Masonry contractor in Amherst, NH - old brick and stone fixed at the cause
Capstone Manchester Concrete and Masonry is a masonry contractor based in Manchester. In Amherst we work on chimneys, foundations, brick and stone walls, walkways and pointing, and every repair starts with finding what caused the damage.
- Licensed and fully insured.
- Free on-site estimates.
- We respond within 1 business day.
Amherst homes, from the village common outward
Most of our calls in Amherst come from two kinds of house. Around the common, the village historic district is mostly homes, and many of them are Georgian, Federal and Greek Revival houses with tall brick chimneys, stone foundations and mortar joints patched by a lot of different hands over the years. Farther out the houses are newer, with poured or block foundations, paver driveways, fieldstone walls along the yard and walks up to the front door.
We do the same kind of work next door in Bedford and down in Nashua. In Amherst, the age of the house shapes the job most, because an old wall needs soft mortar and matched brick, while a newer one usually comes down to water and the ground under it.
Masonry services for Amherst houses and yards
When a crack shows up in a fieldstone or block foundation under an older Amherst house, we work out whether water, settling or a failed patch caused it first.
Old village chimneys often lose mortar near the roofline, so we rebuild what's loose and fix the cracked cap on top before water reaches the attic.
On sound brick with worn joints, we rake out the old mortar and refill it in a matching color and strength, so the wall reads as one piece.
Brick with a flaking or cracked face can usually be cut out and replaced one at a time, using matched brick so the repair doesn't show.
A paver driveway holds up when the base under it is dug deep enough and packed in layers, because most sunken spots start below the pavers.
On a sloped Amherst yard, a wall can hold a level terrace or driveway edge, and we build drainage behind it so water doesn't push it out.
On an older house, restoration means matching the old brick, stone and soft mortar so the repairs weather along with the rest of the house.
A new masonry fireplace starts with a footing that can carry the weight and a lined chimney, so heat and smoke go where they should.
Stone veneer can cover a bare foundation or a plain chimney, and we leave a drainage gap behind it so any water that gets in can get out.
Block walls work well for garage walls, outbuilding bases and taller garden walls, and we fill and reinforce them where the load calls for it.
For an addition or a new garage, we lay the block foundation on a solid footing and keep it straight and level, because everything above sits on it.
We build the brick or stone base, counter frame and grill surround for an outdoor kitchen, set on a footing sized for the weight it carries.
A walk to the front door of an older house often has lifted or sunken brick, and we relay it on a packed base so it sits flat.
A new brick garden or entry wall can be built to match the brick on an older house, with a cap and footing that keep water out.
Old fieldstone walls and foundations turn up on a lot of properties here, and we reset loose sections with the stone you already have when it's still sound.
When only a few joints are cracked or sandy, pointing those spots is often all a wall needs, and I'll tell you so rather than redo the whole face.
Get a free on-site masonry estimate in Amherst
Send the form and we'll get back to you within one business day to set a time. I'll come out, look at the problem and put what I'd fix in writing, free and with no obligation.
(603) 314-0526- Based in
- Manchester, NH 03104
- Hours
- Mon–Sun: 8 AM–9 PM
Permits, schedules and price on Amherst jobs
Building permits in Amherst come from the building department at the Town of Amherst, and when a masonry job needs one, the permit and its inspections set the pace more than the masonry does. We check with the department before any work starts and take care of the paperwork when a permit is needed, and we're licensed and fully insured. The schedule depends on that permit step, any historic review and how long it takes to match old brick or stone. The price depends on what's causing the damage, how much has to be rebuilt and how hard the work is to reach, and my written estimate tells you what I'd fix and why.
We're based in Manchester, and Amherst is an easy drive for our crew. Some houses here sit at the end of long driveways off narrower roads, so we plan where the truck can drop brick and stone without tearing up your lawn. If your property is in Amherst's Wetland and Watershed Conservation District or its Aquifer Conservation and Wellhead Protection District, those districts have their own Conditional Use Permit checklists, and that's worth knowing before you settle on a new wall, patio or driveway.
Why Amherst houses end up needing masonry work
On the older houses, age is the big one. Their mortar was usually softer than what's sold today, so when someone patches it with hard modern mortar, the brick around the patch takes the movement and starts to crack and flake. We see it most on chimneys and front walls, and the fix is often smaller than people fear, because it usually means cutting out the bad patches and repointing with a mortar that matches the old one.
On newer houses it's usually water. A downspout that empties next to the foundation, a driveway pitched toward the house or a wall with nothing behind it to drain it can soak and push masonry for years before a crack shows, so I look at where the water goes before I write up any repair.
How a masonry job runs when you call us in Amherst
Here's how a job goes from your first call to the final walk-through, with me there for the estimate and on the crew doing the work.
Call or send us a message
Tell us what you're seeing, whether it's a crack, a leak or worn joints, and we'll get back to you to set a time to come out. Photos help me get a head start.
I find the cause first
I come out, look at the problem with you and track down what's causing it, then write up what I'd fix and why. If a smaller repair will do the job, that's what goes on the estimate.
We handle permits and work
Once you say go, we sort out the permit side and our crew does the work, with me on it. Inspections in Amherst usually need one or two days' notice, so we book them ahead and plan each stage around them.
Walk the finished job together
When the work's done, we walk it with you and show you what we fixed and what caused the problem, so you know what to keep an eye on. The work is backed by our satisfaction guarantee.
Questions about masonry work in Amherst, NH
How do I find out if my masonry project needs a permit in Amherst, NH?
Call Amherst's building department and talk your plans over with the Building Official before work starts, which is what the department itself advises. Its list of jobs that usually need a permit names additions, new buildings, sheds, barns, decks and pools, but not masonry repair, so for a chimney, wall or foundation job it's better to ask than to guess. Applications are at the Community Development counter at Town Hall, 603-673-6041, or on Amherst's forms and permits page.
What is the best way to get historic district approval for masonry work in Amherst village?
Raise it with the Building Official before anything else, because most projects in the Historic District Commission's area need its approval before a building permit is issued. That covers new construction and additions that change the outside of a building or its property features, and the building department's permit FAQ lists things as small as windows, doors, sheds and generators. A new chimney, wall or front walk is worth asking about early, so the review doesn't hold up the schedule later.
Does an outdoor kitchen or gas fireplace in Amherst need separate permits?
The gas, electrical and plumbing parts usually do, because Amherst typically requires separate permits for electrical, plumbing and other mechanical work, propane included. There's a separate sub-contractor permit application for electrical and plumbing work, so we build the masonry base, counters or firebox and leave room for the lines the other trades run.
How many inspections does a masonry project need in Amherst?
The Building Official will tell you about how many your project may need, because Amherst requires on-site inspections to check that the work matches the permit, the plans and local and state codes. We plan the work in stages around them so nothing gets covered up before it's been inspected.
Do I need engineered plans for a retaining wall or foundation in Amherst, NH?
Probably not, since most home projects in Amherst don't need stamped engineered plans as long as the plans meet the building codes. The Building Official decides when a project does need them, so for a tall retaining wall or a new foundation we ask early, before the design is settled.
What drives the cost of masonry repair in Amherst, NH?
What's causing the damage drives it more than anything, because a few worn joints is a small repair, while a crack from water or a settling footing means fixing what's behind it too. On older houses, matching soft mortar and old brick takes more time, and a tall chimney needs staging to reach safely. I'll write up what I'd fix after I've looked, and if a smaller repair will do, that's the one I'll recommend.
Manchester, NH
Plan your Amherst masonry job with us
Most cracks are easier to explain and fix while they're still small, so call (603) 314-0526 or send the form before more water gets in.