Homeowners often use “masonry” and “concrete” interchangeably, but they are fundamentally different materials with different strengths, applications, and failure modes. Using the wrong one - or treating one like the other during repairs - leads to premature failure and unnecessary cost. This guide clarifies the distinction and helps you understand which material is appropriate for each part of your home.
Defining the Terms
What Is Masonry?
Masonry is a construction method that uses individual units (bricks, stones, or concrete blocks) assembled with mortar to create structures. The key characteristic of masonry is that it is a composite system - the units and the mortar work together to distribute loads, shed water, and accommodate movement.
A brick wall is masonry. A stone retaining wall is masonry. A concrete block foundation is masonry. In each case, the structure is built from discrete units bonded with mortar.
The masonry system has an inherent maintenance requirement: the mortar joints. Mortar is designed to be softer and more sacrificial than the units it joins. Over time, mortar deteriorates and requires replacement through tuckpointing. This is normal - it is how the system is designed to work.
What Is Concrete?
Concrete is a monolithic material made from Portland cement, water, and aggregate (sand and gravel). When mixed and poured, it forms a continuous mass that cures into a solid structure. A concrete driveway, a poured foundation wall, a sidewalk, and a patio are all concrete.
Unlike masonry, concrete has no joints between units. It does have control joints (intentional grooves or cuts) that direct cracking to predetermined locations, but the material itself is continuous. Concrete does not require tuckpointing because there are no mortar joints to maintain. However, concrete is susceptible to different failure modes - surface scaling, cracking, settlement, and spalling - that require their own maintenance approaches.
The Overlap
The confusion between masonry and concrete exists because they share a key ingredient: Portland cement. Mortar contains Portland cement. Concrete contains Portland cement. But the proportions, aggregate sizes, and applications are different.
Concrete blocks (CMU - concrete masonry units) add to the confusion because they are a concrete product used in masonry construction. A concrete block foundation wall is both concrete (the blocks are made of concrete) and masonry (the blocks are assembled with mortar). When the mortar joints in a block wall fail, it requires masonry repair - specifically tuckpointing. When the blocks themselves crack, that is a concrete failure requiring different repair techniques.
When to Use Each Material
Masonry Is Best For
Exterior walls and facades. Brick masonry is the premier exterior cladding material for residential construction in the Chicagoland area. A well-maintained brick wall lasts 100+ years. Brick provides thermal mass (reduces heating and cooling costs), superior fire resistance, and the aesthetic character that defines Chicago’s residential architecture.
Chimneys. Chimneys are almost exclusively masonry construction. Brick and mortar can withstand the thermal cycling (500+ degree F flue temperatures followed by sub-zero ambient temperatures) that chimneys experience. Poured concrete chimneys are rare in residential construction because concrete is more prone to thermal cracking at these temperature differentials.
Retaining walls under 4 feet. Stone or brick retaining walls provide aesthetic appeal and adequate structural capacity for low-height landscape retention. Mortar-jointed masonry retaining walls require periodic maintenance but offer design flexibility and material choices that poured concrete does not.
Decorative features. Pillars, planters, garden walls, mailbox enclosures, and architectural accents are typically masonry. These features benefit from the design versatility of unit masonry - different brick patterns, stone types, and cap materials create visual interest that monolithic concrete cannot replicate.
Historic structures. All historic masonry is, by definition, unit masonry. Historic restoration requires matching the original materials, mortar, and construction methods. This is a specialized form of masonry work that uses lime mortar and period techniques.
Concrete Is Best For
Driveways. Poured concrete driveways are the standard for Chicagoland residential construction. A properly installed concrete driveway - 4 inches thick, reinforced with wire mesh or fiber, with adequate sub-base preparation and control joints - lasts 25 to 30 years in the Chicago climate.
Sidewalks and pathways. Public sidewalks are concrete by municipal code. Private walkways can be either concrete or paver masonry, but concrete is typically more cost-effective for straight paths and standard applications.
Patios. Both concrete and masonry pavers work for patios, but poured concrete is generally less expensive for larger areas. Stamped or colored concrete can approximate the appearance of stone or brick at lower cost, though it requires resealing every 2 to 3 years.
Foundation walls. Modern residential foundations are either poured concrete or concrete block (masonry). Poured concrete foundations are more water-resistant because they have no mortar joints. Concrete block foundations are common in older homes and require periodic mortar joint maintenance.
Steps. Concrete front steps and porch stoops are common in the Chicago area. They can be finished with brick or stone veneer for a masonry appearance over a concrete structural core. This hybrid approach provides the structural reliability of concrete with the aesthetic of masonry.
Cost Comparison in the Chicago Area
Costs vary by scope, access, and specific conditions, but here are general ranges for common residential projects in the Chicagoland area as of 2026.
