Porch Masonry in Ann Arbor, MI

Make Every Arrival Feel Solid Underfoot

Stair risers may not exceed 7.75 inches, may not vary more than 3/8 inch across a single flight, and treads must run at least 10 inches deep under the IRC. Danaher Family Masonry and Restoration builds and rebuilds porch masonry in Ann Arbor, MI to exactly those dimensions, covering new brick porches, full rebuilds, entryway landings at least 36 inches deep, step repair and replacement, mortar repair and decorative brick detailing at the front of a house.


Homeowners usually call about one cracked step and learn the footing underneath never reached proper depth. We look at the porch, explain what we find, and rebuild on footings that reach 42 inches below grade. As a small family outfit 40 years into this trade, we keep the front entrance usable as long as possible and clean the site down each evening. Reach us through our contact page to book a consultation and a project estimate for the entrance.

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How We Bring Your Porch Ideas to Life

  • New Brick Porch Construction

    Footings go in first, down to 42 inches, before a single brick gets laid. Treads are pitched slightly away from the house so water runs off, risers stay under 7.75 inches, and landings measure at least 36 inches in the direction of travel.

  • Porch Rebuilding

    When settlement has thrown a porch out of level, patching the surface only hides the problem. We take a structure down to sound material, correct the footing and base, then rebuild so finished steps come back within the 3/8 inch variation limit.

  • Porch Step Repair and Replacement

    Individual steps can be reset or rebuilt without disturbing the rest of a porch. We check whether the base under a loose tread is sound, swap crumbling brick for close matches, and repoint the joints around it so nothing reads as patched.

  • Entryway Landings

    Landings need at least 36 inches in the direction of travel; a doorway approach must shed water instead of pooling at a threshold. We pitch the surface away from the house and keep it flat enough to walk without catching a toe.

  • Porch Repointing and Mortar Repair

    Failed joints let water into the places that freeze hardest, since horizontal masonry stays wet longest. Old mortar comes out 2 to 2.5 times the joint width, and new joints get tooled concave or V so the face sheds water.

  • Decorative Porch Detailing

    Soldier courses, brick banding, corbelled cheek walls, arched openings and stone caps give an entrance character without changing how it works. We draw the detail first, dry-lay a sample where that helps, and match brick and joint color to the existing house.

Why Choose Us for Porch Masonry

Risers That Match Each Other

Uneven risers are the reason people catch a foot on the way in. Every riser in a flight lands within 3/8 inch of the rest, so your step finds the next tread exactly where it expects to, in daylight or after dark.

A Surface That Sheds Water

Standing water on a porch is what turns a small crack into a broken tread by March. Pitched treads, tooled joints and clear drainage let a surface dry between storms, which is most of what keeps porch masonry intact through winter.

Footings Set Below the Frost Line

Frost heave is what lifts steps out of line, and a shallow footing invites it. Reaching 42 inches below finished grade means saturated soil can freeze and expand without moving your porch, so what you pay for once stays put.

Brick Chosen to Match the House

New brick that clashes with the facade looks worse than the tired porch it replaced. We shop local yards and salvage stock for size, color and texture that sit comfortably next to whatever is already on your walls.

Minimal Disruption at Your Front Door

Losing a main entrance for weeks is the part homeowners dread most. We stage material tightly, keep a safe path in and out where possible, run demolition and rebuild close together, and clear the site at the end of each working day.

An Entrance You Are Glad to Use

A solid porch changes how a house feels before anyone opens the door. Level treads, crisp joints and brick that belongs make the front of a property look cared for, which is the first thing a visitor or a buyer registers.

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A Front Step Worth Coming Home To

A front porch takes more foot traffic and more standing water than anything else on a house, which is why it usually shows age before the walls do. Danaher Family Masonry and Restoration rebuilds and repairs porch masonry across Ann Arbor, MI, from footings below the frost line to the last tooled joint on a riser. We are locally owned, we buy brick from yards close by, and we would rather tell you a repair will hold than sell a rebuild nobody needs. Send photographs and a short description through our contact page, and we will look at what you have and talk through the options.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What causes concrete porch sinking?

    Soil movement under the slab, almost always. Washtenaw County has 83 distinct soil types, and clay holds water and swells, so a porch poured over clay or over poorly compacted fill gradually settles as that material shifts and consolidates.

  • How do I know if my concrete porch is sinking or just normal settling?

    Look for a widening gap between the porch and the house, treads pitching back toward the door, or cracks that keep opening season after season. Uniform hairline cracking with no change in elevation is usually ordinary curing shrinkage.

  • What causes bricks on my porch to crumble or become loose?

    Freeze-thaw cycling is the usual answer. The Great Lakes region averages 42 freeze-thaw cycles per year, and water entering at the separations between brick and mortar expands every time it freezes, breaking the bond first and then the brick face.

  • How do I prevent water from pooling on my brick porch?

    Build in pitch and keep the joints tight. A porch surface needs a slight slope away from the house, concave or V tooled joints that shed water off the joint face, and mortar kept in repair so nothing has an entry point.

  • What causes cracks in mortar joints?

    Movement and moisture, usually together. Footings that shift, mortar harder than the brick around it, and repeated freezing of water sitting inside a joint all crack mortar, which is why a lasting fix depends on which cause is actually at work.

  • How do I remove stains and discoloration from my brick porch?

    Start with the gentlest method that works: water, a soft brush and patience, followed by low-pressure washing in the 200 to 600 psi range. High-pressure equipment and harsh acids strip the fired brick surface and leave a porch looking worse.

  • Do you also work on adjacent steps, stoops and entryway edges?

    Yes. Steps, stoops, landings, cheek walls and the edges where a porch meets a walkway all belong to the same structure. Danaher Family Masonry and Restoration handles a full entry area, not just the porch slab, on projects across Ann Arbor, MI.

  • How long does sinking porch repair take?

    It depends on whether the footing has to be replaced and how much masonry comes apart first. Danaher Family Masonry and Restoration gives a timeline after a visual assessment at your property in Ann Arbor, MI, and cold weather can extend it.