Stone masonry in West Palm Beach FL - stone walls that look the way you pictured
Tired of a plain stucco or block wall? We help you pick the right stone and set it over layers built to keep water out.
What's involved in putting stone on a wall in West Palm Beach?
Stone masonry on a West Palm Beach home usually means stone veneer, a layer of natural or manufactured stone set in mortar over an existing wall, and it gives a plain block or stucco wall the look of real stone.
Most calls start with a wall someone's tired of looking at, like a flat stucco front, a block garden wall or a column by the entry. Natural and manufactured stone look different and go up differently, so I'll walk you through both before you choose. Natural stone also varies from piece to piece, so if you have a color in mind, we pick out the actual stone together before anything gets cut.
The price mostly turns on the size of the wall, the stone you pick, whether old stucco has to come off first and how you want the joints to look. The schedule moves with those same things, plus the time the first coat of mortar needs to cure. Your estimate spells out what we'd do and why, and if the wall needs a permit, that's ours to take care of.
How stone masonry goes onto your wall
Stone veneer goes up in layers, and most of what decides how long it lasts ends up hidden behind the stone, so it helps to know the stages before we start.
Lath and fasteners first
We fasten metal lath, a sheet of expanded metal mesh, to the wall so the mortar has something solid to grab instead of the bare surface.
Scratch coat, then stone
A scratch coat, a first coat of mortar left rough so the next layer bonds, goes over the lath. Then each stone is set in mortar and the joints are grouted.
Grouted or dry-stacked joints
A dry-stacked look hides the mortar behind the stones, and one pricing guide puts it at 15 to 20% longer to install because each stone is shimmed and buttered on the back one at a time.
Keeping water out of the wall
One stone maker's install guide says water getting into the wall is the most common reason adhered stone fails, so ask any installer how they'll keep it out. We go over that with you at the estimate.
Tall walls need a design
The same maker's guide says multi-story installs and high walls need design by a registered design professional, so if your stone is going up high, plan for that step before work starts.
Stone masonry questions we hear
Should I pick manufactured or natural stone for my house?
Manufactured stone suits most walls without structural changes, while natural stone needs more support behind it and a more skilled install. Natural stone gives you the real thing, with more variation from stone to stone, so if that look matters most to you, it's usually worth it. Because natural stone asks more of the wall, if the wall or footing under it is already cracking, we deal with that first, sometimes with foundation repair.
How much does stone veneer cost in West Palm Beach?
Installing stone veneer across the US usually costs about $25 to $40 per square foot, and that's a national figure for the install, not our price. Walls where old stucco or EIFS, a foam-backed stucco system, has to come off first are the most expensive case, and a dry-stacked look adds labor. For your own wall, the estimate at your home gives you our number.
How long does a stone veneer job take?
Plan on a 24 to 48 hour pause early in the job, because the scratch coat has to cure before any stone goes on. After that, the time mostly depends on the wall's size, the stone you pick and whether you want a dry-stacked look. Once I've seen your wall, the estimate shows you how the work is laid out.
Who can pull a permit for stone work in Palm Beach County?
In Palm Beach County, only homeowners and qualified contractors can pull permits. When your job needs one, we handle the application and the inspections as your contractor. If it's unclear whether your wall needs a permit, we check with the city or county building office before work starts.
How do I check if a stone mason is licensed in Palm Beach County?
Look the contractor up in Palm Beach County's contractor search, which shows whether they're certified to work in the county or licensed by the State of Florida. The county requires contractors to be certified and insured, so it's worth a minute before anyone starts on your wall.
What causes white stains on a new stone wall?
An even white haze across new masonry is usually efflorescence, a salt deposit left as the wall gives off water, and rain washes it off over time. Heavy white streaks just below the mortar joints, or white patches, are different, because they mean water has gotten into the wall higher up. If you see streaks like that, call us and I'll come take a look.
Why West Palm Beach homeowners call BR West Palm Beach Masonry & Concrete for stone work
I started this business to work on homes people already live in, and I care that the stone we set still holds up long after we've packed up and gone.
I come out myself
I'm the one who looks at your wall and writes the estimate, so you're talking to the person responsible for it.
Our own masons do the work
Our crew of masons sets the stone, and I check on the job as it goes.
In business since 2013
We've been at this since 2013, and we're best known for brick pointing and brick repair.
Licensed and fully insured
That's worth checking on any contractor, and you're welcome to look us up before we start.
Satisfaction guaranteed
Satisfaction guaranteed on every job, and I don't put my name on a wall that only looks good on the last day.
Talk through your stone wall with me
We're based in West Palm Beach and work in the cities around it across Palm Beach County, so call (561) 268-0285 with your wall's size and the stone you're leaning toward.
What happens after you call about stone work in West Palm Beach?
A stone job is planned around your wall and the stone you choose, so the first visit is about looking at both with you before anything gets ordered or cut.
Call or send a message
Call (561) 268-0285 or use the form with your wall's size and a few photos, and we'll get back to you to set up a visit.
I look at the wall
I come out, look at the wall with you and check what's on it now and how it's holding up before we talk stone.
Your written estimate
The estimate explains what we'd do and why, so you can see each part of the job before you decide anything.
Work and walkthrough
Once you're ready, we take care of any permit, our masons set the stone with me checking on it, and we look over the finished wall together.