The Leading Masonry Stain Specialist Serving Architects and Designers Nationwide
Changing the color of absorptive masonry with THE Right product applied the Right way and in the Right conditions
About Masonry Cosmetics
The personnel of Masonry Cosmetics Inc. have been color correcting masonry of all types for various manufacturers and distributors for 28 years using our proprietary system. We are a full service masonry staining company that travels mostly through out the Midwest and, at times, all over the United States. We are the manufacturer of our one-of-a-kind system and offer a full line of Do-It-Yourself kits.
Long Lasting and Lab Tested
Masonry Cosmetics Inc. has been implementing this masonry staining system in the field for over 28 years on buildings owned by US Postal Service, WalMart, Home Depot, multiple Universities, Medical and Military Facilities. It has been tested in an independent, nationally recognized laboratory to exceed 40 years of weathering with no sign of any fail point. Click to see our Test Data from an independant lab.
The radial shapes around the entrance were stained in 1991 and still look great in 2014.
Still the Best
Not only has our color correction system been proven effective in laboratory testing for over 40 years, it has stood the test of time. Click on the icon to see 50 jobs that are 10, 15, 20 or more years old. And we have more!
Family Owned
Masonry Cosmetics Inc. is owned and operated by Rick Conner and Don Foster who bring a combined 60+ years of experience in the brick industry, from manufacturing to architectural sales.
For Your Protection
Our company carries a five-million-dollar general liability insurance policy to protect your company and/or the building owners as well as workers compensation insurance, commercial auto insurance, etc.
We Know Masonry-We Know Staining
Our products can be used on any porous masonry surface . Go to Uses of Our
Products to see some of the many applications of our process.
A great looking fireplace makeover.
How it Works
Our Color Enhancement System combines 80 to 100 mesh mineral oxide pigments, a proprietary bonding agent and an environmentally safe carrier to create a slurry that absorbs into the structure of the brick and permanently bonds with the clay substrate. Once applied, the pigment and the bonding agent chemically attach themselves to the masonry pores. Because the oxide’s molecules are smaller than the pores, they do not impede evaporation of water from the unit. These physical properties render the application permanent while not altering the pore structure, therefore the durability of the brick. Once dried, the bonding agent does not seal the brick, leave a film, fade, peel or crack. Our products bond well with any masonry product that has absorption, such as Brick, Block, Mortar & Stone.
The above picture shows a test panel with the closest brick available to match an addition to a residence. In the beginning of the testing phase of our process, the homeowner only wanted the brick to be color corrected. (Note: In the below picture, all brick were stained to match the existing wall). The match was still off due to the mortar color.
Our color specialist then stained the mortar on the top portion only of the test panel as well, noting that for this size of brick, the mortar represents 18 to 20% of a masonry wall, but affects 100% of the overall color. Now the test panel completely blends into the existing wall.
Lifetime Warranty
When our color correction specialist apply our unique and proprietary process, we offer a Lifetime Warranty on most masonry projects.
Is the Surface a Good Candidate for Masonry Cosmetics' Staining Process?
Not every masonry surface is a good candidate for our process. Our stains require a porous surface that can absorb. Although most brick, block, mortar and stone are perfect for our application, some have surface that are too hard and dense. Absorption is one of the keys to our success.
For example, some brick are fired above 2,000 degrees to control Vanadium staining and spalling. However, that higher temperature makes for a low absorptive brick. Our products can be applied for a subtle color change or a few shades difference. But if a major change is desired, our products will have difficulty accomplishing this.
A simple test to see if masonry has good absorption is to pour some water on it. If the water incorporates into the surface and darkens in appearance temporarily, the surface, most likely, is a good candidate for our masonry staining process.
Example of absorbtion test
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