Solid Rockwall Concrete and MasonrySolid Rockwall Concrete and Masonry(972) 961-1232
Solid Rockwall Concrete and Masonry
(972) 961-1232Get an estimate

Masonry Contractor in Garland, TX - Brick and Mortar Repair That Blends In

Solid Rockwall Concrete and Masonry is a masonry contractor based in Rockwall that works in Garland, TX, repairing cracked brick and crumbling mortar joints and building walls, walkways and outdoor masonry from the footing up.

Get an estimate(972) 961-1232
Gray interlocking pavers cover a broad driveway beside a house, bordered by dark edging and a concrete curb.

Garland as we see it from the job site

Garland sits just west of us, on the far side of Rowlett. It's a big, settled city with neighborhood after neighborhood of brick houses, plus shopping strips and small businesses along the main roads. We work here the same way we do at home in Rockwall or over in Heath.

A lot of the houses here have been standing a good while, and plenty have been patched or added onto along the way. That shapes the job. Before anything new goes up, we usually have to figure out what an earlier repair did, what's original and what's actually failed. Then we work out how to make new brick and mortar sit next to the old without looking like a patch.

Masonry services for Garland homes and yards

As a masonry contractor working in Garland, TX, we offer all 16 of our services here, from tuckpointing and brick repair on older walls to retaining walls, paver driveways and outdoor kitchens. Every job starts with me on site, looking at the wall or the yard and working out what's actually causing the problem before we talk about fixing it. Then we plan the part you won't see when we're done, like the footing, the base or the joint behind the brick face, because that's what decides how the work holds up.

  • Foundation repair

    Cracks running up a brick wall, or a door that starts sticking, often point to movement below the house. We find where it's moving and fix that, not just the cracks on the surface.

    Explore service

  • Chimney repair

    Chimneys get hit hardest by weather, so the top rows of brick and the crown, the concrete cap up there, usually crack first. We rebuild loose brick and redo the crown so water stops getting in.

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  • Tuckpointing

    Tuckpointing suits an older brick front where worn joints make the wall look tired. We fill the joints to match the brick, then run a thin, sharp line so it reads crisp again.

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  • Brick repair

    Cracked bricks, or ones where the face is flaking off, show up on houses of every age here. We replace just the damaged ones with the closest match we can find.

    Explore service

  • Driveway pavers

    A cracked, tired concrete driveway is a common reason to look at pavers. We dig out, pack a solid base and set the pavers so they stay flat under your cars.

    Explore service

  • Retaining wall construction

    A sloped yard, or a bed that keeps washing onto the patio, usually needs a wall to hold it. We build on a solid footing with drainage behind it so the wall stays put.

    Explore service

  • Masonry restoration

    Brick and stone that's been patched a few times can end up with mismatched mortar, stains and loose pieces. We clean, repair and repoint it so the whole wall looks like one piece again.

    Explore service

  • Fireplace installation

    A family room with no fireplace, or one that's dated and cracking, is where these jobs start. We build the fireplace and its surround in brick or stone, following the unit maker's clearance instructions.

    Explore service

  • Stone veneer installation

    Stone veneer, a thin stone face, dresses up a plain front, a column or a fireplace wall. We put up the backing and drainage layer first so water can't get trapped behind the stone.

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  • Concrete block walls

    Block walls go up along property lines, around trash bins and behind small shops. We set them on a proper footing, with steel and grout in the hollow cores where the wall needs strength.

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  • Foundation block wall installation

    Additions, detached garages and raised porches often need a block foundation wall under them. We lay it level and square on a solid footing, because everything built above depends on it.

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  • Outdoor kitchen masonry

    A patio that already hosts cookouts is the usual start for an outdoor kitchen. We build the grill island in block, then face it in brick or stone to match your house.

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  • Walkway construction

    A front walk that's heaved, cracked or turned into a trip hazard is worth replacing before someone falls. We dig out, build a firm base and lay brick, stone or pavers so they sit level.

    Explore service

  • Brick wall installation

    A new garden wall or mailbox column on a brick house has to look like it belongs there. We build it on a real footing and match the brick and joint style closely.

