Masonry contractor in Tuscaloosa, AL - repairs that fix the cause
D&L Tuscaloosa Concrete and Masonry is a masonry contractor in Tuscaloosa, AL. We repair brick, mortar joints, chimneys and foundations on older homes, and build walls, walkways and pavers, with our own crew doing the work.
- I look at it myself I come out, show you the problem and write the estimate.
- Our own crew Our own masons do the work while I check in on site.
- Plain explanations You'll know why the joint failed, not just what it costs.
- Final walk-through together We walk the finished job with you before we're done.
- Licensed and insured.
- Free estimates at your property.
- We reply within 1 business day.
Masonry work around Tuscaloosa homes
D&L Tuscaloosa Concrete and Masonry is a Tuscaloosa masonry contractor, and most calls here are for crumbling mortar joints, leaking chimneys and cracks in older brick homes. Some of those homes may sit in a historic district, where extra rules may apply, so we check that before scheduling anything.
What to know before masonry work in Tuscaloosa
Permits here come from the city's Building and Inspection Division, which requires one for new construction, demolition, remodels and alterations. So new walls and structural work usually wait on that permit before our crew starts. When a job needs one, we handle the application with the city or county office that covers your address.
Before you hire anyone, a few things are worth checking. The city requires a business license to work inside Tuscaloosa or its police jurisdiction, which the city describes as generally the three-mile area past the city limits. A residential permit application needs the contractor's city general contractor's license number, and projects valued at $10,000 or more need a State Homebuilders License unless an exception applies. We're licensed and insured, and I'll answer those questions straight when I come out.
What moves the price and the schedule is mostly what's behind the face of the wall, and whether a permit is part of the job. I can't always tell how far bad mortar goes until a few joints are open, so the estimate I write after looking gives you the figure for your house. We do the same work in Northport and McCalla, though a different office may cover your address there.
Jobs we take on in Tuscaloosa
- Crumbling mortar joints on older brick homes
- Leaking chimneys and loose chimney brick
- Cracks in brick walls and foundations
- Historic district checks before any work is scheduled
- Permit applications with the city or county
Masonry services for Tuscaloosa homes
Most of our Tuscaloosa work is repair on brick homes that have stood a long time, plus new walls, walkways and outdoor masonry for owners who are adding on.
Foundation repair
Foundation repair on older Tuscaloosa houses starts with finding why the crack opened, so we fix the cause once.
Chimney repair
Leaking chimneys are among our most common calls here, and chimney repair usually starts with the cap and the mortar joints.
Tuckpointing
Tuckpointing refills worn joints and adds a thin finish line, which suits older brick fronts that need to look sharp again.
Brick repair
Brick repair cuts out cracked or flaking bricks on older walls and sets in the closest match we can find.
Driveway pavers
For owners redoing an old cracked slab, driveway pavers go down over a packed base, which is what keeps them level.
Retaining wall construction
Where a yard slopes, retaining wall construction holds the ground back, with drainage behind since trapped water pushes walls over.
Masonry restoration
Older brick houses with years of patches on them are where masonry restoration fits, bringing the whole face back together.
Fireplace installation
Adding a hearth to a living room or porch? Fireplace installation starts with the chimney and what the floor can carry.
Stone veneer installation
Stone veneer installation dresses up a plain block or concrete wall, with a drainage layer behind it so water can get out.
Concrete block walls
Garden, property line and garage walls are where concrete block walls make sense, built on a footing that's wide and deep enough.
Foundation block wall installation
For additions, foundation block wall installation sets each row of block level, with hollow cores filled where the plans say.
Outdoor kitchen masonry
Backyards built for cooking out call for outdoor kitchen masonry on a slab that can carry brick, stone and countertops.
Walkway construction
Front walks that have heaved or cracked get replaced through walkway construction, with the base graded so water runs off.
Brick wall installation
Before brick wall installation, we pick brick to go with the house, so a new garden wall looks like it belongs.
