Masonry contractor in Manchester, NH - repairs that start with the cause
Capstone Manchester Concrete and Masonry is a masonry contractor based in Manchester, NH. We repair brick, chimneys, foundations and worn mortar joints on Manchester homes and rentals, and build retaining walls, walkways and paver driveways.
- Licensed and fully insured.
- Free on-site estimates.
- We respond within 1 business day.
Manchester houses and what their masonry goes through
Manchester is our home city, and most of our calls come from homeowners and landlords looking at a crack, a damp basement wall or mortar that's washing out of the joints. A lot of the houses we work on here are older, with brick walls, brick chimneys and block or stone foundations that have been patched more than once. Plenty are two- and three-family rentals, so I'm often explaining the problem to an owner who doesn't live there. We do the same work next door in Goffstown and Auburn.
That age shapes the job. Older brick is often softer than what's sold today, and the old mortar was mixed softer too, so a repair has to match what's there or the new work can end up hurting the old. On a house that's been patched for decades, the first thing I sort out is which crack is new and why.
Masonry services we do on Manchester properties
When a basement wall in an older Manchester house cracks, bows or lets water in, we find what's pushing on it before we fix the wall itself.
Old brick chimneys here usually lose mortar at the top first, where they're most exposed. We repoint or rebuild what's loose and find where water's getting in.
When the mortar between bricks has worn back and crumbles under a fingernail, tuckpointing replaces it with fresh mortar shaped to match, so the wall sheds water again.
Cracked or flaking bricks on an older house can usually be cut out and replaced one by one with brick that matches what's around them.
Pavers make sense when a worn-out Manchester driveway needs replacing, because single pieces can be lifted and reset later instead of breaking out a whole slab.
On sloped yards where a bank keeps sliding onto a driveway or walkway, we build a retaining wall with drainage behind it so water doesn't push it over.
For older brick and stone that's been patched for decades, restoration brings back sound joints and matched brick while keeping the look of the original work.
A new masonry fireplace fits best when we plan the firebox, hearth and chimney together, which matters in older houses where the existing chimney may need work first.
Stone veneer gives a block foundation, chimney or entry wall a stone face without the weight of full stone, once we know the wall behind it is sound.
Block walls work well for garages, sheds and property-line walls on city lots, and we set them on a footing that suits the ground underneath.
When an addition, garage or failed foundation section needs new block walls, we lay them square and level so everything built on top sits right.
We build the block, brick or stone base and grill surround for an outdoor kitchen, and leave room for any wiring or gas lines that come later.
A front walk at a house or rental that's heaved, cracked or turned into a trip hazard can be rebuilt in brick, stone or pavers on a packed base.
New brick garden walls, piers and screen walls can be built to sit well beside an older brick house, with brick and mortar chosen to match.
Old stone foundations and walls around Manchester often have loose stones and washed-out joints, and we reset and repoint them with mortar suited to old stone.
When only some joints on a brick wall have opened up, pointing fills just those, so you're not paying to redo a wall that's mostly sound.
Get a written masonry estimate for your Manchester home
We respond within one business day to set a time. I come out, walk the job with you and put a free on-site estimate in writing, with no obligation to go ahead.
(603) 314-0526- Based in
- Manchester, NH 03104
- Hours
- Mon–Sun: 8 AM–9 PM
Working in Manchester: permits, licenses and what sets the price
Building permits in Manchester go through the city's Building Division, which reviews plans, approves permits and does the field inspections. Whether your masonry job needs a permit is the division's call, so we check with them before work starts and take care of the paperwork when it does, and because we wait for approval, the city's review often sets the start date. If you want to check on a contractor, the city clerk's Business Licensing and Enforcement Division at (603) 624-6348 can tell you whether a business needs a city license for its work, and the state's licensing office supports the boards that license professions like electricians. We're licensed and fully insured.
