Markham Masonry Contractor · Reformity Inc.Masonry & Brick Repair in Markham
In Markham's four heritage conservation districts, Markham Village, Unionville, Thornhill and Buttonville, masonry work is regulated: cleaning and repointing need a Minor Heritage Permit, while repointing under 1.5 m² counts as maintenance. The permit has no fee, but work can't start until it's issued, so we prepare the site sketch, work description and specifications the application asks for up front. Elsewhere, Markham's older subdivisions are reaching the age for parging, brick-step rebuilds and foundation-crack repairs.
Masonry · real projects
Recent masonry jobs across the GTA.
Real Reformity jobs from our project files. Customer addresses are never published.
Retaining wall details — Wall section, drainage and elevation. Click to enlarge.
Landscape & grading plan
Drawn before we build
Drawn before we build in Markham.
Section details for retaining walls, steps and repairs. A retaining wall with more than 1 m of exposed height beside public property, a building entrance or property open to the public needs a building permit and a structural design.
Masonry permits in Markham
Repointing and brick repairs are repair work that needs no building permit in Markham, but replacing an exterior wall or cladding, or renovating to create a full basement (for example by underpinning), needs one, and in a heritage district masonry cleaning, or repointing 1.5 m² or more, needs a Minor Heritage Permit; Reformity prepares the drawings and handles the applications.
- Dimensions to your lot lines
- Materials, sizes and spacing
- Footing and base sections
- Code notes for the inspector
Where Ontario's Building Code requires a BCIN-qualified designer or a professional engineer for permit drawings, that sign-off is part of the drawing set.
How our drawings workCity of Markham rules
Masonry rules in Markham.
Checked against official municipal and provincial sources. Lots differ, so we confirm the rules for your address at the quote visit.
Heritage & conservation
Markham has four heritage conservation districts — Unionville, Markham Village, Thornhill and Buttonville — where most exterior changes, including new fences and driveway changes, need a heritage permit. Valley lands are regulated by TRCA, which can require its own permit.
City of Markham: heritage permitsWhat needs a permit
Markham's building permit list includes concrete porches, raised decks, replacing an exterior wall or cladding, and renovating to create a full basement. Maintenance and repairs, fences other than pool enclosures, retaining walls under 1 m, and sidewalks, planters and landscaping need no building permit.
City of Markham: building permitsHeritage districts
Markham has four heritage conservation districts: Thornhill, Markham Village, Unionville and Buttonville. Most exterior changes there need a heritage permit. New or different fences, driveway changes, front-yard walkways and patios, and masonry cleaning or repointing are Minor Heritage Permit items (no fee), and a building permit can't be submitted until the heritage permit is issued.
City of Markham: heritage permitsHeritage permit details
On designated heritage properties, including every lot in a heritage district, fence repairs and repointing under 1.5 m² count as maintenance and need no permit. Grade changes, new fencing anywhere on the property, new or bigger parking areas and a new or replacement porch need a Minor Heritage Permit, and work can't start until it's issued.
Heritage Permit By-law 2023-20 (PDF)Retaining walls over 1 m
Under Ontario's Building Code, a retaining wall needs a building permit when its exposed height is over 1 m (3'3") and it's next to public property, access to a building, or private property open to the public. Those walls must be designed to the Code's structural (Part 4) rules.
Ontario Building Code, Div. A 1.3.3.5Underpinning
Underpinning a foundation, including lowering a basement for more headroom, needs a building permit and a professional engineer's design and review. Toronto also requires engineer testing and reports at the first and last construction stages.
City of Toronto: residential underpinning
What we build in Markham
Brick, block, and foundations done right.
- Brickwork
- Parging
- Foundation Repairs
- Underpinning
Neighbourhoods
Masonry across Markham.
- Unionville
- Markham Village
- Cornell
- Cathedraltown
- Berczy Village
- Thornhill (Markham)
- Milliken
- Wismer Commons
- Box Grove
- Greensborough
Markham Masonry FAQ
Quick answers.
If the house is inside one of Markham's heritage conservation districts, yes for anything beyond small patches: masonry cleaning and repointing need a Minor Heritage Permit, which has no fee, while repointing under 1.5 m² counts as maintenance. Outside the districts, repointing is a repair that needs no building permit, and no heritage permit unless the house is individually designated.
Markham has four heritage conservation districts — Unionville, Markham Village, Thornhill and Buttonville — where most exterior changes, including new fences and driveway changes, need a heritage permit. Valley lands are regulated by TRCA, which can require its own permit.
Send the form on this page or call 437-241-6287. We reply within one business day, visit your Markham property to measure and check the City of Markham rules for your lot, and give you a fixed written price.
Free on-site quote
Planning masonry in Markham?
We'll measure, check the City of Markham rules for your lot, draw it up and give you a fixed written price. One business-day reply.