Stone masonry in Allentown PA - stone walls with mortar that suits the stone
Crumbling mortar in your stone walls, or a stone wall that needs rebuilding? We do the work with mortar that suits your stone.
What does stone masonry work on an older Allentown home involve?
Stone masonry in Allentown, PA is building, repairing and repointing stone walls. On most older homes, that means cutting the worn mortar out of the joints and packing in new mortar, so the wall stays tight and the stone stays sound.
Most calls about stone start with something you can see, like mortar that's turned to sand, joints that have opened up, a stone that rocks when you push it or a damp patch inside behind the wall. On an older house, those mortar joints were built to let moisture move through the wall and keep it from damaging the stone, so a worn joint usually means the mortar has done its job and needs replacing before the stone starts taking the damage.
The price moves with how big and tall the wall is, how deep the joints are worn, how many stones need resetting and how easy the wall is to reach. The schedule turns on the weather and on any permit or historic review your house needs, and after I've seen the wall I put the scope in writing so you have your own figure to look at. We're fully licensed and insured.
- Repointing stone walls, cutting out worn mortar and packing the joints with a mix suited to the stone.
- Resetting loose stones and rebuilding sections of stone wall that have bulged or come apart.
- New stone walls for yards and gardens, laid up to suit the house they sit beside.
What happens when you call us about stone work in Allentown?
I come out to every stone job myself and work alongside our small crew, so the person who looks at your wall is the one who helps fix it. Here's how it goes from the first call.
Call or send us photos
Call (610) 424-2415 or use the form, and we'll get back to you to set up a time to see the wall. Photos, a rough age for the house and whether it sits in a historic district help me come prepared.
Walk the wall with me
I look at the stone and the joints with you, show you what I'm seeing and explain your options, including what the old mortar looks to be. Then I write up the scope and the price, so you can compare it and decide in your own time.
Check permits, then do the work
Before work starts we check with the local office for your property about permits, take care of the application if one is needed and help you reach the historic office early if your home sits in a historic district. Then our crew cuts out the old joints, resets stones and repoints, with me working on the job.
Walk the finished wall together
We clean the face of the wall and the ground around it, then walk the finished work with you before we pack up. That's the time to ask me anything about what we did and why.
Stone and brick masonry work, from old joints to finished walls
These photos show the kind of stone and masonry work the trade does, from raking out old joints to laying finished walls. They're here to help you picture the job, not to show our own projects.
A covered outdoor kitchen features a stone island, stainless-steel grill, dark ceramic cooker and flagstone floor.
Outdoor kitchen with a stone veneer island and built-in grill beneath a beige pergola beside a house.
A stone veneer outdoor kitchen features a built-in stainless steel grill and cabinetry beneath a covered patio.
Long stone retaining wall borders a curving paved road beneath trees and shrubs.
An irregular stone walkway leads to a home entrance, bordered by dense green shrubs and bright pink flowers.
Curved retaining wall of pale stone blocks encloses a leafless shrub beside a brick house.
Get a written estimate for your stone wall
Send the form and we'll reply within one business day to set up a free visit at your property. I'll walk the wall with you and put the scope in writing, with no obligation to go ahead.
(610) 424-2415Stone masonry questions we hear from Allentown homeowners
These are the questions people ask me most when they're weighing stone work on their house. If yours isn't here, call and ask, because I'd rather explain it than have you guess.
How much does a stone wall cost per square foot?
Installing a stone wall usually costs about $37 to $49 per square foot across the US, and that's a national figure for new wall work, not our price. Repointing or repairing a wall you already have is priced on its own size and condition, and your figure comes from the written estimate after I've seen the wall.
What is the best way to choose mortar for an old stone house?
The best way is to find out what's in the wall now and match it, rather than reaching for a hard Portland cement mix. National preservation guidance warns that harder modern mortar on historic buildings can make the stones take on moisture and fail, which can cause structural damage as well as a poor look. The closest matches come from taking a sample of the old mortar and analyzing it to set a recipe, so it's fair to ask any mason how they'll work out your mix.
Do I need a permit for stone masonry work in Allentown?
You might, so it's worth asking before work starts, because Allentown's permit list names new construction, changes and demolitions but doesn't name stone masonry. State rules require a permit to alter or repair a home, except for ordinary repairs and for retaining walls no taller than 4 feet that don't hold up extra load, like a driveway or a slope above them. Checking with the city's building permit office is part of how we start every job.
Does my Allentown historic district have to approve masonry work on my house?
If your house is in Old Allentown, Old Fairgrounds or West Park, exterior changes need the city's historic district approval, called a COA, before work starts. Minor changes may only need a staff review, while a bigger change you can see from the street, like a change of material or pattern, goes to the city's historic review board. Call the city's Historic Office at 610-437-7613 early, and we'll help you get the stone work in front of them.
What causes mortar to crumble out of a stone wall?
Water is usually the cause, whether it's rain soaking into the wall, splashing up off the ground or wicking up from the soil, along with the freezing and thawing our winters bring. Mortar joints are meant to carry moisture so the stone doesn't, which means some wear is expected, and steering water away from the wall with gutters, downspouts and grading slows it down.
How long does repointing a stone wall take?
It mostly comes down to the size of the wall and how deep the joints are worn, because cutting out old mortar without chipping the stone is slow, careful work. Fresh mortar shouldn't go in when it's freezing, and any permit or historic review has to be settled first, so the season matters too. Your written estimate tells you what we expect for your wall.