Aren't Your Masons Freezing Out There?

We get this question all the time during brutal Boston winters. Usually it comes right after a homeowner opens their door in January, feels that wall of cold air, and sees our crew setting up equipment in what looks like arctic conditions.

"You guys must be freezing!"

Nope!

TL;DR: Our masons work in heated enclosures that maintain around 65°F; even when it's single digits outside. Winter masonry is all about creating the right conditions for both our crew and the mortar.

How We Actually Work in Winter

Nobody’s out there laying brick in a biting windchill just to prove how tough they are. That’d be miserable for our team and terrible for the masonry work itself. We’re professionals, and we know winter masonry is all about working smarter, not harder.

Here’s what actually happens when we show up for a winter project:

• We build temporary enclosures. Think of them as job-site greenhouses made of heavy-duty sheeting or tarps that seal off the work area. This keeps out the wind and traps in warmth.

• We pump in heated air. Our industrial heaters keep the workspace hovering around a comfortable 65ºF, which is honestly warmer than some people keep their homes (no judgment!). On the coldest days (and we’ve had a few at 8°F before windchill this year) our crew inside the enclosure is working in sweatshirts, not parkas.

• We prep the materials. Before any brick or mortar is placed, we make sure nothing is frozen. We clear away snow or ice and even warm up the materials (sand, water, bricks) as needed

Winter construction is all about controlling the environment. By the time we’re ready to lay bricks, the area is an indoor-like job site. The bottom line: our masons aren’t out there heroically suffering in the cold; they’re working in a managed climate.

Why We Heat the Work Area (Aside From Comfort!)

Keeping our masons comfortable matters, but there’s another reason we go to all this trouble to maintain warm conditions: mortar.

Mortar needs specific conditions to cure properly. If it’s too cold, it won’t set right, and you’ll end up with weak joints that fail prematurely. In fact, building codes mandate special precautions for masonry when the temperature drops below 40°F.. We take those precautions seriously. We keep the mortar and bricks above that critical temperature so the chemical curing process can do its thing. If mortar freezes during curing, the water in it expands and can ruin the bond.

This is even more crucial for historic brick repair work in Boston. Often we’re matching 100+ year-old mortar formulations that take longer to set. They require extra care with temperature and moisture. By heating the workspace, we’re protecting your investment as much as we’re protecting our crew. The result is mortar that bonds just as well as if we were working on a mild August day.

Common Questions About Winter Masonry Work

Can you really do masonry in winter?

Absolutely. We just need to control the environment. As long as we can maintain proper temperatures (above 40°F minimum, though we aim for the mid-60s), the work gets done right. We’ve been handling winter projects throughout the Greater Boston area for years. In fact, we’ve done everything from small chimney repairs to large-scale restoration jobs that started in the fall and continued straight through winter. It’s all about using the right techniques and equipment to create summer-like conditions in a winter world.

Does winter work cost more?

It generally costs a bit more due to the heating equipment, enclosures, and extra setup time do add some cost. We have to account for fuel, materials for enclosures, and the labor to assemble and monitor them. However, it’s often worth it to keep your project on schedule rather than waiting until April. We’ll be upfront about the cost difference, and we find most homeowners prefer not to delay critical repairs just to save a few bucks on temporary heating.

Is winter mortar as strong as summer mortar?

When done correctly, yes. If we control the curing environment, winter mortar joints are just as strong as those installed in warmer weather. In some ways, temperature-controlled curing gives us more consistency than working during the temperature swings of August. We ensure the mortar doesn’t dry out too quickly or freeze, and that it cures at a steady rate, achieving full strength. By the time we’re done, you wouldn’t be able to tell which brick was laid in January and which was laid in July.

The Real Challenge Isn’t The Temperature; It’s Scheduling

Honestly, the hardest part of winter masonry isn’t keeping warm… we’ve got that covered. It’s the shorter daylight hours. We lose daylight fast in December and January, which means tighter work windows even when conditions are perfect inside our enclosure. Our crew might be nice and warm, but we can’t work in total darkness (masonry is an art you need to see, after all!).

What does that mean for you? It means winter projects can sometimes stretch out a bit longer day-to-day because our available working hours are a tad shorter. We plan around it with efficient scheduling and, when needed, extra lighting. But it’s something to keep in mind: a “week of work” in January might involve more calendar days than a week of work in June.

For homeowners dealing with damaged masonry that can’t wait until spring (especially on historic homes where water infiltration over the winter could cause even more damage), doing the work in winter makes a lot of sense. A few months of deep-freeze exposure can turn a manageable repair into a major restoration if you delay. We often advise clients: if it needs fixing, don’t wait just because it’s winter. We’ll make it summer inside the work zone and get it done right.

About JMS Masonry

JMS Masonry has been serving the Greater Boston area for years, specializing in historic masonry restoration and foundation repair. We’ve built our reputation on quality craftsmanship. As of late 2025, we’ve expanded into a new office in Woburn, giving us even better coverage across Metro Boston. Whether you need historic brick repair in Boston’s oldest neighborhoods or contemporary stonework on a new build, our crew has the experience, expertise, and equipment to handle it year-round.

Our clients consistently recognize our professionalism and results. Here’s what one had to say after a major brick restoration at a Boston condo:

“After researching eight masonry companies and receiving quotes from six, we selected John and his team at JMS for a major brick restoration project. The front façade was in danger of a total collapse, and we needed true professionals. The first thing that separated JMS from the competition was the thoroughness of their proposal — step-by-step detail of the issues, the required work, timeline, and costs. It was the most detailed proposal by far. Their pricing wasn’t the absolute cheapest (nor did we want the cheapest), but it was very fair. Second, JMS was the most communicative and ‘on it.’ John turned the proposal around quickly and was extremely fast to return calls and texts. A+ on communication. John and his team are personable, professional, and really good guys. I trusted them completely. The end result was a structurally sound front façade that looks great and was completed on time and on budget. John even went the extra mile, refusing to conclude the project until we were fully satisfied. I highly recommend JMS Masonry and Restoration for any masonry projects – large or small!”

Ready to discuss your masonry project? Contact JMS Masonry today. We’ll let you know honestly whether your project should happen now or wait until conditions are right; because we’d rather give good advice than rush into bad work.