Masonry Contractor in Northport, AL - Brick and Mortar Repairs That Fix the Cause
D&L Tuscaloosa Concrete and Masonry is a masonry contractor working in Northport, AL. We repair crumbling mortar joints, leaking chimneys and cracked brick on Northport homes, and we build retaining walls, walkways, paver driveways and stone veneer.
- Owner writes the estimate I look at the job with you and write it up.
- Shown, not just told I point to the exact joint or crack behind the trouble.
- Our own crew Our crew does the work, and I check in on site.
- Walk-through together We walk the finished job with you before we leave.
- Licensed and insured.
- Free estimates at your property.
- We reply within 1 business day.
Masonry work in Northport, AL
D&L Tuscaloosa Concrete and Masonry does masonry repair and new masonry work in Northport, a city on the Black Warrior River close to our base in Tuscaloosa. Most calls here are about crumbling mortar, leaking chimneys and cracked brick, and around Historic Downtown Northport the older brick calls for mortar matched to it.
Working in Northport: permits, licenses and what sets the price
In Northport, the city's Chief Building Official handles permits for new construction and alterations inside the city limits and the police jurisdiction around them, and that office reviews plans and inspects work in the field, so its review sets when we can start. You can also check any contractor's city business license, because the Revenue Department requires one from firms working in Northport, including firms based outside it, like ours in Tuscaloosa.
When your job needs a permit, we handle the application with the city or county office that covers your address, so you aren't the one working out which office it is on a house near the city line. We do the same for homeowners in Tuscaloosa and McCalla.
The price of masonry work here turns more on what's behind the damage than on the damage you can see. A few soft joints cost far less to fix than a wall that's moving, a chimney adds staging and work at height, and matching older brick and mortar takes more time than new work. The schedule turns on the permit review and on what we find once a wall is opened up. Once I've looked at it with you, my written estimate gives you your own number.
What our crew handles in Northport
- Crumbling mortar joints on older brick homes
- Leaking chimneys and loose bricks up top
- Stair-step cracks in brick walls
- Cracked or leaning garden and retaining walls
- Permit applications with the city's building office
Masonry services for Northport homes
Most of what we do in Northport is repair on brick homes, from joints to chimneys, along with new walls, walkways and paver driveways for homeowners adding to their yards.
Foundation repair
Foundation repair starts with finding why a Northport house is cracking or settling, so the fix holds instead of hiding the crack.
Chimney repair
On older Northport homes, a leaking chimney usually traces back to a cracked crown or open joints, and chimney repair seals both.
Tuckpointing
Tuckpointing replaces worn mortar joints on brick houses with fresh mortar matched in color and strength to the old.
Brick repair
Cracked, flaking or loose bricks get cut out and replaced with brick that matches what's already on your Northport house.
Driveway pavers
For homeowners replacing a worn driveway, driveway pavers give a surface where one cracked unit can be lifted and reset.
Retaining wall construction
Where a yard steps down, retaining wall construction holds the soil with drainage built in behind it.
Masonry restoration
Masonry restoration suits the older brick around Historic Downtown Northport, where repairs should match the original brick and mortar.
Fireplace installation
Fireplace installation adds a brick or stone fireplace to a Northport living room or patio, finished to match the rest of the house.
Stone veneer installation
Stone veneer installation adds stone to a house front or column, with flashing behind it to keep water out.
Concrete block walls
We lay concrete block walls for garden borders, privacy screens and outbuildings around Northport homes.
Foundation block wall installation
When a house or addition needs a new foundation, foundation block wall installation sets a solid base before the framing goes up.
Outdoor kitchen masonry
Outdoor kitchen masonry builds the brick or stone base, counters and grill surround for a backyard you plan to cook in.
Walkway construction
Walkway construction replaces a cracked path to the front door with brick, stone or pavers set on a packed base.
Brick wall installation
Brick wall installation covers garden and screening walls laid to match the brick on an older Northport house.
Stone masonry
Stone masonry is how I came into this trade, and we still build stone borders, steps and garden walls around Northport.
Brick pointing
If a key scrapes sand out of your mortar joints, brick pointing refills them before water works into the wall.
How a masonry job runs when you call us in Northport
From your first call to the final walk-through, you deal with me and our own crew, and you know what comes next at each step.
Call or send a request
Call (205) 579-1102 or send the form with what you've noticed, like a crack or crumbling joints, and I'll set a time to visit.
I look and write it up
I look at the job with you and point out the cause I'm seeing. Then I write up the estimate, with what needs doing and why.
Permits first, then the work
We sort out any permit first, because the city's review sets our start date. Then our crew does the work while I check in.
Walk the finished job together
We clean up the site, then you and I walk the finished work so you can see each repaired joint or crack.
Why Northport homeowners call our crew
Historic district checked first
If your house near Historic Downtown Northport might sit in a historic district, I check that before we schedule anything.
You learn why it failed
I explain why a joint failed or a wall leans, so you can tell a good repair from a quick patch.
Fix the cause once
I'd rather fix the cause once than patch the same spot twice, so we deal with water or movement before the brick.
In business since 2017
We've been in business since 2017, licensed and insured, so you know who's on your property. Satisfaction guaranteed on every job.
Ask for an on-site masonry estimate in Northport
Tell us your address and what's going on with the brick, chimney or wall, and we reply within one business day. I come out, look at it with you and write a free estimate with no obligation.
Examples of masonry work
Look through these examples of brick, stone and block work to see the kinds of repairs and builds a masonry contractor handles.
Northport masonry questions
These are questions we hear about masonry work in Northport. If yours isn't here, call or send a request and I'll answer it for your house.
How do I find out if my masonry project in Northport needs a permit?
Call the city's building office at 205-333-3027 and describe the work, since that office handles permits for new construction and alterations in Northport, with a few exceptions. When a permit is needed, we handle the application, and I can make that call for you while I'm writing your estimate.
Does Northport handle permits for homes just outside the city limits?
Yes, if your home is within 3 miles of the city limits, it's in Northport's police jurisdiction, and the city's building office handles permits there as well. Farther out, a different office may cover your address, and we apply with whichever one does.
Which building codes apply to masonry work in Northport, AL?
For houses, Northport enforces the 2021 International Residential Code, and work on existing buildings falls under the 2021 International Existing Building Code, both with some local amendments. The building office reviews plans and inspects work in the field, so we build to what the inspector checks.
How much does masonry repair cost in Northport, AL?
There's no fair number until I've seen the job, because the cost comes down to how far the damage runs and what's causing it. Repointing a few joints is a small job, while a leaning wall or a leaking chimney means fixing the cause first, and I'll give you your own figure after I've looked at it with you.
What causes mortar joints to crumble on older brick homes in Northport?
Mostly water and time, since mortar is meant to wear before the brick does, and joints that stay wet break down faster. A past repair with mortar harder than the brick can also crack the brick faces beside it, which is why I match the mortar on older Northport homes.
How do I tell if a crack in my brick house is serious?
A hairline crack in the mortar is usually cosmetic, while a stair-step crack that keeps widening, or brick that bulges or leans, means something is moving. I'll show you which kind you have and what's causing it, because the right fix depends on the cause.
Other areas we work in
Pick another area below for its local details, or call us about your address, since we also work in the cities around Tuscaloosa, Northport and McCalla.
Talk to a Northport masonry contractor about your brick
Catching a crumbling joint or a chimney leak early usually means a smaller repair, before water gets into the wall behind it.