Masonry Contractor in Concord, NH - Fixing the Cause Behind Cracks and Leaks
Capstone Manchester Concrete and Masonry is a masonry contractor working in Concord, NH. We repair foundations, chimneys and brick, starting with what caused the damage, and we build walls, walkways and fireplaces.
- Licensed and fully insured.
- Free on-site estimates.
- We respond within 1 business day.
Concord houses, from old brick to newer lots
Concord has a lot of older housing near the center of the city. Those are brick and wood-framed homes with tall chimneys and foundations of fieldstone, brick or block, and the neighborhoods get newer and the lots get bigger as you head out. As a masonry contractor based in Manchester, NH, we come up to Concord for the same calls we get at home, like a basement crack someone wants explained, a chimney that leaks or joints going soft.
That mix shapes the job, because an old stone foundation and a newer block one fail for different reasons, and I fix them in different ways.
Masonry services we bring to Concord homes
When a crack shows up in the basement after a hard winter, we work out whether frost, water or settling caused it before we patch anything.
Chimneys stand in wind and wet all winter, so loose top courses, cracked crowns and leaks into the attic are common calls on older Concord houses.
Worn joints on older brick let water in every thaw, so we grind out the failed mortar and pack in new mortar matched to the brick.
Spalled or cracked brick usually means water is getting in somewhere, so we replace the damaged brick and fix the path the water took.
Pavers on a deep, well-packed base ride out frost better than a slab, and if one settles it can be lifted and reset on its own.
Sloped yards need walls that drain, because water trapped behind a wall freezes and pushes it out, so we build drainage in from the bottom course up.
Older brick and stone homes need mortar softer than the masonry it holds, so we match the original mix instead of locking old walls in hard cement.
We build masonry fireplaces sized to the room and the flue, so the fire draws properly and the firebox stands up to long heating seasons.
Veneer on a foundation or wall needs a drainage gap and flashing behind it, because trapped water and New Hampshire winters will pop it loose.
Block walls for garages, basements and outbuildings go on footings set below frost depth, with reinforcement where the load calls for it.
For additions and new builds we lay foundation walls that are reinforced, damp-proofed and drained, since a wet basement is hard to fix later.
We build grill islands and counters in block, brick or stone on a proper base, so frost doesn't crack them over the first winter.
A front walk that heaves every spring usually sat on too thin a base, so we dig deeper and pack it before setting brick, stone or pavers.
We lay new brick walls, from garden walls to additions, with caps and flashing that shed water so freezing and thawing can't work into the joints.
Old stone foundations and stone walls turn up all over Concord, and we repair and rebuild them with stone and mortar that match what's already there.
When joints are recessed or crumbly but the brick is still sound, pointing is often all you need, and I'll tell you if that's the case.
Get a written masonry estimate for your Concord home
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 give you a free written estimate, with no obligation.
(603) 314-0526- Based in
- Manchester, NH 03104
- Hours
- Mon–Sun: 8 AM–9 PM
Permits, pricing and scheduling for Concord masonry work
Building permits in Concord come from the city's Building Safety Division, which issues them for altering or repairing any building or part of one, so foundation, chimney and wall work on the house often goes through that office. On those jobs the start date waits on the city's review. We're licensed and fully insured, our work is backed by our satisfaction guarantee, and you're welcome to ask for proof of insurance before we start.
We check with the building office before any job here and take care of the paperwork when one's needed. Price turns on how far the damage runs once I trace the cause, whether old brick, stone or mortar has to be matched, and how easy it is to get staging and a mixer to the wall on a tight lot. The schedule turns on that permit review and the weather, because mortar work slows in a hard freeze, and the written estimate gives you your own figure. It's the same work we do in Amherst and the other cities around Manchester.
Concord weather is hard on brick and mortar
The city's own building criteria rate weathering here as severe, and you can see it on the houses. Water soaks into soft brick and worn joints, freezes overnight and pushes the face off a brick or the mortar out of a joint, a little more each winter, and salt off the walks and steps speeds that up. We repoint and replace what's damaged, but first we find where the water's getting in, because new mortar under a leaking cap or a missing flashing just fails again.
Sloped yards and wet ground send water toward foundations and the backs of walls, which is where a lot of basement cracks and leaning walls start. I look at the grading and drainage around the problem before deciding how much masonry actually needs work.
How a masonry job in Concord runs, from first call to walkthrough
Here's what happens after you reach out, from my first look at the problem to the day we walk the finished work with you.
Call or send a message
Call (603) 314-0526 or use the form, tell us what you're seeing, and we'll get back to you to set up a visit. Photos help if you have them.
I come out and find the cause
I look at the problem, hunt down what's behind it and write up what I'd fix and why, so you see the figure before anything starts. If a smaller fix will do, I'll tell you.
We handle the city permit
Once you say go, we sort out the permit side with the city. In Concord the application has to be approved for zoning and site compliance before the permit is issued, so the start date follows that approval.
We do the work and walk it
I'm on the crew that does the work, so the person who found the problem is there when it's fixed. When we're done, we walk the finished job with you and go over what we did.
Masonry contractor questions in Concord, NH
Do I need a building permit for masonry repair in Concord NH?
Work on the house itself often does, and masonry isn't on the city's short list of exempt work, which covers sheds of 60 square feet or less, nonstructural roofing, replacement windows and siding, and fences up to 7 feet tall. For something like a freestanding wall or a walkway, the city's residential permit guide doesn't settle it, but the Code Administration Office will answer by phone or email at no charge. We check before we start either way.
How do I apply for a building permit in Concord?
Applications go through the city's online Citizen Self Service permit portal. When your job needs a permit, we take care of the paperwork, so you don't have to work through the portal yourself.
Does exterior masonry work in Concord's Historical District need approval?
Yes, all exterior work in the Historical District needs Planning approval, on top of the building permit. Let me know at the estimate if your house is in the district, so we can plan the schedule around that step.
How do I schedule a building inspection in Concord?
Inspections are scheduled by phone with the city at (603) 225-8580, and the number and type depend on the project. When your job has a permit, we'll go over which inspections it calls for so you know what's coming.
How much does masonry repair cost in Concord, NH?
Masonry repair is priced by the job, based on how far the damage runs and what's causing it, and I put that figure in writing after I've seen it. Repointing a few courses where a gutter spills is a much smaller job than rebuilding a chimney above the roof, and I'll tell you when the smaller fix is enough. Matching old brick or stone and working on a cramped lot can add to it.
How deep is the frost line for footings in Concord, NH?
The city's building design criteria put the frost line at 48 inches. Footings for foundation and block walls go below that so frost can't get under them and lift them, and we plan new walls with that depth in mind.
Manchester, NH
Get your Concord masonry problem looked at
Small cracks and loose joints take in more water every freeze, so having one looked at before winter sets in usually keeps the fix smaller.