Brick wall installation in Allentown PA - a wall that sheds rain and holds up
Need a new brick wall that won't crack or stain after a few winters? We plan where the rain goes before we lay a brick.
What kind of brick wall should I build, and what will it take?
Brick wall installation in Allentown means building a new wall of brickwork, either a single layer of brick or a drainage wall with a cavity, a gap behind the outer brick, and the type you pick decides how well your wall handles wind-driven rain.
Most people who call about a new brick wall have a spot in mind, like a garden edge, a screen for the yard or an old wall that's failing and needs rebuilding, but nobody has told them yet that brick walls come in more than one kind. We're Brickline Allentown Concrete and Masonry, based in Allentown and working in the cities around it on both sides of the Pennsylvania and New Jersey line. I'd rather explain your choices before anyone quotes you a number, and if your old wall is sound with only a few loose or broken bricks, brick repair may be all it needs.
The price moves with the wall's size in square feet, whether it's a single layer or a drainage wall with more parts inside it, how tall and thick it has to be, the brick you choose and whether an old wall has to come down first. The schedule turns on the permit check, getting your brick in and the weather, since fresh mortar shouldn't freeze before it sets. When I come out, I walk the job with you and put the scope in writing, so you're working from your own figure instead of a guess.
- Single layer brick walls, or drainage walls with a cavity, flashing and weeps behind the brick.
- Garden walls, yard screens and freestanding walls, with brick picked to suit your house.
- Taking down an old wall that's failing and building the new one in its place.
What happens after you call us about a new brick wall?
Here's how a brick wall job runs with us, from your first call to the walk-through at the end. I'm the one who comes out, and I work alongside the small crew that builds your wall.
Call or send us a message
Call (610) 424-2415 or use the form, and tell us what the wall is for and which kind you think you need, if you know. We get back to you to set up a time for me to come out.
Walk the spot with you
I look at where the wall will go and show you what I'm seeing, like how exposed the spot is to wind and rain and where water will run. Then I explain which wall types fit and write up the scope and price, so you know what you'd be paying for before you decide.
Sort out permits and build
Once you're ready, we sort out permits with your local office, then I work alongside our crew to lay the wall with its water path built in. If a cold snap pushes a day back, I'll tell you why instead of rushing mortar into freezing weather.
Walk the finished wall together
When the joints are tooled and the site's cleaned up, I walk the wall with you and point out how water gets out of it. Satisfaction guaranteed.
Brick walls, joints and stonework from the masonry trade
These photos show the kind of brick and stone work this trade turns out, from new walls to finished joints. They're here to help you picture the wall types and finishes we talk about on this page.
Stone masonry fireplace with a lit fire and mounted TV anchors a covered outdoor seating area.
Stone outdoor fireplace burning beneath a covered patio, with string lights and seating around it at night.
Curved paver patio with a fire table, red chairs, and hot tub beside a covered backyard porch.
A broad walkway of tan and gray pavers fills an outdoor dining area with wooden picnic tables and potted trees.
Outdoor kitchen built from dark stone blocks, with stainless steel appliances and a sink on a paved patio.
A wide gray paver driveway with a light stone border leads to a large white house surrounded by tropical plants.
Get a written scope and estimate for your new brick wall
Tell us what the wall is for and its rough size in square feet, and we'll reply within one business day to set up a free visit at your property. I'll put the scope in writing, with no obligation.
(610) 424-2415Questions people ask about building a brick wall
These are the questions I hear most when someone's planning a new brick wall in Allentown. The short answers are here, and I'm glad to go deeper when I'm out at your place.
Why does the type of brick wall matter for rain?
Because brick industry guidance says a heavy wind-driven rain is nearly impossible to keep out of a single layer of brick, however good the materials or the work. A drainage wall plans for that, letting water that gets past the outer brick run down the cavity, collect on the flashing and leave through the weeps, the small openings along the bottom of the wall.
What causes brick walls to crack and flake over time?
Too much water is usually behind it, because brick that takes on water can crack, spall off its face in flakes or break apart as it freezes and thaws again and again. Wet brick can also show efflorescence, a white chalky stain on its face, so how well a wall sheds water decides how well it holds up through our winters.
How much does it cost to build a brick wall in Allentown?
Brick and masonry work in Allentown usually costs about $10 to $30 per square foot, and that's the going rate around here, not a quote from us. A simple single layer garden wall tends toward the low end, while a drainage wall, a thicker or piered wall or a pricier brick pushes it up. For your own figure, call (610) 424-2415 and I'll come out and write up the scope.
Does a mason have to be registered to build a wall in Pennsylvania?
Yes, anyone who offers or does home improvements in Pennsylvania has to register with the state Attorney General's office unless state law exempts them, and one exemption covers individuals whose home improvement work comes to less than $5,000 in a calendar year. We're fully licensed and insured, and it's worth asking any mason you're considering about their registration.
How do I make sure water can drain out of a new brick wall?
Ask your mason how the weeps will be made, since some masonry experts recommend open head joints, gaps left in the upright mortar between bricks, over rope wicks. Rope wicks can clog with mortar dropped into the cavity when they aren't put in properly, and I'll show you how we plan to make yours when I write up the estimate.
How thick does a freestanding brick wall need to be?
UK brick guidance says a thin brick wall can only be so slender before sideways forces like wind make it unstable. The same guidance says a thicker base, piers that stand out from the wall or a zigzag or staggered layout can get past that limit, so we work out the layout with you along with the wall type.
Brick wall installation in Allentown and nearby cities
Pennsylvania builders work to the statewide building code, and any local contractor license rules come from the city, so in Allentown that's who to ask. Whether the wall is in Allentown, Bethlehem or Emmaus, we check permits with the local office before starting and handle any application.