Brickline Allentown Concrete and MasonryBrickline Allentown Concrete and Masonry(610) 424-2415
Brickline Allentown Concrete and Masonry
(610) 424-2415Get an estimate

Masonry Contractor in Allentown, PA - Brick and Stone Work That Suits Older Homes

Brickline Allentown Concrete and Masonry is a masonry contractor based in Allentown, PA. We repoint worn mortar, repair brick and chimneys, and build walls, walkways and stone work for homes across the city.

Get an estimate(610) 424-2415
Curved retaining wall of pale stone blocks encloses a leafless shrub beside a brick house.

Allentown as we see it on our jobs

Allentown is home base for us, and most of our calls start right here in the city. A lot of the houses are older brick, with rowhomes and twins sharing a wall with the neighbors, mixed in with newer homes and the shops and offices along the busier streets. The calls usually begin with something a homeowner spotted themselves, like mortar sanding out of the joints, a cracked chimney or a garden wall that needs building or rebuilding.

We do the same work next door in Fullerton and over in Bethlehem. On an older brick house, the job is shaped by what's already in the wall, because new mortar and brick have to suit the old ones or the repair ends up hurting the house it was meant to fix.

Masonry and concrete work we do around Allentown

We do sixteen kinds of masonry and concrete work in Allentown, from repointing one tired wall to building a new retaining wall, walkway or outdoor kitchen. We plan each job around the house it's on, because mortar, brick and stone that don't suit the building tend to cause new problems a few years down the road. That usually means finding out why something failed before deciding how to fix it, and saying plainly what we won't know until a wall or a chimney is opened up.

  • Foundation repair

    Older Allentown basements often have stone or block foundation walls with cracks, loose mortar or damp spots. We find out where the water or movement starts, then repoint, patch or rebuild the bad section.

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  • Chimney repair

    The top of a chimney is the most exposed masonry on an older house, so the crown and upper bricks usually fail first. We rebuild loose brick, repoint joints and replace cracked crowns.

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  • Tuckpointing

    Many brick fronts here have joints patched over the years in mismatched colors. We rake out the old mortar, fill to match the brick and run a fine contrasting line.

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  • Brick repair

    Bricks with flaking faces or cracks show up often on older houses, usually near downspouts, steps and other spots where water collects. We cut out damaged ones and set matched replacements.

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  • Driveway pavers

    Old cracked concrete driveways squeezed between houses are a common call here. We dig out, pack a solid base and lay pavers that can be lifted and reset if one settles.

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  • Retaining wall construction

    Sloped back yards around the city often have old timber or loose stone walls starting to lean. We build block or stone walls with drainage behind them, since trapped water pushes most walls over.

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  • Masonry restoration

    Older brick and stone homes here often need several fixes at once, like worn joints, cracked sills and old patches. We work through them in order so each repair suits the building.

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  • Fireplace installation

    Some homeowners here want an old fireplace brought back, or a new one built where there wasn't one. We build the firebox, hearth and surround in brick or stone that suits the house.

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  • Stone veneer installation

    Bare block foundations and porch bases on newer homes are common spots for stone veneer, a thin stone facing. We set it over proper backing and drainage so water can't get trapped.

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  • Concrete block walls

    Garages, sheds and back-lot walls here are often concrete block, and older ones crack or lean. We build new block walls on solid footings, reinforced where they carry load.

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  • Foundation block wall installation

    Additions, rebuilt rear walls and replaced basement walls on older houses here usually go back in as concrete block. We set the footing, lay the block true and seal the outside before backfill.

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  • Outdoor kitchen masonry

    Back yards in the city are often small, so an outdoor kitchen has to fit the space. We build the base, counters and grill surround in brick, block or stone that suits your house.

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  • Walkway construction

    Front walks on older lots here are often cracked concrete or slate lifted by tree roots. We dig out, pack a firm base and lay brick, pavers or stone pitched to shed water.

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  • Brick wall installation

    Garden walls, porch walls and brick additions here have to sit beside brick that's been in place for decades. We match brick and mortar to what's there and build on proper footings.

