When building a new home or adding a custom mailbox, it’s important to plan where and how your address stone will fit into the masonry layout. Proper “timing” ensures the stone integrates seamlessly with your brick courses—both functionally and aesthetically—so it looks like it was part of the original design. Whether you’re a builder, mason, or homeowner planning ahead, this guide will help you perfectly align your stone address block from day one.
In brick or stonework, “timing out” refers to aligning materials so the finished surfaces line up perfectly without awkward cuts or mismatched joints. When installing an address stone, this means ensuring its height and width correspond with the surrounding brick pattern.
For example, a standard modular brick measures 2-1/4” tall with a 3/8” mortar joint, meaning every course (brick plus mortar) equals about 2-5/8”. To keep the address stone aligned, its height must match a whole number of brick courses—usually three (around 7-5/8”)—which is why standard address stones come in heights like 7-5/8”.
When this spacing isn’t planned, masons may need to cut bricks or alter mortar joint thickness, which can throw off alignment and detract from the professional finish.
Build-A-Stone offers several thicknesses to match different wall systems:
Full-Depth Masonry: 2-1/2” x 7-5/8” x 15-5/8” – Ideal for standard brick construction and new builds.
Thin Stone: 1-1/2” x 7-5/8” x 15-5/8” – Perfect for thin veneer systems or retrofits.
Thin Brick or Stucco: 3/4” x 7-5/8” x 15-5/8” – Works for surface-mount or adhered veneers.
Matching the depth ensures your stone address plaque sits flush with surrounding materials, avoiding uneven surfaces or shadow lines.
Before laying the wall:
Plan the height. Measure your brick courses and mark where the address stone will fit.
Dry fit first. Place the address stone in position before mortaring to confirm joint alignment.
Cut carefully. If necessary, trim adjacent bricks evenly on both sides to maintain symmetry.
Mortar and level. Lay the stone just like a brick—press into mortar, tap to level, and clean joints promptly.
Double-check visibility. The numbers should face straight and level to ensure readability from the street.
If you’re working on a mailbox or stone column, the same principles apply. Full-depth stone mailbox numbers look best when the stone’s height aligns with a full brick course—keeping the face perfectly centered.
Order early. Have your address stones on-site before masonry starts so sizing can be confirmed in real time.
Use matching mortar. For cohesive results, match the color and joint tooling to your wall or mailbox brickwork.
Check spacing for two-line stones. If your stone includes both numbers and street names, ensure there’s enough face area to avoid crowding or forced adjustments.
Include a mockup. Many builders create a small sample panel showing the address stone integrated with the chosen brick.
By coordinating early, you’ll save time, prevent mistakes, and ensure your finished natural stone address marker looks intentional—not like an afterthought.
Installing the address stone after masonry completion (retrofit cuts rarely look clean).
Choosing the wrong stone thickness for the wall system.
Forgetting to verify that the engraved text aligns horizontally.
Over-applying mortar that seeps into engraved numbers.
A little planning goes a long way—these errors are easy to avoid when the stone is part of the blueprint.
The best time to think about your address stone is before the first brick is laid. Proper timing, alignment, and product selection ensure your stone address plaque integrates beautifully into the home’s exterior. With Build-A-Stone’s precision-cast options and quick turnaround, builders and homeowners alike can create a polished, professional finish that lasts for decades.
To mock up your next stone, checkout our sister site, addressstones.com, where you can visualize your next stone prior to ordering.