Stone masonry in Athens GA - walls that drain and old stone that can dry out
Crumbling joints, a bulging wall or a slope that needs one? We build and repair stone so water drains away and the wall can last.
What does stone masonry involve for an Athens home?
Stone masonry in Athens, GA covers building new stone walls, including retaining walls on a sloped yard, and repairing older stone walls whose mortar has worn out.
Most calls start with something you can see, like joints that crumble when you rub them, stones working loose, or a slope that keeps washing into the yard and needs a wall to hold it. The price turns mostly on how tall and long the wall is, whether it's dry laid or mortared, the stone you pick and, on a repair, how much old mortar has to come out, which I often can't know for sure until we open a few joints. The schedule depends on the permits and any historic review the wall needs, plus the weather, and the estimate I write after seeing your wall lays out what we'll do and why.
What happens after you call us about stone work in Athens?
Call or send the form
You call (706) 395-0746 or send the form, and we get back to you to set a time that works for you. We pick up weekdays from 8 AM to 11 PM and weekends from 6 AM to 10 PM, so evenings are fine.
I look at it with you
I come out myself, walk the wall or the spot with you, listen to what you've noticed and answer whatever you want to ask. Then I write up an estimate that says what we'll do and why, so you see the whole job in writing before you decide anything.
Permits, then our crew builds
Once you say yes, we take care of any permit the job needs, including the application and the inspections with the city or county office for your address. Then our crew does the work, and I'm on site working right alongside them.
Walk the finished wall together
When we're done, we walk the job with you so you can look over the joints, the stone and the cleanup for yourself. The work is backed by our satisfaction guarantee.
How we build and repair stone masonry, and what goes with it
With a new wall, I start by going over whether a dry laid wall, stones stacked tight with no mortar, or a mortared wall suits the spot, because a mortared wall sits on a foundation and that changes the dig and the cost. Then we lay out the line, dig out, set the base, build up row by row and backfill as we go so water has a way out, and we clean the face and the yard before we leave. On old stonework, we rake the worn mortar out of the joints and point them back with a mortar that lets the wall breathe and dry out, so the stone isn't left holding water.
Plenty of houses around Athens mix stone with brick, so if the brick shows the same tired joints, we can take care of that too with brick pointing. And if a stone wall or a stone-faced foundation keeps cracking because the house underneath is moving, new mortar won't fix it, so we'll look at foundation repair first, since I'd rather fix what's really wrong than patch the part you can see.
Ask for a written estimate on your stone wall
We reply to every call and message within one business day, and then I come out to your home to look at the wall with you and write the estimate myself. The estimate is free, and there's no obligation to go ahead.
Stone masonry questions from Athens homeowners
How much does stone masonry cost in Athens, GA?
Across the US, installing natural stone veneer usually costs about $26 to $32 per square foot, which is a fair yardstick for stone laid on a house wall. A freestanding wall, a retaining wall or a repointing job is priced on what I find at your place, so the figure for yours comes in the written estimate.
Do I need a permit for a retaining wall in Athens?
Yes, in Athens-Clarke County every retaining wall over 4 feet needs its own building permit from Building Inspections, and when the wall needs no site review, a zoning permit from Planning comes first, with a possible extra review from Transportation and Public Works. If your house is a local landmark or sits in a local historic district, a new retaining wall or a change in exterior materials also needs a Certificate of Appropriateness, so I'll bring that up early. We handle the applications and inspections, and if you'd like to ask the county yourself, Building Inspections takes questions at 706-613-3520.
Why does a stone retaining wall need drainage?
Most retaining walls fail from the pressure of water and soil moisture building up behind them, according to extension guidance from Colorado. That guidance says a wall should let water drain freely down and away, using gravel backfill or drainage blankets and drain pipes. Where the water off your roof and yard ends up is one of the first things I'll look at on your slope.
What is repointing on a stone wall?
Repointing, also called pointing or tuckpointing, is removing worn-out mortar from a wall's joints and replacing it with new mortar. National guidance on historic masonry says a mortar that keeps moisture from leaving the wall and evaporating damages the stones or bricks, so the repair mortar matters as much as the labor. Ask any mason how their mortar lets your wall dry out, and I'll walk you through ours at the estimate.
What is the best way to remove old mortar from historic stone or brick?
On historic masonry, the same national guidance says taking mortar out by hand with chisels and mash hammers takes more labor but, in most cases, poses the least threat of damage and gives the best result. Power saws and grinders are the most common method, and the guidance warns they can be disastrous for historic masonry in unskilled hands, especially soft brick. It's a fair thing to ask anyone before they start cutting into your wall.
Does a masonry contractor need a license in Georgia?
Yes, the county building department states that Georgia requires a state license for contracting work that costs $2,500 or more. The county also asks for a copy of a Georgia contractor's license, a current business license and a driver's license with each building permit application, so it's reasonable to ask your contractor about theirs. We're fully licensed and insured.
Other masonry work that often goes with stone
Brick pointing
If the brick on your house has joints that look sandy, recessed or missing, pointing them now helps keep water from working into the wall behind.
Foundation repair
When cracks in stone or brick come back after they're patched, the house underneath may be moving, and that needs looking at before any wall repair will hold.
Get your stone wall looked at
Call (706) 395-0746 or send the form with the wall's height, where it sits on your lot and whether your house is in a historic district, so the first visit can cover permits as well as the stone.