Masonry Costs
- Tuckpointing (mortar joint replacement): $8 to $25 per linear foot
- Brick repair (individual brick replacement): $25 to $50 per brick including mortar
- Chimney rebuild (partial, above roofline): $2,000 to $5,000
- Brick retaining wall (new construction): $25 to $50 per square foot
- Stone masonry wall (new construction): $40 to $80 per square foot
Concrete Costs
- Driveway (new pour, standard finish): $8 to $15 per square foot
- Sidewalk (new pour): $6 to $12 per square foot
- Patio (new pour, standard finish): $8 to $15 per square foot
- Stamped concrete patio: $12 to $25 per square foot
- Concrete steps (replacement): $500 to $2,000 depending on size
Cost of Deferred Maintenance
The real cost comparison is not installation - it is the lifetime cost of maintenance versus the cost of replacement when maintenance is skipped.
A tuckpointing job on a chimney costs $300 to $900 and lasts 25+ years. Skipping that maintenance for 10 years turns the chimney into a $3,500 to $8,000 rebuild project - a 5 to 10x cost multiplier.
A concrete driveway crack sealed promptly costs $50 to $200. That same crack left for 5 years allows water under the slab, causing frost heave, settlement, and eventually a $5,000 to $10,000 full replacement.
Both materials reward consistent maintenance and punish neglect. The difference is the type of maintenance required.
Durability in Chicago’s Climate
How Masonry Handles Illinois Weather
Brick masonry’s primary vulnerability in Illinois is the mortar joints. The freeze-thaw cycle attacks mortar first because mortar is softer, more porous, and more exposed than brick. When mortar joints are maintained through regular tuckpointing, brick walls last well over 100 years in the Chicago climate.
Brick itself is highly durable in freeze-thaw conditions - provided the correct mortar type is used. Wrong mortar causes brick spalling, but with correct mortar, the brick should outlast the mortar by decades.
Stone masonry varies by stone type. Limestone is vulnerable to acid rain and freeze-thaw (it is a sedimentary rock with some porosity). Granite is nearly impervious. Bluestone and sandstone fall between the two. Limestone restoration is a specialized service because of limestone’s specific vulnerabilities.
How Concrete Handles Illinois Weather
Concrete’s primary vulnerability in Illinois is surface scaling - the top layer of the slab flakes off, exposing aggregate. Scaling is caused by freeze-thaw cycling on concrete surfaces that are saturated with water. Deicing salts accelerate the process dramatically. A concrete driveway treated with rock salt every winter will scale in 5 to 10 years. The same driveway treated with sand for traction and allowed to air-dry before freezing can last 25 to 30 years.
Concrete also cracks. Control joints are designed to direct cracking to specific locations, but random cracking still occurs from sub-base settling, root intrusion, and thermal stress. Cracks in concrete are water entry points that lead to frost heave - water freezes under the slab, lifts it unevenly, and creates the uneven, buckled slabs visible on countless Chicagoland driveways and sidewalks.
Air-entrained concrete (concrete with microscopic air bubbles intentionally introduced during mixing) performs dramatically better in freeze-thaw conditions than non-air-entrained concrete. ASTM C260 governs air-entraining admixtures. In the Chicago area, air-entrained concrete is standard practice for all exterior flatwork, but some contractors cut costs by omitting the admixture. If you are having concrete work done, confirm that air-entrained concrete will be used.
Common Confusion Points
”My Brick Wall Is Crumbling”
If the mortar is crumbling but the brick is sound, the wall needs tuckpointing - a masonry repair. If the brick faces are crumbling (spalling), the wall needs brick repair - replacing damaged bricks and tuckpointing the surrounding joints. Neither of these situations calls for concrete.
”My Concrete Steps Have Brick on Them”
Many front steps are a concrete core with a brick or stone veneer. When the veneer separates, cracks, or spalls, it is a masonry repair. When the underlying concrete settles, heaves, or cracks, it is a concrete repair. Often both need attention simultaneously.
”Should I Replace My Brick Wall With Concrete?”
Almost never. Brick and concrete serve different functions. Brick walls are a cladding system designed for weather resistance, thermal performance, and aesthetics. Poured concrete is a structural material designed for load-bearing and monolithic applications. Replacing a deteriorated brick wall with a concrete wall changes the building’s appearance, thermal behavior, and moisture management.
The correct approach for a deteriorated brick wall is masonry repair - tuckpointing, brick replacement, and structural stabilization as needed.
”My Block Foundation Needs Repair - Is That Masonry or Concrete?”
It is both, and the repair approach depends on the failure mode. If the mortar joints between blocks have failed, it is masonry repair (tuckpointing). If the blocks themselves are cracked or deteriorating, the repair involves both concrete (block replacement) and masonry (repointing the joints around the replacement blocks).
Choosing the Right Contractor
Masonry work and concrete work require different skills, tools, and knowledge. Some contractors do both, many specialize in one. When hiring, verify that the contractor has demonstrated experience with your specific material and project type.
At Delta Masonry & Tuckpointing, we provide both masonry services and concrete services across the Chicagoland area. We hold Illinois masonry license #104-016987 and have been working with both materials since 1987.
If you are unsure whether your project requires masonry repair, concrete repair, or both, call (847) 713-1648 or request a free inspection online. We will assess the situation, explain what needs to happen, and provide a written estimate for the correct repair.