Masonry contractor in Sedro-Woolley, WA - brick and stone work made for wet ground
Allied Bellingham Concrete and Masonry is a masonry contractor that repoints brick, repairs chimneys and builds retaining walls, walkways and fireplaces for homeowners in Sedro-Woolley, WA. I walk each job myself, and our masons do the work.
- Licensed and insured.
- Free in-person estimates.
- Expect a reply within 1 business day.
Sedro-Woolley houses and the ground they sit on
Sedro-Woolley sits east of Burlington along the Skagit River, and the calls we get here usually fall into two groups. Older houses near downtown tend to have brick chimneys and foundations that have been through a lot of wet winters, so worn mortar, leaky chimney crowns and settling block come up often. On newer lots toward the edges of the city, people are more often planning something new, like a retaining wall, a walkway or an outdoor kitchen.
The ground shapes most of that work. An older county hazard plan found a small part of the city in the 100-year floodplain and a moderate amount in the 500-year floodplain, with a few properties in the floodway along the river at the south edge and in the city's southwest arm. That plan doesn't tell you your own lot's flood zone today, but on low ground near the river we plan for wet soil, with a deeper base and drainage behind walls, before anything gets built.
Permits, licenses and pricing for Sedro-Woolley jobs
Rules differ between the county and each city we work in, so before a Sedro-Woolley job 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. That check comes before we set a start date, so it's the first thing that can move your schedule. You can check two things on any contractor here. Washington requires every construction contractor to register with the state Department of Labor and Industries, which everyone calls L&I, and Sedro-Woolley requires a business license from any business located in or working inside city limits, including ones based elsewhere like us. We're licensed and insured, and I'm happy to show you what we carry.
Sedro-Woolley is part of our regular drive into Skagit County, along with Burlington and Mount Vernon. What moves the price here is mostly how much old work has to come out, which brick, block or stone suits the house, how close we can get the truck to the work, and how much base and drainage the ground needs. The schedule turns on the weather, because mortar needs dry days above freezing to set up right, and on how long the material takes to arrive. After I've walked the job with you, I put what I'd do in writing, so you're working from a real figure for your house.
Get a free written estimate for your Sedro-Woolley job
Send the form or call, and we'll reply within one business day to set a time. I come out to your house in Sedro-Woolley, look at the work with you, answer your questions and leave a written estimate. It's free, and there's no pressure and no obligation.
Call (360) 255-7006Services in Sedro-Woolley, WA
Tuckpointing
Rain wears the mortar out of older brick here first. We grind out the worn joints and repack them with a mortar that suits the old brick.
Chimney repair
Wet winters find every cracked crown and loose brick on a chimney. We rebuild the top, reset loose brick and stop the water before it gets inside.
Retaining wall construction
Wet soil pushes hard on a wall, especially on lower lots toward the river. We plan the base and drainage before the first block goes down.
Foundation repair
Foundations on soft, damp ground can settle and crack over the years. We find the cause first, so the repair isn't fighting the same problem.
Fireplace installation
Long, damp winters make a working fireplace worth having. We handle fireplace installation in brick or stone, built on a footing sized for the weight.
Walkway construction
Walkways on wet ground sink and tilt when the base is thin. We dig deeper, pack a solid base and slope it so water runs off.
What happens when you call us in Sedro-Woolley
Call or send a request
Reach us at (360) 255-7006 or through the form, any day of the week. We'll set a time that suits you for me to come out.
Walk the job together
I look at the work with you, answer your questions and explain what I'd use and why. You get my estimate in writing, so you know the cost before you decide anything.
Settle permits, set a start
Once you say go and the permit question is settled, we set a start date and order the brick, block or stone. If weather moves that date, we'll call you.
Our masons do the work
Our masons build or repair the work and clean up as they go, while I check in with them and with you along the way. You don't need to be home every day, just reachable if a question comes up.
Common questions
Do masonry contractors have to be registered with the state to work in Sedro-Woolley?
Yes, Washington requires every construction contractor to register with L&I and to be bonded and insured before bidding or doing the work. The bond is $15,000 for a specialty contractor and $30,000 for a general contractor. On any residential job of $1,000 or more, the contractor also has to give you L&I's disclosure notice to customers.
Do I need a permit for electrical work on an outdoor kitchen in Sedro-Woolley?
Yes, under L&I guidance whoever does the electrical work has to get a permit for it and have the work inspected. That covers outlets, lights or anything else wired into the kitchen. Electrical contractors carry their own licensing on top of contractor registration, so the wiring goes to whoever is licensed for it, and our masons build the masonry around it.
How much does masonry work cost in Sedro-Woolley?
Masonry here is priced job by job after I've seen the work, because the size, the tear-out and the material swing the cost more than anything else. Repointing turns on how much of the wall has worn mortar and how high we have to work, while a retaining wall turns on its length, its height and the drainage behind it. On wet ground near the river, a deeper base adds cost up front, but it's usually what keeps a wall or walkway from settling later.
What causes retaining walls to lean or crack in Sedro-Woolley?
Water trapped behind the wall is the usual cause, because wet soil is heavy and pushes harder than dry soil does. On low lots toward the river that pressure builds through the wet months, so we put in drainage stone and a way for water to get out before we stack the wall. A wall set on too thin a base can also tip as the ground underneath softens.
How do I know if the brick on my Sedro-Woolley house needs repointing?
If the mortar is sandy, cracked or sitting back from the face of the brick, it's due. Rain gets into those open joints and starts working on the brick itself, so catching it early usually means less brick to replace. On older houses we match the new mortar to the old, because mortar harder than the brick can crack the brick faces over time.
When is the best time of year to do masonry work in Sedro-Woolley?
Late spring through early fall is usually best, because mortar needs dry days above freezing to cure properly. We can work through the wet months when the weather gives us a break and we cover the work, but rain or a hard frost can push a start back. If you'd like a summer start, getting your estimate done early gives you more choice of dates.
Talk to us about your Sedro-Woolley project
Worn mortar and cracked chimney crowns let in more water with every storm, so the sooner I see it, the smaller the repair usually is.