Masonry Contractor in Bellingham, WA - Repointing and Walls That Suit Your House
Allied Bellingham Concrete and Masonry is a masonry contractor based in Bellingham, WA. We repoint older brick, fix chimneys and foundations, and build retaining walls, walkways and stone work for homes across the city.
- Licensed and insured.
- Free in-person estimates.
- Expect a reply within 1 business day.
Older brick and hillside yards in Bellingham
Bellingham is where we're based, and it's where a lot of our calls come from. Much of the work is on older houses, the kind with brick chimneys, block or brick foundations and front steps that a few owners before you have patched. Newer homes toward the edges of the city bring different calls, usually retaining walls, stone veneer and walkways for yards the builder left half done. In between sit plenty of rentals and small commercial buildings with brick nobody has touched in years.
The ground is the other half of it. A lot of the city sits on slopes, so yards step down in levels and every wall or walk has soil pushing on it and water running across it, which is why I spend as much thought on the base and drainage as on the brick or stone you'll see. It's the same thinking we bring to hillside jobs out in Sudden Valley.
What working inside Bellingham city limits involves
Inside city limits, permits come from the City of Bellingham, and that sets when we can start, because we don't put a date on the calendar until we know what the city wants for your job. Before you hire anyone, check that the contractor is registered with the state and has the Bellingham city endorsement on their Washington business license. The endorsement is a $40 add-on through the state Department of Revenue, so there's little reason for anyone working here to skip it. We're licensed and insured, and I'm happy to go over our paperwork at the estimate.
On a steep street or a tight lot we often can't get a truck close, so block, stone and mortar go in by wheelbarrow or by hand, and that's one of the things that moves the price here. The others are how much old material has to come out before anything new goes in and what you choose to build with, while the schedule turns on the permit check and our masons' calendar. I put all of it in writing when I come out, and it's the same work we do north of the city in Ferndale and the cities around it.
Get a written estimate for your Bellingham masonry job
Send the form or call (360) 255-7006, and we'll reply within one business day to set a time. I'll come out to your house in Bellingham, look at the work with you and leave a written estimate that's free and comes with no obligation.
Call (360) 255-7006Services in Bellingham, WA
Tuckpointing
Older brick homes here often have joints worn soft and sandy. We grind out the failed mortar and repack it with a mix matched to your brick.
Chimney repair
A leaky chimney usually starts with a cracked crown or open joints up top. We rebuild the crown and repoint or relay loose brick to keep water out.
Foundation repair
Cracked and crumbling block in older basements and crawlspaces is a common call here. Our foundation repair starts with finding why it moved, then rebuilding or patching the masonry.
Retaining wall construction
Sloped yards across the city need walls that hold soil and don't start leaning later. We plan the base and drainage first, then build in block or stone.
Masonry restoration
Some older homes need more than one fix, like flaking brick faces and bad old patches. We sort out the order and use materials that suit the house.
Walkway construction
Front walks on sloped lots often settle unevenly and catch a toe. We dig out, pack a firm base and set brick, stone or pavers level.
What happens after you call us in Bellingham
Call or send a request
Give us your address and a quick description of what you're seeing, and send photos if you have them. We'll set a time for me to come out that works for you.
Walk the job together
I come out myself, look at the brick, chimney or yard with you, and answer whatever you want to ask. You get what I'd do in writing, so you can take your time deciding.
Check permits and set a start
Before work starts we check with the office that covers your address, tell you what it says and help with the application if a permit is needed. If the job includes electrical work, like power to an outdoor kitchen, a notice on the city's permit portal says electrical inspections book at least a week out, so we plan the start around that.
Our masons do the work
Our masons build or repair it while I check in with them and with you along the way. The finished work is backed by our satisfaction guarantee.
Common questions
Does a Bellingham address mean the city's permit rules apply to my house?
Not always, because many homes with a Bellingham mailing address sit in unincorporated areas outside city limits. City permits and rules apply inside those limits, and a different office covers the rest. That's why the first thing we check is which side of the line your house is on.
Which permits go through the City of Bellingham permit portal?
The city's online permit portal handles electrical, mechanical, plumbing, water heater replacement, re-roof, and sign and awning permits. Building and land-use applications go by email to the city's Permit Center at permits@cob.org. Masonry isn't on the portal list, so that list alone doesn't tell you whether your wall, chimney or foundation job needs a permit, and we ask the city about your specific project.
How do I check that a masonry contractor is licensed in Washington?
Look them up with the state Department of Labor & Industries, because every construction contractor in Washington has to register there. To register, a contractor carries a $15,000 bond as a specialty contractor or $30,000 as a general contractor, plus liability insurance of $200,000 in public liability and $50,000 for property damage, or $250,000 combined. State law also says the registration number has to appear on their bids and ads, so it's an easy thing to ask for.
Which building codes apply to masonry work in Bellingham right now?
Bellingham works under the 2021 codes, which took effect in the city on March 15, 2024. The state building code council says the 2024 codes take effect May 3, 2027, so if you're planning a bigger project for 2027 or later, the rules will change then. We check which edition applies when we look into your permit.
What is the best way to build a retaining wall on a sloped lot in Bellingham?
Start by looking hard at the slope and the soil, because the state's hazard maps don't tell the whole story. The Washington Department of Natural Resources notes that a spot with no landslide mapped can still carry landslide risk, and that peat ground can shift for good in an earthquake and needs a site-specific look under the building code. I walk the slope with you, and where the ground looks like it needs that kind of look, I'll tell you before we plan the wall.
How much does masonry repair cost in Bellingham?
The price comes down to how much old work has to come out, how much new material goes in and how hard the spot is to reach. Matching the color and size of old brick can take some hunting, a tall chimney needs staging to work from safely, and some damage only shows once the old mortar or stone is opened up. I walk the job with you and put my number in writing, so you know what you're looking at before you decide.
Get your Bellingham masonry job looked at
Worn mortar and small cracks cost less to fix before water works in behind them, so call (360) 255-7006 or send the form while it's still a repair.