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 Fullerton, PA - repairs that suit older brick homes

Brickline Allentown Concrete and Masonry is a masonry contractor in Allentown, PA. In Fullerton we repoint brick, repair chimneys and foundations, and build new walls, walkways and stone work, and I look at every job myself.

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

Fullerton as we see it from the job site

Fullerton is part of Whitehall Township and sits right against Allentown, so it's one of the closest places we work. It's mostly homes on tight city streets, with older brick twins, single houses and some newer infill, plus small businesses along the busier roads. We drive the same routes to jobs in Catasauqua and Bethlehem, so we're in this part of the Lehigh Valley often.

Many houses here are older brick or block, and a lot of them carry decades of patches. That shapes every job, because new mortar and brick have to suit what's already on the wall, and a repair in the wrong material can do more harm than the crack it covered.

Masonry services we offer in Fullerton

We do the full range of masonry work in Fullerton, from repointing and chimney repair to foundations, retaining walls, walkways, pavers and new brick, block and stone. Most calls here start with something a homeowner has noticed, like crumbling mortar, a cracked chimney or a wall that's started to lean. We plan each job around the house it's on, matching materials to the original work where it shows and going after what caused the damage before we fix the damage itself. Each service below has its own page with more detail.

  • Foundation repair

    Older basement walls here often show stair-step cracks or bowed block as a house settles over the decades. We find what's moving the wall first, then repair or rebuild the section that's failed.

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  • Chimney repair

    Chimneys on older Fullerton houses sit above the roof where nobody looks, so loose brick and cracked crowns go unnoticed for years. We rebuild what's failing and repoint the rest to match.

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  • Tuckpointing

    Brick fronts that have been patched over the years often show joints in three colors. Tuckpointing finishes new joints with a thin line of matching mortar, so the wall reads as one again.

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  • Brick repair

    Spalled bricks, with their faces popped off, show up often on older walls and steps here. We cut out the damaged ones and set replacements that match the brick around them.

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  • Driveway pavers

    Cracked concrete driveways on narrow city lots are hard to hide. We lay pavers over a packed base, so the drive holds up to cars and a bad spot can be lifted and reset.

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  • Retaining wall construction

    Where a yard slopes or a driveway is cut into a bank, you need a wall that holds the soil without leaning. We build on a packed base with drainage behind, since trapped water pushes most walls over.

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  • Masonry restoration

    Some older houses here need worn joints, damaged brick and old patches all fixed together. We plan restoration in stages, using mortar and brick that suit how the house was built.

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  • Fireplace installation

    Plenty of older homes here have a fireplace that's been closed off for years. We build masonry fireplaces sized to the room and tied into a chimney that's sound enough to use.

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  • Stone veneer installation

    Stone veneer gives the plain block foundations and porch walls on many houses here the look of stone without the weight. We set it over a prepared backing that lets water drain out from behind.

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  • Concrete block walls

    Garages, sheds and yard walls on city lots often call for something sturdier than wood. We lay concrete block on a solid footing, with reinforcing where the wall needs it, so it stays plumb.

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  • Foundation block wall installation

    Additions and rebuilt basement walls on older homes need block that carries the house square. We lay foundation block on a proper footing and damp-proof the outside before backfilling.

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  • Outdoor kitchen masonry

    Back yards here are often small, so an outdoor kitchen has to fit the space without crowding it. We build the counters and grill surround in block, brick or stone to suit the house.

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  • Walkway construction

    Older front walks often crack or tip toward the house over the years. We rebuild them on a packed base with a slight pitch away from the foundation, so water runs off.

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  • Brick wall installation

    A brick garden or front wall suits the older brick houses here better than most fences. We lay it on a solid footing and match the brick and joints to the house where we can.

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  • Stone masonry

    Stone foundations, steps and garden walls turn up on some of the oldest properties around here. We repair and build stone work by hand, with mortar soft enough to suit old stone.

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  • Brick pointing

    Crumbling joints let water into a brick wall, and they're the first thing we check on older houses here. We rake out loose mortar and repack the joints with a mix softer than the brick.

    Explore service

What good brick, block and stone work looks like

These photos show the kind of masonry work we do, from repointed brick to new walls, steps and walkways. They show the trade in general, and what suits your own house is something we'll work out on site.

  • 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 plan for on a masonry job in Fullerton

Fullerton sits in Whitehall Township, so the township's rules shape when a masonry job can start. Here's how permits work here, what moves your price and how we plan around both.

Who handles the permit in Whitehall Township

Fullerton is part of Whitehall Township, so the township issues building permits here, not Allentown. The township puts the permit on whoever does the work, and they have to get it before anything starts, whatever your contract says. Before we start, we check with the township about your property, and if a permit is needed we take care of the application.

Plan reviews and inspections go to an outside agency the township hires, Keycodes, and no permit goes out without its approval, so getting one can take a few weeks. We count that into your start date. Ask any contractor whether they'll pull the permit themselves, since the township expects it of them. For your own questions, the township's permitting office helps residents.

  • We check with the township for your property before any work starts.
  • In a historic district, we'll help you reach the historic office early.
  • Inspections are set up through the township's outside agency, not the township office.

What moves the price and the schedule

Price mostly comes down to how much of the wall has actually failed, and you often can't tell until we start raking out joints or pulling loose brick. Height and access matter too, because a chimney or a tall gable needs staging. Matching old brick or soft mortar takes more time than laying new work, and stone takes longer to set than block.

