Why choose Avenir Renovations?
Masonry, the starting point for any transformation
Invisible once the construction site is finished, masonry nonetheless conditions everything else. Three situations lead most Leuven homeowners to call us.
Worrying cracks
A stair-step crack in a brick wall, a lintel sagging above a window, a floor that no longer seems level. These signs are not all interpreted the same way. Some are superficial, while others indicate movement in the structure or an improperly supported load. Only an on-site examination can make the difference and choose between a simple repair, stitching, or heavier consolidation.
Openings to create in a deep house
Many houses in the center and the surrounding old neighborhoods, up to the first streets of Kessel-Lo and Heverlee, are narrow and deep, with rooms in a row where light only reaches the ends. Opening the wall between the kitchen and dining room completely changes life on the ground floor. However, it is essential to size the beam, plan for shoring, and consider the party walls, which often also support the neighboring house.
Exterior works to be repaired
Collapsed garden walls, bases damaged by moisture, cracked thresholds and window sills, chimneys to be dismantled or repointed. These small structures age silently until the day water seeps in. Addressing them in time prevents the problem from spreading to the interior walls.
Our masonry services in Leuven
Structural work, transformation, or outdoor works: we handle all masonry work, in houses as well as in buildings.
Why entrust your masonry to Avenir Renovations in Leuven?
A wall can be built in a few days. What requires skill is everything that happens before and around it.
We check the nature of the walls, the direction of the joists, the condition of the lintels and joints, and signs of moisture. In a terraced house, we also look at what is happening on the neighbor's side when possible. This assessment avoids unpleasant surprises once the wall is opened and allows us to propose the simplest solution that will actually hold.
Shoring, protection of inhabited rooms, removal of debris in sometimes narrow streets: each step is prepared. Traditional techniques, solid brick and lime mortar, coexist with modern solutions such as insulating blocks or prefabricated beams.
The work complies with current Belgian standards and the engineer's calculations when the project requires one.
Masonry opens the site, but others follow: electrician, plumber, plasterer, painter. Your Works Manager coordinates the interventions without downtime and ensures that the plasterer does not have to return because a chase was forgotten.
What is the price of masonry work in Leuven?
Prices vary depending on access, the nature of the walls, materials, and the portion of stability calculations. The amounts below include VAT at 6%, a rate reserved for homes over ten years old. For a preliminary estimate of your project, use our masonry work price simulator.
| Type of work | Factors affecting the price | Indicative price including VAT |
| Opening a load-bearing wall with beam and shoring | Width, type of beam, supports to create | 3,500 to 8,500 € fixed price |
| Stability study by an engineer | Complexity, number of openings | 800 to 2,500 € |
| Brick or block wall (elevation) | Thickness, facing, height | 90 to 160 € / m² |
| Removal of a non-load-bearing partition | Material, restoration of floors and ceilings | 800 to 2,500 € |
| Repointing of facade or exterior wall | Depth of joints, mortar | 45 to 90 € / m² |
| Garden wall in bricks | Height, foundation, coping | 180 to 350 € / linear meter |
| Repair of crack by stapling | Length, access, finish | 250 to 600 € / crack |
During our visit, we probe the relevant walls, measure the spans, and identify any stability constraints. The pricing follows, item by item, with the engineer's study portion separated when necessary.
Example: in a town house in central Leuven, opening the load-bearing wall between the kitchen and dining room over three meters, with a steel beam, engineer's study, and restoration of the ceilings, often costs between 6,000 and 11,000 euros including VAT.
Procedures and grants for masonry work in Leuven
Stability work and permits
In Flanders, touching a load-bearing element falls under stability work. They generally require an omgevingsvergunning and the involvement of an architect, supported by an engineer who calculates the beams and supports. We integrate this aspect from the start to keep the schedule on track.
Works that do not affect the structure, such as repointing, a low garden wall, or the removal of a non-load-bearing partition, are generally done without authorization.
Party walls
A party wall belongs to both neighbors. You can support a beam or repair it, but you cannot create an opening leading to the neighbor's property, and some works require their agreement. A photographic condition report before the work protects both parties.
VAT, aids, and debris removal
Masonry work in a home over ten years old benefits from a VAT rate of 6%. They are not subsidized as such by the Region, except when they are part of an insulation project, such as facade insulation. For debris, a container on public roads requires permission from the City of Leuven, which we apply for.
Before opening or taking down a wall: the right reflexes
Repairs that go unnoticed
To make a masonry repair inconspicuous, we look for bricks of the same size and color, sometimes using reclaimed bricks when the model is no longer manufactured. The mortar is tinted to blend in with the existing joints. On a street-facing facade, this care prevents a patchy appearance.
Monitor a crack before deciding
Not all cracks are serious. A fine, old, and stable crack often results from the shrinkage of the mortar. A crack that opens, follows the joints in a stepped manner, or widens at the top requires examination. Sometimes, we place indicators to monitor its evolution for a few weeks before deciding on treatment.
Frequently asked questions about masonry in Leuven
How to know if a wall is load-bearing?
A wall that supports the joists of a floor, is located in the middle of a deep house, or is repeated on each floor is often load-bearing. Only an on-site examination, sometimes with a small probe in the ceiling, can confirm this.
Can we use a wooden beam instead of steel?
Yes, for modest spans, a glued laminated timber beam works very well. For large openings or significant loads, steel allows for a thinner beam. It is the engineer who chooses the solution suitable for the actual loads of the wall.
How long does it take to open a load-bearing wall?
On-site work generally takes three to five days, plus finishing work on the ceiling. However, preparation time must be considered: stability study and, most often, obtaining the omgevingsvergunning.
Do we need to redo the joints of a brick house?
When the joints are recessed, crumbly, or allow water to pass through, yes. Repointing every thirty to forty years is normal for an exposed facade. The mortar should remain slightly softer than the brick to avoid damaging it.
Solid foundations, in Leuven and surrounding areas
We operate in the center of Leuven, in Heverlee, Kessel-Lo, Wilsele, and Wijgmaal, but also in Herent, Bertem, Kortenberg, Oud-Heverlee, Bierbeek, Holsbeek, or Rotselaar.
Free and no-obligation visit. Describe your wall, your crack, or your opening project: we will call you back within 48 hours.
Agency Avenir
Rénovations
for Masonry work in Leuven
An expert to take charge of your renovation projects and guarantee deadlines, budgets and quality of all services.
