Masonry contractor in Lake Worth Beach, FL - brick and block that stays sound
BR West Palm Beach Masonry & Concrete repoints joints, repairs brick and block, and builds walls, walkways and pavers for homeowners in Lake Worth Beach, from our base in West Palm Beach.
Masonry work on Lake Worth Beach homes
Lake Worth Beach is mostly older houses on small lots, and a lot of what I'm asked to look at here is brick, block and stucco that has simply stood a long time. Front steps, garden walls, chimneys and low walls along the sidewalk take most of the wear, and loose joints are usually where it shows first. We're based in West Palm Beach and get the same calls next door in Lantana and up north in Lake Park.
What moves the price here is how much has to come apart, whether the brick or block behind it is still sound, and how much care it takes to match what's already there. The schedule mostly turns on whether a permit is needed. The city's Building Division issues permits for work that builds, repairs or alters a building, and when your job needs one, we handle the application and the inspections as your contractor. Any business selling services in Palm Beach County, one-person outfits included, needs a county business tax receipt, and one based in the city needs the city's as well. That's fair to ask any contractor about, though the county says the receipt doesn't vouch for the quality of the work. I'll come out, look at what you've got and write an estimate with your own figure. Houses here sit close together, so we often work from a narrow side yard and keep the job tidy on a small lot.
What we build and repair in Lake Worth Beach
Foundation repair
Older slabs and block footings here settle and crack with age. We find where the movement starts before we patch anything, so the crack isn't just covered over.
Chimney repair
Many of the older houses here still have a brick chimney, and the crown and top courses usually go first. We rebuild what's loose and repoint the rest.
Tuckpointing
When old joints have worn out, tuckpointing fills them and adds a thin finish line, which suits brick fronts where the look matters as much as the seal.
Brick repair
Cracked or flaking bricks on steps, planters and garden walls are a common call here, so we cut out the bad ones and set brick that matches.
Driveway pavers
Pavers fit the tight curves of small front yards here, and one cracked paver lifts out and gets replaced without breaking up the whole drive.
Retaining wall construction
Where a yard drops toward the street, a retaining wall holds the soil back. We build drainage in behind it, because trapped water is what pushes walls over.
Masonry restoration
For the older brick and stucco houses here, restoration means repairing what's there to match its age and color instead of covering it with something new.
Fireplace installation
Here a fireplace usually goes on the patio rather than inside, and we build it in brick, block or stone sized to the yard.
Stone veneer installation
Stone veneer, a thin facing set over block, dresses up a plain stucco front without the weight of full stone. We prep the wall behind it first.
Concrete block walls
Privacy walls along a lot line are usually block here. We set them on a solid footing and fill and reinforce the cores where the wall needs strength.
Foundation block wall installation
When an older house here gets an addition, we lay the block foundation walls true to the plans, because everything built above rests on them.
Outdoor kitchen masonry
Backyards here run small, so we build the block base and stone or brick face of an outdoor kitchen to fit the patio you already have.
Walkway construction
Front walks on older lots here often heave or crack where roots run under them. We rebuild them in brick, pavers or concrete on a packed base.
Brick wall installation
A new brick wall out front often suits an older house better than block, and we choose the brick and mortar color to match.
Stone masonry
On the stone steps, planters and wall caps we see here, we use mortar softer than the stone, so the joint gives before the stone does.
Brick pointing
Crumbling joints bring most of our calls here, so we cut out the loose mortar to sound depth and pack in new mortar matched to the old.
When does masonry in Lake Worth Beach need a look?
Older brick and block here usually show their age slowly, a joint at a time, so small things are worth catching before water gets behind the face.
- Mortar crumbling out of the joints
- Stair-step cracks in block walls
- Bricks that are loose or flaking
- White powder streaks on brick
- A wall leaning or bowing out
- Pavers sinking or rocking underfoot
If you spot one of these, call or send a request, and I'll come look at it with you and tell you what it means for the wall.
Should you repair the wall or rebuild it?
On older houses here, the answer usually comes down to what's behind the surface, so I check the brick or block and the base under it before saying either way.
When a repair is enough
If the bricks and block are sound and the wall stands straight, we cut out the bad joints or a few damaged units and set new ones to match. Most crumbling mortar and a lot of cracked brick on homes here end up as repairs.
When rebuilding makes sense
If a wall leans, the footing under it has moved, or the brick crumbles when you press on it, patching only hides the problem. Then we take that section down to solid ground and build it back properly. I'd rather tell you that up front.
What older Lake Worth Beach homes ask of us
What you can count on is plain talk about your wall, work that's meant to last well past the day we leave, and a crew you're comfortable having around the house.
The owner writes your estimate
I write every estimate myself, and our own crew of masons does the work while I check on it.
Repairs aimed at the cause
A patch that looks fine on the last day but leaves the problem in place isn't one I'll put my name on.
Mortar matched to old brick
On older houses we match the mortar's color and hardness to the brick, because mortar harder than the brick cracks it.
Rules checked before big jobs
Since the county redrew its flood maps, we check with the building office whenever a bigger job's rules are unclear.
Licensed and fully insured
We're licensed and fully insured, with satisfaction guaranteed on every job, from a single loose step to a new wall.
Get your Lake Worth Beach masonry looked at
Our hours run into the evening seven days a week, so call (561) 268-0285 after work or on a weekend.
Other cities we work in
Look for your city below, or if it isn't listed, call (561) 268-0285 and ask, since we work in cities across Palm Beach County.