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 Emmaus, PA - brick and stone work that fits your house

Brickline Allentown Concrete and Masonry is a masonry contractor based in Allentown, PA, and we work in the Borough of Emmaus repointing brick, fixing chimneys and foundations, and building walls, walkways and paver driveways that suit the house.

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

How Emmaus houses shape the masonry work

Emmaus is a borough on Allentown's southern edge, and the calls we get from here sound a lot like the ones we get in Allentown and over the state line in Phillipsburg, NJ. Someone has spotted mortar crumbling out of a wall, a chimney with loose brick near the top, or a step that's pulled away from the house.

What changes from one Emmaus house to the next is how it was built. On an older brick or stone home the original mortar is usually softer than anything that comes premixed in a bag today, so a good repair starts with matching it, because a harder patch pushes the damage into the brick itself. On a newer house the work leans toward walkways, steps, block walls and driveways, and there the job is mostly about the base underneath.

Masonry services we offer in Emmaus

We offer every one of our services in Emmaus, from repointing a single wall to building a retaining wall or an outdoor kitchen. Most jobs start the same way, with me walking the property with you and looking at what's actually failing before anyone talks about a fix. Repairs on older brick get mortar and brick matched to the house, and new work is planned around any permit it needs, so the crew isn't waiting once the job starts.

  • Foundation repair

    Older stone and block foundations crack, bow or let water in as the ground around them settles. We find out why it moved before we patch anything, then repair or rebuild the damaged section.

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  • Chimney repair

    A chimney stands above the roof with no shelter, so its crown and top rows of brick usually go first. We rebuild loose brick, repoint open joints and replace a cracked crown.

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  • Tuckpointing

    On older brick the mortar wears back from the face of the wall long before the brick does. We grind out the worn joints and pack in fresh mortar matched to the original.

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  • Brick repair

    Spalled brick, where the face has popped off, lets water into a wall that's otherwise sound. We cut out the damaged brick and set a matching one in its place.

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  • Driveway pavers

    Pavers suit an old driveway that's cracked or sunk, because single pavers lift out and go back if one shifts. We dig out and pack a solid base, then lay and lock the pavers.

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  • Retaining wall construction

    Where a yard changes level, the soil behind a wall keeps pushing, and water makes it push harder. We build on a packed base with drainage behind the wall so it stays upright.

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  • Masonry restoration

    Older brick and stone fronts often carry years of mismatched patches, stains and failed repairs. We sort out what's original, take out what's hurting the wall and bring it back to match the house.

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  • Fireplace installation

    A new fireplace in an older house has to work with walls and a chimney that weren't built for it. We plan the firebox, hearth and surround around what's already there.

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  • Stone veneer installation

    Thin stone veneer can dress up a plain foundation or the front of a newer house. We set it over a prepared backing so water drains out, not in.

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  • Concrete block walls

    Block walls suit garages, sheds and yard walls that need more strength than a fence. We set them on a solid footing and fill and reinforce the block where it carries weight.

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  • Foundation block wall installation

    When an old foundation wall is too far gone to repair, or an addition needs a new one, block is the usual answer. We lay it level and square on a solid footing.

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  • Outdoor kitchen masonry

    A level backyard with room to gather suits a block and stone outdoor kitchen. We build the counters and grill base, and leave gas and water lines to licensed trades.

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  • Walkway construction

    A front walk that has heaved or sunk is a trip hazard. We dig out the old path, pack a firm base and lay brick, stone or pavers.

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  • Brick wall installation

    A new brick garden wall or addition beside an older brick house should look like it was always there. We source brick and mix mortar to blend with what's already standing.

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  • Stone masonry

    Stone walls, steps and foundations on older properties need repair that works with the stone, not around it. We reset loose stones and repoint with mortar soft enough for them.

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  • Brick pointing

    Small runs of open joints around steps, sills and chimneys don't need a whole wall redone. We point just the failing joints with matched mortar so a small problem stays small.

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Brick, stone and block work up close

These photos show the kind of masonry we do, from repointed joints and rebuilt chimney tops to new walls, steps and walkways. They show the trade, not any one house, so use them to picture the finish you'd want.

  • 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.

Planning a masonry job in the Borough of Emmaus

Permit rules change from one city to the next, so a job here follows the borough's, not what applies in Wescosville. Two things set the pace: the permits and what we find once the work is open.

Who issues permits for masonry in Emmaus

The Borough of Emmaus issues building permits here for new construction, additions and alterations that extend the outside of a house, and its guidelines list structural alterations or repairs as permit work too. That matters for masonry, because rebuilding part of a foundation or a wall that carries the house can count as structural even when nothing gets bigger.

Site and exterior work around the house goes through the borough's zoning permits instead, and an addition that needs a footing has its plans approved by the borough's building inspector before a building permit is issued. All of it has to be in hand before work starts, so on a permit job the start date waits on the borough.

  • We check with the borough about your property before work starts.
  • If a permit is needed, we take care of the application.
  • We're fully licensed and insured, and glad to show you both.

What moves the price and the schedule

Price comes down to how much has actually failed, how hard it is to reach and how closely the repair has to match what's already there. Older brick and soft mortar take more care to match than new block, and anything high up needs scaffolding first. Some of it I can only judge once a wall is open, and I'll say so up front.

The schedule turns on whether the job needs a permit, how long it takes to find brick that matches and what we find once we start. When I come out, I walk the job with you, explain what I'm seeing and put the scope in writing, so you know what you're paying for and can compare it fairly.

