40% or more of a structure's total exterior wall area as partial demolition under a demolition permit. The city includes removal below that threshold in the construction-permit scope without a separate demolition permit. Exemptions can apply: Denver lists demolition of a structure no larger than 200 square feet and no taller than 8 feet as exempt. Ask the city to confirm both exemption eligibility and permit classification for your proposed removal. [3]

For work following Denver's demolition-permit process, the city requires adjacent-owner notification 10 calendar days before demolition. Ask whether that process applies before accepting a start-date promise. Have the contractor include applicable notification, site preparation and approval steps in the schedule. [3]

The National Weather Service recorded 133 days with minimum temperatures at or below 32°F in Denver during 2025. Use that historical context to ask the contractor for a weather plan: the conditions they require for the proposed materials, how they will protect unfinished work and who decides to postpone. The annual count does not predict conditions on your job dates. [4]

Denver days with minimum temperatures at or below 32°F

Questions to settle before choosing a masonry proposal

Your hiring checklist

1. Photograph the affected masonry, surrounding surfaces and access route.
2. Describe observed damage and share previous repair records.
3. Ask for repair limits marked on a photograph or drawing.
4. Confirm permit, exemption and historic-review questions before setting a start date.
5. Request material details and a method for approving the finished appearance.
6. Compare access equipment, debris removal, exclusions and change-order terms.
7. Agree on weather protection, postponement decisions and a final walkthrough.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does a masonry repair qualify for a Denver quick permit?

Confirm the exact scope with the city. Denver allows quick permits only for specified work and excludes structural work. Its page refers readers to the building code for exempt work, so do not assume that a repair label establishes either eligibility or exemption. [1]

What should I check before repairing a historic exterior?

Confirm whether the property is a designated landmark or lies within a historic district. Denver Landmark Preservation reviews exterior work requiring a building or zoning permit on those properties. Ask about the applicable guidelines before approving exterior changes. [2]

Does removing part of an exterior wall require a separate demolition permit?

For work requiring permits, Denver places removal of 40% or more of a structure's total exterior wall area under a partial demolition permit. It includes removal below 40% in the construction-permit scope without a separate demolition permit. Exemptions can apply, including demolition of structures no larger than 200 square feet and no taller than 8 feet. Confirm your project's exemption eligibility and classification with Denver. [3]

How should I compare masonry prices?

Give bidders the same photographs and requested scope. Compare the total alongside material details, access arrangements, permit responsibilities, disposal and exclusions. Ask how they will price hidden damage and obtain your approval before adding work.