Tuckpointing and brick repair in Lakeview, since 2004.
Tuckpointing, lintels, chimneys and parapets on Chicago brick, from a crew of five.
Chicago Masonry Contractor License, A Card, #MC-4471. Insured for general liability and workers' compensation, certificate of insurance sent with every estimate.
Request an estimateWe work out of a garage at 3300 N Ashland and rarely go more than four miles from it. Marek Nowak's grandfather laid brick on the North Side in the 1950s, his father tuckpointed two-flats through the 80s and 90s, and Marek opened Lakeshore Masonry in 2004. The crew is five people, and the same five show up every day of your job, from the first grinding pass to the final acid wash.
What we do
Six things, done the way brick in this city needs them done. Anything else, we will tell you who to call.
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Tuckpointing and grinding
Joints ground out to a full three-quarter inch and repointed in Type N mortar. We do not skim new mortar over old.
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Lintel replacement
Rusted steel above windows and doors cut out and replaced with galvanized angle, brick reset the same day it comes off.
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Chimney rebuilds
Taken down to sound brick, rebuilt with a poured crown, a flue liner and a stainless cap. Most take two days.
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Parapet walls
Rebuilt from the roofline up with through-wall flashing and new limestone or clay coping, so the roof stops leaking at the wall.
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Brick and limestone restoration
Spalled Chicago common replaced from salvage and matched by hand. Limestone sills and bands cleaned and patched with color-matched repair mortar.
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Glass block
Basement and garden-unit windows set in mortar with a vent block, usually finished in one afternoon.
Before and after
Roscoe Village two-flat, west wall, May 2026
Ravenswood garage, rear wall rebuild, July 2026
Free written estimate
Marek walks the building with you, then you get an itemized estimate by email within the week. Work is scheduled April to November, because mortar needs steady temperatures to cure.
From Marek
My grandfather laid brick on Milwaukee Avenue. My father tuckpointed half the two-flats in Roscoe Village. I learned on his scaffold at fourteen and started this company in 2004 with one truck and a grinder.
We are five people and we do one job at a time. You will see me on your wall, not a subcontractor. If a joint is not ground deep enough, I will know, because I am the one who has to look at it when we drive past next year. We come back the following spring to check every job, and we do not charge for that.
Marek NowakOwner and third-generation mason, Lakeshore Masonry
What neighbors say
"Our parapet had been leaking into the top floor for three winters and two other companies wanted to tar over it. Marek showed me where the flashing had never been tied into the wall, rebuilt the parapet from the roof up, and put limestone coping back on. The ceiling has been dry since. The crew swept the gangway every night."
Anna K., Lincoln Park, May 2026, Google
"Six lintels on a four-flat, all rusted through and pushing the brick up. They did two window openings a day, reset the original brick, and matched the mortar color so well the tenants did not notice which windows had been done. The written estimate came two days after the walk-through and the final bill matched it."
Dave R., North Center, July 2026, Google
Read all reviews on Google"Chimney was shedding brick onto the neighbor's roof. Marek took it down to the roofline, rebuilt it in two days, and put in a liner and a cap the old one never had. He also pointed out a spalled sill on the front bay and fixed it without being asked to. Fair price, and they were done when they said they would be."
Priya S., Ravenswood, August 2026, Google
Where we work
The North Side neighborhoods within a short drive of the shop on Ashland. Close enough that Marek can stop by an estimate on the way home.
- LakeviewHome base, 60657
- Lincoln ParkGreystones and limestone fronts
- Roscoe VillageTwo-flats and brick bungalows
- North CenterFour-flats and courtyard buildings
- RavenswoodChimneys and garage walls
- Logan SquareGreystone and boulevard three-flats
Request a written estimate
Fill in five fields and Marek will call within one business day to set up the walk-through. Or call the shop at (312) 555-0173.
- Shop3300 N Ashland Ave, Chicago, IL 60657
- Phone(312) 555-0173
- HoursMonday to Friday, 7am to 5pm. Saturday by appointment.
- SeasonWork scheduled April to November. Estimates year round.
- LicenseChicago Masonry Contractor, A Card, #MC-4471