    Explore service

  • Stone masonry

    Natural stone suits flower beds, steps, columns and accent walls where you want something heavier than brick. We pick and fit each stone by hand and set the work on a solid base.

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  • Brick pointing

    Sandy, crumbling joints let water behind the brick, and it gets worse the longer it sits. We cut out only the failed mortar and refill it in a matching color and strength.

    Explore service

What brick, stone and block work looks like up close

These photos show the kinds of masonry we do around Garland and the cities near Rockwall, from repointed joints to new walls and walkways. They show the trade in general, not particular jobs of ours.

  • A broad multicolored paver patio and tiered stone retaining wall sit outside a white stucco house.

  • Tan stone steps cross a landscaped garden from a flagstone patio, bordered by gravel and shrubs.

  • A stone fire pit and low retaining walls furnish a paved patio with wicker seating outside a brick house.

Working in Garland: permits, registration and what moves the price

Garland runs its own permits and registers the contractors who work there, so a little checking up front saves a delay later. Here's how that works and what changes the cost of your job.

Who handles permits in Garland

Garland's Building Inspection Department is the city office for permits, building codes, inspections and fees, so it's where your job's permit question gets answered. When a job needs one, the city's review and inspections become part of the schedule. Your start date then depends partly on their calendar, not just ours, so it's worth knowing before you plan around a finish date.

We take that off your plate. Before work starts, we check with the city for your address, and when a permit's needed we handle the application and the inspections for you. If an inspection is part of the job, we plan the work so nothing gets covered up before it's been looked at.

  • We check permit needs with the city before any digging starts.
  • A needed permit means city review time before we can begin.
  • Inspections come along the way, so we build the schedule around them.

Checking a contractor and what drives the price

Garland's permit page says work in the city has to be done by City-registered contractors, and that registration runs through the same department. The page is written mostly with commercial work in mind, but it's still a fair thing to ask anyone you hire, along with whether they're licensed and insured. We're fully licensed and insured, and I'm glad to talk through any of it at the estimate.

Price comes down to what's under and behind the work. A repair turns on how much mortar or brick has really failed and how hard your brick is to match. New walls, walks and driveways turn on size, how much has to be dug out, the footing or base they need and the material you pick. A permit adds the city's fee. The estimate gives you your own number.

  • Garland registers general contractors, fence contractors and several other trades.
  • Matching older brick and mortar color takes time and can raise the cost.
  • Footings, bases and drainage stay in the price, because that's what lasts.

Get a free on-site masonry estimate in Garland

Call (972) 961-1232 or send the form, and we'll reply within one business day. I'll come out to your Garland property myself, look at the job and give you a free estimate on site, with no obligation. If you go ahead, I'm on the job alongside our crew until it's done.

(972) 961-1232

What we see on Garland houses and yards

Most masonry trouble on Garland properties starts small and slow, so it's easy to miss until a crack or a loose step gets your attention. Here's what I look for when I walk a property, and what each usually means.

  • Joints wearing out before brick

    On a brick house that's stood a while, the mortar usually goes first. You'll see joints that look sandy, sit back from the brick face or crumble when you rub them. Caught early, that's a repointing job. Left alone, water gets in behind the brick and it turns into brick repair.

  • Old patches in the wrong mortar

    A lot of houses carry patches from past repairs done in gray mortar that doesn't match, or mortar harder than the brick around it. Hard mortar can make the brick crack and flake instead of the joint. We take those patches out where they're causing trouble and redo them to match.

  • Cracks that zigzag up the brick

    Step cracks, the ones that zigzag up the mortar joints, are a common call. Some are old and stable and only need the joints filled. Others keep opening, and those mean something underneath is moving. Telling those two apart is the first thing I do on a call like that.

  • Walks and steps that shift

    Front walks, steps and patio edges settle, crack or lift over time, and even a small lip is enough to catch a toe. Usually the cause is a thin or poorly packed base underneath, so we rebuild the base instead of just resetting what's on top.

