ABOUT US
OUR HISTORY
Universal Masonry began with a clear vision: to build a reputation on solid work, done right.
Universal Masonry began in Winnipeg, Manitoba and was founded by two close friends, David and Andrew.
“Our early days were spent restoring historic buildings in the Exchange District and working on residential homes with brick and stone. We were fortunate to learn from some of Winnipeg’s most respected bricklayers, starting with little more than grit and a $500 truck a friend sold us,” – Andrew.
“Though we lacked experience, we made up for it with determination and a relentless work ethic. That drive led us to some of Winnipeg’s most iconic restoration projects, including the award-winning James Avenue Pumping Station,” – David.
A personal journey eventually brought David to Vancouver, where they shifted their focus to commercial masonry. It was a tough transition: a new city, a new type of work, and a steep learning curve, but they pushed through, leveraging their Winnipeg network to bring in skilled tradespeople while building a local team here in BC.
Andrew remained in Manitoba to run Universal Masonry there for several years before pivoting from contracting. Today, their focus is entirely on British Columbia, where they have grown into a trusted name in commercial masonry across the province.
Commercial Masonry in Vancouver
We build trust, long-term partnerships, and commercial structures that stand the test of time. We’ve become a go-to name for developers, contractors, and property managers who value craftsmanship, reliability, and results that hold up under pressure.
Our core services include masonry veneer, structural block work, brick repair and restoration, and full masonry prep and envelope integration. Every job, no matter the size or scope, is executed with precision, clear communication, and the highest attention to detail because we believe our reputation is only as strong as our last completed project.
Our Process
At Universal Masonry, we embrace the Japanese philosophy of Kaizen, which means continuous improvement.
Masonry is an unforgiving trade, and we’ve learned every lesson through 9 years of hands-on experience. Some of our early projects were tough. We made mistakes. But with each job, we got better at bidding, at execution, and at project management. That relentless drive to improve is what keeps pushing our standards higher every year.
One of the biggest lessons we’ve learned is the importance of specialization. Unlike many companies, we’ve built a hyper-specialized workforce. Our flashing crews only do metal flashing. Our envelope crews focus solely on envelope systems. Our bricklayers never cross over into envelope work.
Why? Because true mastery comes from repetition. A bricklayer doesn’t get enough practice with air barriers, flashing details or FERO brackets to become great at them. And “good enough” doesn’t cut it when you’re working under the scrutiny of engineers and consultants. Specialization has enabled us to deliver higher-quality work, faster production, and smoother collaboration, especially when working with many of Metro Vancouver’s leading masonry contractors.
Because of those collaborations, we’re constantly exposed to a wide range of building techniques, materials, and approaches. We’ve seen what works and just as importantly, what doesn’t. We’ve taken the best of it all and built a process that’s informed, adaptable, and performance-driven.
Finally, thanks to our past operations in Manitoba and strong ties across the country, we’re able to mobilize additional manpower from Manitoba to BC when required. Under the right conditions, we can scale quickly and deploy high-output crews to meet tight schedules without compromising quality.
Strong project management is the backbone that brings all these moving parts together.
Our systems are designed to align field execution with project goals, ensuring clarity, consistency, and accountability from day one. We take pride in running clean, efficient sites where everyone knows their role, timelines are respected, and coordination with other trades is seamless. By combining specialized crews with clear communication and proactive management, we deliver projects on time, on budget, and to spec, without the surprises or delays that often plague the industry.
“We’re not just building walls, we’re building smarter ways to get the job done right” – David, CEO and Co-Founder.