A masonry pier is a vertical support built from brick, stone, or concrete block, historically used beneath older homes as isolated points of support, particularly under post-and-pier foundations. Masonry piers were a common construction method before poured concrete became the standard, and they’re still found supporting many older houses today.
Because mortar joints are weaker than the masonry units themselves, the long-term durability of these piers depends heavily on mortar quality and how well the pier has been protected from moisture over the decades.
What Does a Masonry Pier Involve?
- Stacked brick, stone, or concrete block units
- Mortar joints bonding the units together
- A footing or base beneath the pier
- A cap or bracket connecting it to framing above
Why Are Masonry Piers Important?
Because masonry piers rely on mortar joints rather than continuous reinforced concrete, they’re more vulnerable over time to deterioration, cracking, and settlement than modern poured concrete alternatives, which is why homes on original masonry piers often need reinforcement or replacement as they age. Understanding whether a home sits on masonry piers matters for anyone considering a renovation or addition, since these older supports may not meet current structural standards for additional load.
A structural evaluation before adding significant new weight, like a second story, is particularly important on homes with original masonry piers, since their load capacity was calculated for standards and loads common decades ago. Repointing deteriorated mortar joints is a common maintenance task for masonry piers, since restoring the mortar’s integrity can meaningfully extend the pier’s service life without requiring full replacement.
Masonry Pier vs. Concrete Pier
A masonry pier is built from individual stacked units bonded with mortar, while a concrete pier is a single poured or precast concrete element. Concrete piers have largely replaced masonry piers in new construction due to their strength and durability.