Masonry Contractor in Ferndale, WA - Brick, Block and Walls Built for Wet Ground
Allied Bellingham Concrete and Masonry is a masonry contractor in Bellingham working in Ferndale, repointing worn brick, fixing chimneys and building retaining walls, walkways and paver driveways planned for the low, wet ground here.
- Licensed and insured.
- Free in-person estimates.
- Expect a reply within 1 business day.
Homes and yards across Ferndale
Ferndale sits just north of Bellingham along the Nooksack River. The houses we work on there run from older homes near downtown, many with brick chimneys and block foundations, to newer subdivisions where people want paver driveways, walkways and backyard walls. Most calls are about worn mortar, a chimney that's started letting water in, or a yard project someone has been planning for a while. We're up that way often, since it's on the way from Bellingham to Blaine.
Much of low-lying Ferndale lies in the Nooksack's 100-year floodplain, ground with a 1-percent chance of flooding in any given year, and not all of the flooding here comes from the river topping its banks. So on most yard jobs I start by looking at where water sits and runs, because a wall, patio or walkway on soft, wet soil needs a deeper base and somewhere for the water to go, or it settles and leans.
What we keep in mind on Ferndale jobs
Masonry work in Ferndale goes through the City of Ferndale, which issues the Land Disturbance Permits most improvements need and the building permits for anything that counts as a structure, so a new wall or patio may wait on the city's review before we dig. Before you hire anyone, it's fair to ask for two things, a Washington contractor registration and a Ferndale business license, because the city requires a license even from a contractor based outside it, like us.
Before work starts, we check with the city, tell you what it says, and help you sort out the application if a permit is needed. The price here moves mostly with the ground, meaning how deep we dig and how much base and drainage go in, along with the size of the job, the brick or stone you pick and how easy the spot is to reach. The schedule turns on permits and on staying out of the wettest months. That's the big difference from a hillside place like Sudden Valley, where walls hold back slopes, and I put all of it in the written estimate, what I'd do and why.
Get a free written estimate for your Ferndale project
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 Ferndale property myself, walk the job with you and leave a written estimate that's free, with no pressure and no obligation.
Call (360) 255-7006Services in Ferndale, WA
Chimney repair
Wet winters find every cracked crown and open joint on an older chimney. In chimney repair we rebuild the crown and repoint the joints to keep water out.
Tuckpointing
Mortar on older Ferndale brick turns soft and sandy after years of rain. We grind out the worn joints and refill them with mortar matched to your brick.
Retaining wall construction
On low, soft ground, a wall without drainage leans within a few winters. We dig to firm soil, build a packed base and add drainage behind the wall.
Foundation repair
Block foundations on wet ground crack and seep where mortar or soil gives way. We find the cause first, then repair the block and joints to match.
Driveway pavers
Pavers on soft soil sink and rut unless the base is deep enough. We dig out, compact a thick base, then set and lock the pavers.
Walkway construction
A walkway in a yard that holds water turns slick and uneven by spring. We build it on a firm base, pitched so rain runs off instead of pooling.
What happens after you call us about a Ferndale job
Call or send a request
Call (360) 255-7006 or fill out the form with a few lines about the job and your Ferndale address. We'll get back to you and set a time for me to come out.
Walk the job together
I look at the brick, the wall or the ground with you, answer your questions and leave a written estimate of what I'd do. You'll see what's driving the price, like base, drainage or material, before you decide anything.
Sort permits, set a start
Once you're ready, we confirm what your permit needs and book a start. Most city permits stay valid only with an inspection or real progress every 180 days, so we time the application to the work.
Our masons build, I check in
Our masons do the work while I check in with them and with you as it goes. If your job carried a building permit, it's complete at the city's final inspection, with no separate occupancy certificate for a house.
Common questions
Do I need a Land Disturbance Permit for a masonry project in Ferndale?
Probably, since the city's guidance on common projects says the vast majority of improvements need one. Very minor work that moves less than 50 cubic yards of dirt and installs no infrastructure is exempt, and anything that counts as a structure also needs a building permit. We confirm what your job needs before we start.
What rules apply to building in the floodplain in Ferndale?
All development in the 100-year floodplain has to follow the city's floodplain rules. As a general rule, building in the floodway, where flood water can carry structures away, is restricted, while elsewhere in the floodplain work is allowed when it's raised above the base flood elevation, flood-proofed, or both. We ask the city what applies at your address before we plan the job.
Does my masonry contractor need to be registered with Washington State?
Yes, Washington requires every construction contractor to register with the state Department of Labor & Industries and to be bonded and insured. Registration is what lets a contractor bid, advertise and do the work, and it's separate from the Ferndale business license mentioned above. Ask any contractor you're considering about both before you sign.
Do I need a permit to work near the street in Ferndale?
Yes, project work in the public right of way, the strip of public land along the street, needs an Encroachment Permit from the city. The same goes for extending or changing city utilities, a permit the city says people often forget. It comes up most with driveway aprons and walkways that meet the sidewalk, so we work out where your property ends before we lay anything out.
What is the best time of year for masonry work in Ferndale?
Late spring through early fall usually works best for anything that involves digging, because flooding across the county typically comes between October and February, and soaked ground is hard to pack into a solid base. Repairs like repointing or a chimney crown can run later into fall on a dry stretch, as long as the mortar has time to set before a freeze. If you want a wall or patio built in summer, start the estimate and permit questions over the winter.
How much does masonry work cost in Ferndale?
Your cost comes from the size of the job, the material and how much ground prep it needs, and I put your number in writing after walking it with you. In Ferndale the ground prep varies most, because low, soft soil can call for deeper digging, more base rock and drainage before any brick or stone goes up. Choosing a manufactured paver over natural stone, or repairing instead of rebuilding, usually brings the price down.
Plan your Ferndale masonry project with us
Call (360) 255-7006 or send the form, and I'll look at the job before you've bought a single brick, so the plan fits your house and your ground.