Masonry Contractor in Mount Vernon, WA - Brick and Stone Work Built for Wet Ground
Allied Bellingham Concrete and Masonry is a masonry contractor working in Mount Vernon, WA. We repoint older brick, fix chimneys and foundations, and build retaining walls, walkways and stone veneer that suit the house and the ground under it.
- Licensed and insured.
- Free in-person estimates.
- Expect a reply within 1 business day.
Homes and yards across Mount Vernon
Mount Vernon runs from the flat ground along the Skagit River up onto the hills above downtown, and the houses change as you climb. Near downtown and on the older streets, we see brick chimneys, block foundations and garden walls that have stood through a lot of wet winters. Up the hills, the homes are mostly newer and sit on sloped lots, so the calls lean toward retaining walls, steps, walkways and stone fronts.
It's much the same mix we work in up the road in Burlington and over in Sedro-Woolley. On the valley floor, the soil holds water for long stretches, so a wall, walk or foundation repair there starts with drainage and a firm base, and on older brick I pick a mortar that lets the wall dry out instead of one that's harder than the brick.
Permits, licenses and pricing for Mount Vernon jobs
Inside city limits, the City of Mount Vernon decides whether your job needs a permit. Its Building Division reviews permits and inspects the work, so when a permit is needed, the start date waits on that review. Before you hire anyone, check their state contractor registration and that they hold the business license the city requires for working within its limits. We're licensed and insured, and because rules differ between the city, the county and each city we work in, we check with the office for your address before work starts, tell you what it says and help with the application if you need one. Price here turns mostly on what's hidden: how much old mortar has to come out, how high and hard to reach the work is, and how much drainage and base the ground needs before anything goes on top. The schedule turns on the permit and the weather, and the written estimate I leave after seeing the job gives you your own figure.
We're a masonry contractor based in Bellingham, and Mount Vernon is a straight run down I-5, so getting our crew and materials here is routine. Older houses near downtown often sit close to the sidewalk and the house next door, so we plan where the scaffolding, mortar mixing and stone go before we show up, and we clean up as we go.
Get a free masonry estimate for your Mount Vernon home
Send the form or call (360) 255-7006, and we'll reply within one business day to set a visit. I'll come out to your Mount Vernon home, look at the work with you and leave a free written estimate, with no pressure and no obligation.
Call (360) 255-7006Services in Mount Vernon, WA
Tuckpointing
Older brick here often has mortar washing out after years of valley rain. We rake out worn joints and repack them with mortar soft enough for old brick.
Chimney repair
Chimneys take the worst of the valley's wind and rain, and a cracked top cap lets water in. We rebuild the cap, repoint the stack and reset loose brick.
Foundation repair
Foundations on low ground take on more water, and it shows as cracks and damp walls. We find where the water's getting in before we patch.
Retaining wall construction
Sloped lots on the hills need walls that hold soil through wet winters. We plan drainage behind the wall first, since trapped water is what pushes walls over.
Stone veneer installation
Many newer houses here get a stone front along the base. Our stone veneer installation goes over a drainage gap so water that gets behind it drains away.
Walkway construction
Flat yards on the valley floor hold water, and walks on a thin base sink. We dig deeper and pack a gravel base so the path stays level.
What happens when you call us about a Mount Vernon job
Call or send a request
Call (360) 255-7006 or fill out the form, and we'll get back to you to set a time that works. Tell us what you're seeing, and send photos if you have them.
Walk the job with me
I come out myself, look at the brick, wall or yard with you and answer your questions, so it's best if you're home. You get a written estimate that says what I'd do and why, so you know the price before you decide anything.
Check permits and set a start
We check what the city needs for your address and help with the application if there is one. If the city has to review it, the start date we set comes after that review.
Our masons do the work
Our masons do the work while I check in with them and keep you posted, and you don't need to be home every day. The work is backed by our satisfaction guarantee.
Common questions
Do I need a permit to build a retaining wall in Mount Vernon, WA?
Not for a wall 4 feet tall or less, measured from the bottom of its buried footing to the top, unless it's holding up a surcharge, which is extra weight such as a driveway or a slope above it. Anything taller or carrying that kind of load needs a building permit, and building permits go in through the city's online permit portal. We measure your wall the way the city does before we plan it.
Does a brick or stone fence need a permit in Mount Vernon?
It skips the building permit if it's under 7 feet tall from the ground next to it and has no masonry or concrete above 6 feet, but only once you have a fence permit from the city's Development Services Department. Taller masonry needs a building permit. We'll check which one applies to your fence and help you get the application in.
Do I need a permit for a paver driveway or walkway in Mount Vernon?
Driveways and sidewalks don't need a building permit in Mount Vernon, but they may need an Engineering permit from the city. We ask the city about it for your address before we dig out the old surface.
How do I check that a masonry contractor is licensed in Washington?
Ask for their registration with the state Department of Labor and Industries, because Washington requires every construction contractor to register there and to be bonded and insured. Trades like plumbing and electrical carry extra exams and licenses on top of that. In Mount Vernon, also ask about the city business license.
What causes so many wet walls and foundations in Mount Vernon?
Water, from heavy rain and from flooding on the low ground. The city says flooding is its most common natural disaster after severe storms, and a significant portion of Mount Vernon lies in the 100-year floodplain. On low lots we find where the water is getting in before we patch a crack, and new walls and walks get drainage and a firm base first.
How much does masonry work cost in Mount Vernon, WA?
There's no single price, because it's set by how much has to be fixed or built and what the house and ground need first. Repointing only the worst joints costs less than a whole wall, manufactured stone usually costs less than natural stone, and a wall on wet ground costs more because of the drainage and base it needs. I walk the job and put my figure in writing, so you know the number before you decide.
Book your Mount Vernon masonry estimate
Call (360) 255-7006 or send the form before the next wet winter, since loose mortar and poor drainage usually cost more to fix the longer they go.