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  • Stone masonry

    Stone foundations, stone steps and old fieldstone walls turn up on many older properties around Allentown. We repoint and rebuild them with stone and mortar that suit the original work.

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  • Brick pointing

    Crumbling mortar in the joints is the most common call we get in Allentown. We cut loose mortar back to sound depth and repack joints with a mix softer than the brick.

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What brick, block and stone work looks like

These photos show the kinds of masonry and concrete work we do around Allentown, from fresh mortar joints to new walls and walks. They show the trade in general, not any one house in the city.

  • A curved stone fire pit with red cushions sits beside tiered retaining walls and a broad brick-paver patio.

  • An irregular stone walkway leads to a home entrance, bordered by dense green shrubs and bright pink flowers.

  • Stone outdoor fireplace beneath a covered patio, with a mounted TV and firewood stacked in built-in side niches.

What to know before masonry work starts in Allentown

Most masonry jobs in Allentown go smoothly when the paperwork and the scope are sorted before anyone picks up a trowel. Here's what we check with the city and what changes what a job costs.

Permits come from the city's building office

Building permits here come from the City of Allentown's permits and inspections division, which handles new construction, changes and demolition along with roofing, electrical, plumbing and heating. Masonry isn't named on its own, so before work starts we check with the city for your property. If a permit is needed, we handle the application, and the city's review comes before our start date.

You can check on a contractor through the same office, since the city's building and trade licensing division works alongside permits and inspections and handles trade licenses. If you want to confirm one before you sign, the city's building standards and safety office is where to start. If your home sits in a historic district, we'll help you reach the historic office early, before plans are set.

  • Building permits here come from the city's permits and inspections division.
  • When a permit's needed, the city's review comes before our start date.
  • Ask the city's trade licensing division to confirm a contractor's trade license.

What moves the price and the schedule

Price on masonry comes down to how much of the wall really needs work, how high and hard it is to reach, and how closely new brick, stone and mortar have to match the old. A chimney that needs scaffolding costs more than a garden wall at waist height, and hard-to-find brick or a custom mortar color adds time to every step.

The schedule turns on the permit, if there is one, on getting matching materials in, and on how much of the work can only be judged once old mortar comes out. Matching brick for an older house can take a while to track down. Your estimate puts the scope in writing, so you can see what we're planning and set your own timeline around it.

  • How much mortar or brick actually needs replacing, not just the visible spots.
  • Height and access, like chimneys and walls tight against a neighbor's house.
  • Matching older brick, stone and mortar color to what's already there.

Get a free on-site masonry estimate in Allentown

Call (610) 424-2415 or send the form, and we'll get back to you within one business day. I'll come out to your Allentown property myself, walk the job with you, explain what I see and put the scope in writing, with no obligation.

(610) 424-2415

What we run into on Allentown houses and lots

Allentown's houses span a lot of years, and the older ones bring their own habits. These are the conditions we see most often on jobs in the city and plan around before we give you a scope.

  • Shared walls on rowhomes

    Rowhomes and twins share walls and sometimes chimneys with the house next door, so a repair can stop at a property line that isn't obvious from the street. We look at where your masonry ends and the neighbor's starts, and we'll tell you when doing both sides together makes more sense.

  • Old patches in hard mortar

    A lot of older brick here has been patched over the years with modern cement mortar that's harder than the brick around it. That hard patch pushes the stress onto the brick instead, so we often end up removing old repairs before we can do a lasting one.

  • Narrow lots and tight access

    Many city lots are narrow, with alleys out back and little room between houses, which affects how we stage brick, mix mortar and set up scaffolding. We plan access at the walk-through, so you know where materials will sit and how we'll protect your yard and your neighbor's.

  • Settled steps and stoops

    Front steps and stoops on older houses are often brick or concrete that has cracked, settled or pulled away from the house. We look at the base underneath, not just the surface, because a loose base will crack a new top too.

  • Newer homes toward the edges

    Newer houses toward the edges of the city tend to have block foundations, poured patios and bare walls rather than old brick. The work there leans toward retaining walls, walkways, veneer and outdoor kitchens, built to suit the house and the slope of the yard.