Stone masonry
Stone borders and garden walls pulled me into this trade, and I still like stone masonry best on Tuscaloosa yards.
Brick pointing
Where joints have gone sandy, brick pointing grinds out the old mortar and packs in a mix matched to your brick.
What happens when you call us in Tuscaloosa
From the first call to the final walk-through, I look at the job myself and our own crew does the work in between.
Call and I come out
Call (205) 579-1102 or send a request, and I come out to look at the job with you and show you what I'm seeing.
Get a written estimate
I write up the estimate myself, covering what's causing the problem and what we'd do about it. If a permit's likely, I'll tell you then.
Permit first, then the work
Any permit comes first, and the city processes most residential permits within 24 to 48 hours. Then our crew does the work while I check in.
Walk the finished job together
When the work's done, our crew cleans up and we walk the finished job together, so you can see each repaired joint or wall yourself.
Why Tuscaloosa homeowners call our crew
Mortar matched to older brick
We match mortar to the brick on older homes, because mortar harder than the brick can crack the brick itself.
Lake watershed lots checked first
Jobs in the Lake Tuscaloosa, Harris Lake or Lake Nicol watersheds may need a site stabilization plan, so we check before digging.
Fixing the cause, not the symptom
I'd rather fix why a wall leans or a joint failed once than come back to patch the same spot twice.
Satisfaction guaranteed on every job
I check our crew's work while it's underway, because a bad joint is easier to fix before the mortar sets.
Get a free estimate on your Tuscaloosa masonry job
Tell us what you've spotted and where it is on the house. We reply within one business day to set a time for me to come out, and the estimate is free, done on site and obligation-free.
Examples of masonry work
Look through these examples of brick, stone and block work to get a feel for finishes and patterns before we talk about your house.
Tuscaloosa masonry questions
Here are answers to questions that come up on masonry jobs in Tuscaloosa, from permits to crumbling mortar. If yours isn't here, ask me about your own house when you call.
Do I need a permit to repair brick or mortar in Tuscaloosa?
The city says routine maintenance and ordinary repairs generally don't need a permit, but removing or altering walls, beams or structural supports does. Repointing a few joints and rebuilding a cracked wall can land on different sides of that line, so I'll tell you where your job falls when I write the estimate. The city's permit staff also answer questions at 205-248-5110.
How do I find out if my Tuscaloosa house is in a historic district?
Contact the city's Planning & Zoning office at hpc@tuscaloosa.com or (205) 248-5100, and they can tell you whether your property is historic. Extra rules may apply to work in a historic district, which is why we check before we schedule anything on an older house.
Does a retaining wall near Lake Tuscaloosa need extra approval?
It may, since the city says a project adjacent to Lake Tuscaloosa may need a Land Development Permit. The Office of the City Engineer answers those questions at ocemail@tuscaloosa.com or (205) 248-5380. If your lot sits by the lake, we bring it up before we plan the wall.
How much does masonry repair cost in Tuscaloosa?
The cost comes from the size of the area, how deep the damage goes and how hard it is to match older brick and mortar, so I only give a figure after I've looked at it. A few bad joints cost far less than repointing a whole wall, and a repair that touches structure adds a permit to the job. Your written estimate has the number for your house.
What causes mortar to crumble on older brick homes?
Mortar on older homes usually crumbles because water has worked into the joints over the years, often from a gutter, a cap or a sill that sends it down the wall. Settling can crack joints too, usually in a stair-step line. I look for where the water or movement comes from before we repoint, so the new mortar isn't fighting the same problem.
What building code does Tuscaloosa use for home masonry work?
The city lists the International Residential Code as its code for houses, and it reviews every permit for compliance with the ICC codes. That code covers masonry details like footings, chimneys and fireplaces, and on permitted work we build to it.
Other areas we work in
Choose a listed area to see our work there, or call us about your address, since we also work in the cities around the ones named here.
Talk to a Tuscaloosa mason about your brick
We answer the phone seven days a week, so call (205) 579-1102 while the crack is still small and cheaper to fix.