I have been on both sides of the masonry quote, hiring subs for my projects and watching homeowners try to compare bids on their own. The homeowners almost always make the same mistake: they hand each contractor a vague description, get back three numbers that are miles apart, and then choose based on price alone. You cannot get comparable quotes from non-comparable information. Here is how I get numbers I can actually trust.
Write the scope before you call anyone
The single biggest improvement you can make is to give every contractor the identical written scope. If you describe the job differently to each one, or leave them to guess, they will each price a slightly different project and the bids become impossible to compare. Write down what you want done, the materials if you have a preference, and the finish you expect, then hand that same document to everyone.
Insist on itemized bids
A one-line “masonry work: $9,500” tells you nothing. Ask every bidder to break the number into at least:
- Labor
- Materials (with the specific brick, block, or stone named)
- Demolition and disposal
- Site work: footings, excavation, drainage
- Anything excluded
The itemization is where the real differences show up. Two bids $3,000 apart often turn out to be pricing different footing depths or one including drainage the other left out, the hidden factors I lay out in what drives the cost of a masonry project.
Verify the basics before the price
Before I compare a single number, I confirm each contractor is licensed where required, carries liability insurance and workers’ comp, and can show me recent local work of the same type. A cheap bid from an uninsured contractor is not cheap; if someone is hurt on your property or the work fails, you inherit the problem. The Mason Contractors Association of America offers guidance on vetting and hiring qualified masons at the Mason Contractors Association of America.
Red flags in a quote
A few things make me walk away: a large deposit demanded up front (a reasonable schedule ties payments to progress), a quote far below the others (it is winning by leaving something out), pressure to decide today, and reluctance to put the scope in writing. Get at least three bids, compare the itemized scopes rather than the totals, and the right choice usually becomes obvious. The goal is not the lowest number; it is the most complete work at a fair price.
Questions to ask on the site visit
The bid you get is only as good as the conversation on the walk-around, and a few pointed questions separate the pros from the order-takers. I always ask how deep the footing will go and why, because the answer reveals whether they are thinking about frost and soil or just quoting a number. I ask what mortar or mix they will use and, on old brick, whether it is lime-based, a blank look there is disqualifying. I ask how they will handle drainage on any wall that retains soil, and where the water will actually go. I ask who does the work, the person quoting or a crew or a sub, and who I will call if something goes wrong in two years. And I ask for two or three local references on the same kind of job, then actually call them. A contractor who answers these easily and specifically is showing you how they think; one who waves them off or gets defensive is telling you something too. The site visit is your best chance to judge competence before any money changes hands.
Frequently asked questions
How many masonry quotes should I get? At least three. Fewer than that and you have no baseline to judge whether a number is fair; more than about four tends to add confusion without much new information. Give all of them the same written scope so the bids are comparable.
What should a good masonry quote include? An itemized breakdown of labor, named materials, demolition and disposal, and site work like footings and drainage, plus a clear list of exclusions and a payment schedule tied to progress. A single lump sum with no detail makes real comparison impossible.
Should I always choose the lowest masonry bid? No. The lowest bid usually wins by omitting something, often structural work you cannot see, like footing depth or drainage. Compare the itemized scopes, verify licensing and insurance, and choose the most complete work at a fair price rather than the smallest number. Ask what goes under the wall as well as what shows above it: an Austin masonry contractor working expansive clay should have footing depth on the bid, not just square footage.