  • New brick next to old

    Additions, porches and garden walls on an established lot have to sit next to brick that's weathered for years. Brick runs and colors change, so an exact match isn't always possible. We compare samples against your wall in daylight and tell you straight how close we can get.

How we work on your Garland masonry job

We're a Rockwall-based crew that went full time in 2023, after starting out with brick and stone side jobs for neighbors. Here's what that means for the way your job gets priced and built.

Getting the part you can't see right

Most of what goes wrong with masonry starts somewhere you can't see once the job's done. A wall leans because the footing was too small. Pavers sink because the base was thin. A repointed joint cracks because the old mortar behind it was never cut out deep enough. So that's where I spend the time, before anything goes on top.

It's also why I'll tell you when a job isn't needed. If a crack is old and stable, you don't need a rebuild, and I'll say so. I'd rather you call me back later for something you actually need than pay for work that doesn't change anything. A job should still look good years from now, not just the day we leave.

  • The owner gives your estimate

    When you call, I'm the one who comes out, looks at the wall or the yard and gives you the estimate. You're not talking to a salesman who hands the job off. Then I'm on site alongside our crew, so the person who priced it makes sure it's built that way.

  • Mortar repairs that blend in

    Matching mortar color and texture is what we're best known for, and it's slower than it looks. We mix test batches, let them dry and compare them to your wall, because wet mortar looks different once it dries. The goal is a repair you have to hunt for.

  • Learned next to older masons

    I learned the trade on real walls, working next to older masons and fixing whatever we found. That's where you learn why a wall failed in the first place, and it's the first thing I look for on yours before we decide what it needs.

  • Licensed, insured, satisfaction guaranteed

    We're fully licensed and insured, and our promise is short. Your satisfaction, guaranteed. If you've got a crack, a crumbling joint or a new project in mind in Garland, call (972) 961-1232 or send the form and we'll set up a time to come look.

Common questions about masonry work in Garland

Here are straight answers to the questions that come up about permits, fees, cost and timing for masonry work in Garland. If yours isn't here, give us a call and ask.

Do I need a permit for a retaining wall or a new driveway in Garland, TX?

Often, yes. Garland's residential permits page lists retaining walls among its permit applications, and the city names new driveways and fence installation among the work that often needs a permit. For anything you're unsure about, the city says to contact the Building Inspection Department before work starts, which is the first thing we check.

How are building permit fees calculated in Garland, TX?

Garland's Building Permit page sets the fee at 0.70% of the total project value for projects valued $0 to $5,000,000, with a minimum of $150 for additions or remodels and $1,000 for new construction. A non-refundable plan review fee equal to 40% of the permit fee is due when the permit is submitted. That page leans toward commercial work, so ask the Building Inspection Department how it applies to a home project.

What affects the cost of masonry work on a Garland home?

Most of the cost comes from the size of the job and the material, and the extras that surprise people are demolition and hauling, tight backyard access and tracking down brick that matches an older house. If the job needs a city permit, that fee comes on top, figured the way the answer above explains. You get your own number at the estimate, after I've seen the job.

What causes mortar to crumble on older brick houses in Garland?

Mostly time and water. Mortar is made to be the softer part of the wall, so it wears out before the brick does and needs redoing at some point. Gutters spilling onto a wall, sprinklers hitting the brick every day and a chimney without a good cap all speed that up, so we find the water source before we refill the joints.

How long does a masonry project take in Garland when it needs a permit?

Longer than the work alone, because the city's review comes before we can start and any inspections come while the job is underway. How long we're on site depends on the size of the job, how much old work has to come out and the weather while mortar or concrete sets. At the estimate I'll walk you through the order of steps for your job so you can plan around them.

Is the City of Garland's online code of ordinances the official version?

No. The city says the Charter and ordinance materials it posts online aren't the official versions and may contain errors, and the Office of the City Secretary keeps the official ones. For a masonry job, it's simpler to ask the Building Inspection Department about your project than to dig through the code yourself.

Service areas

We're based in Rockwall and work in Garland and the cities around it, including the ones listed here. Those aren't the only places we go, so if you don't see yours, call (972) 961-1232 and ask.

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(972) 961-1232Get an estimate