Masonry Contractor in Tallassee, AL - Brick Repairs That Fix the Cause
United Auburn Concrete and Masonry is a masonry contractor based in Auburn, AL, and we work on homes in Tallassee, AL. We repair cracked brick, chimneys and worn mortar joints, and we build walls, walks and outdoor kitchens.
- Licensed and insured.
- Free on-site estimates.
- We reply within 1 business day.
Tallassee homes from the mill days to now
A good part of Tallassee was built by the mill company around the turn of the last century, including the mill villages on the east and west sides of the city. A lot of the older brick we look at here comes from that era. Mixed in with it are newer houses on wooded lots in the hills along the Tallapoosa River, and those often have retaining walls, walks and patios built into the slope.
We see a lot of the same mix in Tuskegee and the other cities around Auburn. On the older houses, a repair has to suit soft old brick and mortar, and on the hillside lots, the slope and the drainage decide how a wall or walk gets built.
Masonry work we do in Tallassee
Foundation repair
When a brick house shows stair-step cracks or sticking doors, we find what's moving underneath first, so the repair fixes the cause and not just the crack.
Chimney repair
Older chimneys often lose mortar near the top first, where the weather hits hardest. We rebuild what's loose and reset the cap so water stays out.
Tuckpointing
When the joints on an older brick house have gone sandy or sunk back, we grind out the worn mortar and fill fresh lines that match the color and width.
Brick repair
Cracked, flaking or loose bricks usually point to water or movement behind them. We fix that cause, then swap the bad bricks for ones that match the house.
Driveway pavers
Pavers suit a sloped driveway because a well-packed base drains, and single pavers can be lifted and reset if a root or settling shifts them.
Retaining wall construction
On hilly lots a retaining wall holds the yard back, and we build drainage in behind it, since trapped water is usually what pushes a wall over.
Masonry restoration
For brick and stone on older houses, we clean, repair and repoint with materials that suit the original work, so the repair blends in and holds up.
Fireplace installation
We build indoor and outdoor fireplaces in brick or stone, laying out the firebox and flue so the fire draws well and the heat stays off the framing.
Stone veneer installation
Stone veneer gives a wall or chimney the look of stone without the weight, and we set it over a water barrier so moisture can't sit behind it.
Concrete block walls
Block suits garden walls, privacy walls and sloped yards, and we fill and reinforce the hollow cells wherever a wall needs extra strength.
Foundation block wall installation
For additions, crawl spaces and new builds, we lay block foundation walls level and square on a sound footing, so the house above starts out right.
Outdoor kitchen masonry
We build outdoor kitchens in brick, block and stone with room for the grill and counters, and we plan the base so it sits level on uneven ground.
Walkway construction
We lay brick, stone and paver walks that shed water to the side instead of holding it, which matters in yards that slope toward the house.
Brick wall installation
Brick garden and boundary walls look right beside older houses, and we size the footing to the wall so it holds straight as the ground settles.
Stone masonry
We build and repair stone walls, steps and columns, choosing stone and mortar that suit the setting, whether that's an old house or a wooded backyard.
Brick pointing
When the mortar between bricks has cracked or washed out, we rake the joints and refill them with a mix softer than the brick, so the mortar wears first.
Get a free masonry estimate for your Tallassee home
Send the form and we'll reply within one business day to set a time for me to come out. The estimate is free, done at your house, and comes with no pressure and no obligation.
(334) 780-0060- Based in
- Auburn, AL 36830
- Hours
- Mon–Fri: 7 AM–10 PM, Sat–Sun: 8 AM–9 PM
What working in Tallassee means for your job
Building permits in Tallassee go through the city's Business License and Permits office, which you can call at 334-283-6571 on weekdays from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Whether a masonry job needs a permit is the city's call, so I check with them before we set a start date, and when one's needed we handle the paperwork, which makes the city's timing part of ours. That same office issues business licenses, and you can check a contractor's state license with the Alabama Home Builders Licensure Board, so it's fair to ask anyone you're hiring about both. We're licensed and insured.