  • Small repairs caught early usually cost less than a rebuild later.
  • Tracking down brick that matches can add time before we start.
  • A wall we can reach from the ground needs less setup.

Get a free on-site estimate for masonry work in Emmaus

Call (610) 424-2415 or send the form, and we'll reply within one business day to set a time that suits you. I'll come out to your Emmaus property myself, look at the work with you and explain what I see. The estimate is free, and there's no obligation to go ahead.

(610) 424-2415

What we see on Emmaus houses and yards

These are the conditions we run into on homes like the ones in Emmaus, and most of them start as something you can spot from the sidewalk. Here's what each one usually means for the wall.

  • Mortar turning to sand

    When you can run a finger along a joint and it crumbles, the mortar has done its job and worn out. On older brick that's normal with age, and repointing with a mortar softer than the brick fixes it without harming the wall.

  • Cracked chimney crowns, loose brick

    The crown, the concrete cap on top of the chimney, cracks over time and lets water into the brick below. Loose brick near the top usually follows, and fixing the crown early often keeps a repair from becoming a rebuild.

  • Steps pulling away from the house

    Front steps and brick walks settle or heave when the base under them washes out, and a stoop slowly pulls away from the house. We usually take them up, rebuild the base and relay the brick or stone rather than caulking the gap.

  • Stair-step cracks in foundations

    A crack that climbs a block or stone foundation along the mortar joints usually means the wall has moved. Some of those cracks are old and stable while others are still opening, and telling which is which is the first thing I look at.

  • Retaining walls starting to lean

    A wall holding back soil starts to lean when water builds up behind it with nowhere to go. Rebuilding it with drainage and a solid base is usually the fix that lasts, while resetting just the top rows rarely holds.

How we handle a masonry job at your house

I started this business in Allentown in 2023, after learning the trade under experienced masons. Here's how we run a job, so you know what to expect before you call.

We explain the wall before we price it

I spent years behind a desk before I traded it for a trowel, so I know how it feels to hear a contractor talk in terms you don't follow. When I come out, I show you what I'm seeing, like a soft joint, a crack or a patch done in the wrong mortar, and explain why it matters before I suggest a fix.

That takes a little longer, and I'm fine with that, because a rushed job on masonry always shows up later. I'd rather you understand your house well enough to make your own call, even if that means getting another estimate. Masonry should suit the building it's on, so we match brick, mortar and stone to your house instead of reaching for whatever's quickest.

  • You meet the mason who works

    I come out to look at the job myself, and I work alongside the small crew that does it, so the person who walked your wall with you is there when it's opened up. If something changes once we're in, you hear it from me first.

  • We tell you what can wait

    Not every crack needs fixing this year, and I'll tell you which ones do. If a wall has a few soft joints but nothing urgent, I'd rather you know that than pay for more work than your house needs right now.

  • Your yard covered, then cleaned

    Masonry is dusty, heavy work, so we cover plantings, walks and windows near the wall before we start grinding out joints. We clean up the work area as we go and wash off mortar smears before we call the job done.

  • Satisfaction guaranteed, one call away

    We back our work with one promise, satisfaction guaranteed. If you've spotted crumbling mortar, a cracked chimney or a wall that needs building or rebuilding, call (610) 424-2415 or use the form on this page and we'll set a time to look.

Common masonry questions from Emmaus homeowners

These are the questions that come up when planning masonry work in the Borough of Emmaus, from permits to cost. Where the borough has a rule that applies, the answer says so.

Do I need a permit for a fence, shed or retaining wall in Emmaus, PA?

Yes, the borough requires a zoning permit for site and exterior work, and its examples include sheds, fences, patios, grading, retaining walls and new or altered driveways. Depending on the job, the borough can require more than one permit for a single project, so we check what yours needs before work starts.

How do I find out if my masonry project needs a permit in Emmaus?

Call the borough's Zoning Office at 610-967-1322, which helps owners find out whether a permit is required. These rules cover the Borough of Emmaus itself, so if you're not sure your address sits inside the borough, ask that office too. Once you hire us, we make that check before any work begins.

When do you pay permit fees in Emmaus?

Permit fees are paid up front, before actual work starts, under the borough's own guidelines. The fee is treated the same way as the permit itself, so a job can't begin until both are settled, and we build that into how we set your start date.

Who is allowed to do plumbing work in Emmaus, PA?

Only registered plumbers may do plumbing work in the Borough of Emmaus, and they need a Master or Journeyman license from the borough, renewed each year. Plumbing permits are required for new work and repairs, with rough and final inspections, and electrical work needs its own permit as well. If your outdoor kitchen needs a sink or water line, we build the masonry and a borough-licensed plumber handles that part.

How much does masonry repair cost in Emmaus?

The cost of masonry work in Emmaus comes down to the size of the job and what your particular house needs, so a fair number starts with seeing it. Repointing a handful of joints by a back step is a small job, while rebuilding a chimney top or a leaning retaining wall brings in more material, more labor and sometimes a borough permit fee. Call (610) 424-2415 and I'll come take a look.

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

Mostly age, because mortar is meant to wear out before the brick does, and after enough decades the joints soften and wash out. Water getting into open joints speeds it up, and so do old patches made with a hard cement mortar that doesn't move with softer brick. Repointing with a mortar that suits your brick usually stops the damage before it reaches the brick itself.

Service areas

We're based in Allentown and work in the cities around it on both sides of the Pennsylvania and New Jersey line, including the ones listed here. If your city isn't named, call or send the form and ask.

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