The schedule turns on the permit wait when a permit is needed, and on how much there is to rebuild rather than repoint. We'd rather slow down than rush mortar work, because a rushed joint shows up later. For your own job, start with the estimate. I walk it with you, explain what I see and put the scope in writing.

  • How many joints or bricks are failing once we open the wall up.
  • Access, like a chimney above a steep roof or a tight side yard.
  • Matching older brick and mortar color, which takes longer than plain new work.

Get a free on-site masonry estimate for your Fullerton home

We reply to calls and form messages within one business day, and the estimate is free with no obligation. I come out to your Fullerton house myself, walk the job with you, explain what I see and put the scope in writing so you can decide in your own time.

(610) 424-2415

What we tend to find on Fullerton houses

Most of what we fix in Fullerton comes from age and from old repairs done with the wrong materials. These are the things I look for first when I walk a house here.

  • Old mortar worn thin

    Older brick walls were usually laid in a soft, lime-rich mortar that's meant to wear away before the brick does. After enough years the joints sink back and crumble, and that's when water starts getting into the wall. Repointing with a mix that suits the brick puts that balance back.

  • Hard cement patches on soft brick

    Plenty of houses here have been patched over the years with hard cement mortar, which looks fine at first. Because it's harder than the old brick, the brick around it takes the strain and starts to crack or flake. We cut those patches out before repointing.

  • Cracked chimney crowns

    The top of a chimney gets the least attention and takes the most water. A cracked crown, the concrete cap on top, lets water run down inside the brick, and the damage shows up as loose brick or stains long after it started. I check the top whenever I'm looking at a chimney.

  • Front steps and stoops

    Brick and concrete steps take foot traffic every day and sit right where water collects. Loose treads, cracked risers and steps pulling away from the house are common on older homes, and they're worth fixing early since a loose step is easy to trip on.

  • Basement walls that have moved

    Block and stone basement walls on older houses can crack, bow or seep as the years go by. What matters is whether the wall is still moving, and I'll check that and explain it before suggesting a repair, because a patch over a moving crack won't hold for long.

How we work on your house, and why it matters

We're a small crew, and 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 we start.

I explain the wall before we touch it

I spent years behind a desk before I picked up a trowel, so I remember what it's like to hear something's wrong with your house and not know why. When I walk your job, I show you what I'm seeing, what's causing it and what can't be known until the wall is opened up.

That way you can make your own choice instead of just taking my word for it. Masonry should suit the building it's on, so I'll tell you when a smaller repair is the right call. If you're ready to talk about your house, call (610) 424-2415 or send the form on this page.

  • I come out myself

    I come out to look at every job myself, and I work alongside the small crew that does it. The person who explained the job to you is on site when it gets done, so nothing gets lost between the estimate and the work.

  • Repairs that match the old work

    We're best known for repointing and brick repair on older homes, where new work that doesn't match stands out. We match the brick and mix the mortar to suit what's already there, so the repair blends into the wall.

  • Licensed, insured and satisfaction guaranteed

    We're fully licensed and insured on every job we take in Fullerton and the cities around it. Our promise is satisfaction guaranteed, and the written scope from your estimate spells out the work so we're both clear on what's included.

  • We don't rush mortar work

    A rushed masonry job shows up later, in joints that crack early or brick that sits out of line. We'd rather slow down and get it right, and I'll tell you at the estimate why each step takes the time it does.

Questions Fullerton homeowners ask about masonry work

These are the questions we hear about permits, timing and cost for masonry jobs in Fullerton. If yours isn't here, call us and I'll walk you through it.

Do I need a permit for masonry work on my house in Fullerton, PA?

Plan on asking, because Whitehall Township's permit rules require a building permit for any alteration to a property, inside or outside. Whether your particular repair counts is something we confirm with the township for your address before work starts. If a permit is needed, we take care of the application.

How long does it take to get a building permit in Whitehall Township?

The township says a permit may take 15 to 30 business days to issue. The time depends on how big the work is and how many applications are waiting, so we set your start date once we know where yours stands.

How do I apply for a building permit in Whitehall Township?

You apply on the township's own forms, downloaded from its website, because it refuses forms made by AI or other unofficial sources. At this time it takes no online submissions or credit cards, so fees are paid by cash or check. On jobs we do, we handle the application for you.

What do I need before selling or renting my house in Fullerton?

Whitehall Township requires an inspection and a new certificate of occupancy each time a home is offered for sale or lease, even if a rental changes tenants more than once in a year. If you have masonry repairs in mind before listing, start early, since a permit can add weeks to the schedule.

How much does masonry repair cost in Fullerton, PA?

Cost depends on how much of the wall has failed, how hard it is to reach and how closely the repair has to match your house, as covered above. The estimate is free, and I'll put the scope in writing so you know exactly what's being priced.

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

Age is the main cause, because the soft mortar in older walls is meant to wear down over time. Hard cement patches from past repairs can speed that up nearby, and once joints open, water gets in and the damage spreads. Repointing early is usually a smaller job than rebuilding later.

Service areas

From our base in Allentown we work in Fullerton, Bethlehem, Catasauqua, Easton and the other cities listed here, on both sides of the Pennsylvania and New Jersey line. If yours isn't listed, call and ask.

Ask about your location
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