We're based in Auburn, and I come out to look at every Tallassee job myself. The price usually turns on what's causing the damage, how much brick, block or stone is involved, whether old brick and mortar have to be matched, and how hard it is to get materials to the work on a steep or wooded lot. The schedule turns on the permit, if there is one, and on the weather, because mortar needs decent days to set right.
What wears down Tallassee brick, walls and walks
Older brick was usually laid in a softer mortar than what's sold today, and that's how it's meant to work, because the joints take the wear and get redone every few decades while the brick stays sound. Trouble starts when worn joints go too long, or when somebody patches with hard modern mortar, because then water and movement go into the brick instead and it cracks or flakes. We check what's in the wall before we mix anything, and we match the mortar to it.
On hilly, wooded lots, it's usually water and roots. Runoff that collects behind a retaining wall or under a walk pushes and heaves it over the years, so when we build or rebuild, we give the water somewhere to go.
What to expect when you hire a masonry contractor in Tallassee
Here's how a job goes from your first call to the final walk-through, with me on it from the first look to the finish.
Call or send the form
Call (334) 780-0060 or fill out the form, and we'll set a time for me to come out. It helps if you can be there to show me what you've noticed and when it started.
I look the job over
I'll look at the wall, ask a lot of questions and work out what's behind the damage. Then I send an estimate that says what we'll do and why, so you know what you're paying for before anything starts.
We handle permits and work
When the job needs a permit, we take care of the paperwork with the city before we start. Then I work alongside our crew on the job itself.
We walk it with you
When we're finished, we walk the work with you and show you what we did and why. If anything looks off to you, we look at it right there.
Questions about masonry work in Tallassee
How do I schedule a building inspection in Tallassee, AL?
Text 334-452-5504, which the city's building department asks people to use for all inspections. That line handles inspections only, so permit questions still go to the permits office. On a job where we handled the permit, I'll tell you where each inspection falls in the work.
When does a masonry job in Tallassee need a state-licensed home builder?
When the work builds, remodels, repairs or improves a home and costs more than $10,000 with labor and materials counted together, the state home builders board treats whoever does it as a residential home builder, unless the work falls outside the board's jurisdiction. The board also lists a valid written contract as a requirement for its licensees, so on a job that size, ask to see both.
What does Tallassee need from a contractor before it issues a business license?
A business in an occupation with a state licensing board should show that board's license or certificate before it gets the city's business license. The city takes those applications through the same Business License and Permits office that handles building permits.
How much does masonry repair cost in Tallassee?
Your price comes from the estimate I write after looking at the job, because masonry repair is priced on the cause as much as on the damage you can see. On older Tallassee houses, finding brick and mortar that match can add to the cost, and on steep lots, getting materials to a back wall takes more labor. A crack that turns out to be a settling footing costs more to fix right than a failed joint, and the estimate tells you which one you have.
What causes cracks in brick walls on older houses in Tallassee?
Most cracks come from movement or water, usually a corner settling as the soil shifts, roots or runoff working on a footing, or a failed joint letting water into the wall. Stair-step cracks along the mortar usually mean movement, while cracks through the bricks often trace back to hard patch mortar. I figure out which it is before picking a fix, because a patch that ignores the cause usually cracks again.
Do I need an engineer or a mason for a cracked foundation in Tallassee?
Start with a mason if you're not sure, because most cracks can be read from their pattern and width, and plenty turn out to be mortar or a small settled spot we can fix. When a crack shows the foundation is still moving or the house is out of square, I'll tell you to bring in a structural engineer before we touch it, and we can do the repair the engineer lays out.
Other areas we serve
Auburn, AL
Have your Tallassee masonry looked at
A loose joint or a hairline crack is usually a smaller fix now than after a few more seasons of rain have worked their way behind it.