The price mostly comes down to what's causing the damage, how much brick, block or stone has to be redone and how hard it is to reach, because a tall chimney on a three-decker takes more setup than a low garden wall. The schedule turns on the permit, if there is one, and on how much old material has to be matched. I walk the job with you and put my estimate in writing so you see where your number comes from. We work the same way in Bedford and many of the cities around Manchester, including a few just over the line in Massachusetts.
Manchester's older houses and what wears them out
Most of the masonry damage we see here starts with water. On older brick, the mortar is meant to wear before the brick does, but once the joints open up, water gets into the wall, the chimney or the basement, and the cracks and flaking follow. So we track down where the water is coming from, whether that's a gutter dumping at a corner, ground sloping toward the house or a cracked chimney cap, and fix that along with the masonry, because a patch over an active leak just fails again.
A lot of Manchester property is rental, and on a rental a small leak can sit a long while before anyone mentions it. Landlords call us to find out what's actually wrong, and I'll tell you when a pointing job will do instead of a rebuild.
How a masonry job runs when you call us in Manchester
Here's how a job goes from your first call to the final walk-through, including where the city's permit office comes in.
Call or send us a message
Call (603) 314-0526 or use the form and tell us what you're seeing, whether it's a crack, a leak or joints wearing out. We get back to you and set a time for me to come look.
I find the cause
I walk the job with you, look past the crack to what's causing it and write up what I'd fix and why. If a smaller fix will do the job, that's what I'll recommend.
We handle permits, then work
Once you say go, we check with the city's building office, take care of the permit paperwork when the job needs one and start once it's approved. I'm on the crew doing the work, and any city inspections happen as the job goes.
Walk the finished job together
When we're done, we clean up and walk the finished work with you. It's the time to point out anything you want me to look at again.
Questions about masonry work in Manchester, NH
Do I need a permit to repair a porch in Manchester, NH?
Porch repair is on the city's permit list, because the Building Division processes permits to build, repair or replace porches and decks. If the brick or stone on your porch is part of the work, we ask the city before we start and take care of the paperwork when a permit is needed.
How do I prepare a site plan for a building permit in Manchester, NH?
Draw every structure on your lot to scale and note the setbacks, meaning how far each one sits from your lot lines, because that's what the city's site plan has to show. Many permits for outdoor projects ask for one, so a retaining wall or outdoor kitchen near a property line is worth planning with that drawing in mind. We'll go over what yours needs to show when we look at the job.
How early should I request a Certificate of Occupancy in Manchester, NH?
For a one- or two-family home, the city asks you to request it five business days before you need it, and ten business days for commercial work or residential projects with more than three units. It's issued only after every inspection on every permit tied to the project, including other departments' permits, is approved and the paperwork is in. If masonry is part of a bigger project, we'll tell you where our inspections fall so you can plan around them.
Do I need a licensed electrician for an outdoor kitchen in Manchester, NH?
Yes, if the kitchen has wiring at 30 volts or more, because New Hampshire requires an active, valid state electrician license for that work. On a city electrical permit for a multi-family building, a commercial property or a single-family home the owner doesn't live in, it has to be a licensed New Hampshire master electrician. We build the masonry and leave room for the wiring, and the electrician takes it from there.
How much does masonry repair cost in Manchester, NH?
A masonry repair here is priced on what's causing the damage, how much brick, block or stone has to be redone and how hard the work is to reach. A few spot repairs on a low wall cost far less than repointing a whole chimney on a three-decker, and matching old brick and soft mortar takes more care than new work. My written estimate shows what I'd fix and why, so you can see what you're paying for.
What causes foundation cracks in older Manchester houses?
Most foundation cracks come from water and soil pushing on the wall, from the house settling, or from shrinkage as concrete or mortar cures. A thin hairline crack is often just shrinkage, but a crack that's wider at one end or a wall that's bowing in needs a closer look, and gutters or ground that send water toward the house are common culprits. I'll tell you which kind you've got before I suggest any repair.
Manchester, NH
Get your Manchester masonry problem looked at
Call (603) 314-0526 or send the form, and every job we take on is backed by our satisfaction guarantee.