How we work on your house, and why it matters

Choosing a mason mostly comes down to whether you trust the person telling you what your wall needs. Here's how we work on Allentown homes, and the reason behind each habit.

I walk the job and explain it

I come out to look at the job myself, and I work alongside the small crew that does it, so the person who explains the wall is the same one standing at it. Before we talk about price, I show you what I'm seeing, like where water gets in or which old patch is failing, because I'd rather you understand your own house than take my word for it.

I spent years behind a desk before I picked up a trowel, so I know what it's like to hear trade talk and nod along. We'd rather slow down and get it right, because a rushed masonry job shows up later, usually as cracked joints or loose brick. When you're ready, call (610) 424-2415 or use the form above to set up a visit.

  • Repairs that blend with the house

    We match mortar color and joint shape to what's already on your house, and we hunt down brick or stone that fits, so a repair doesn't stand out from the sidewalk. Masonry should suit the building it's on, and a patch that doesn't match is hard to live with.

  • Straight talk about hidden problems

    Some problems only show once old mortar comes out or a section is opened, like a rusted steel beam over a window or loose brick behind the face. I'll tell you up front what could turn up, and if something does, we talk it through before going further.

  • Licensed, insured, satisfaction guaranteed

    We're fully licensed and insured, so the risk of an accident or damage while we're working isn't on you. Satisfaction guaranteed is how we put it, and because I work alongside the crew, I see the work as it goes up rather than hearing about it later.

  • Trained under experienced masons

    I learned masonry working under experienced masons before starting this business in Allentown in 2023, and that's where I picked up the habit of slowing down. We're best known for repointing and brick repair on older homes, the work where patience matters most.

Questions Allentown homeowners ask about masonry work

These are the questions we hear from homeowners in the city, from permits and codes to what a job costs and how to tell when brick needs attention. If yours isn't here, call and ask.

How do I apply for a building permit in Allentown?

You can apply online through the city's Citizen Self Service Portal at css.allentownpa.gov, or turn in zoning and building permits at City Hall, 435 Hamilton St, 4th Floor, as the city's construction permitting page explains. The application asks who's doing the work, what kind of work it is, where and how it will be done and the estimated cost, plus plans if they're needed. If your job needs a permit, we take care of the application for you.

How much does masonry work cost in Allentown?

There's no set price for masonry in Allentown, because a few damaged bricks and a full chimney rebuild are very different jobs, so the number comes from looking at your wall. If your job needs a city permit, the application fee is a non refundable $50 for residential work and $100 for commercial, with the city's other building fees listed in its ordinances. I'll give you the scope in writing after I've seen the job.

Which building codes apply to home projects in Allentown in 2026?

Since January 1, 2026, the city has enforced the 2021 building codes Pennsylvania adopted, including the residential code and the existing building code that covers work on houses already standing. Projects with a contract signed before that date could still be permitted under the older code if the application went in within six months, and that window has now passed, so new work falls under the 2021 codes.

Do I need a licensed contractor for masonry work in Allentown?

The city's permitting guidance points to licensed contractors for specific trades like electrical, plumbing and heating rather than for every kind of home work. If you're not sure whether your project falls under a trade license, the city's building and trade licensing division, on the 4th Floor alongside permits and inspections, can tell you.

How do I know if the mortar on my Allentown brick house needs repointing?

Your brick likely needs repointing if the mortar sits about a quarter inch or more back from the brick face, turns to sand when you rub it or has gaps you can push a key into. Loose bricks, cracks running through the joints and damp patches inside near an outside wall are other signs. I'll look at it with you and tell you whether it's a few spots or the whole wall.

What is the best way to match new brick to an old house in Allentown?

The best match usually comes from salvaged brick of the same size and color, set in mortar mixed to the color and texture of the old joints. We often pull sound brick from a spot you won't see and make small mortar test patches first, because mortar dries lighter than it looks when it's wet.

Service areas

Beyond Allentown, we work in Fullerton, Bethlehem, Emmaus, Easton, Phillipsburg, NJ, and the other cities listed here, on both sides of the state line. If your city isn't listed, call or send the form and ask us.

Ask about your location
(610) 424-2415Get an estimate