Stone masonry in Bellingham WA - the right mortar for the stone you already have
Crumbling mortar between your stones? We clear out the worn joints carefully and refill them with a mortar that suits your wall.
- Licensed and insured.
- Free in-person estimates.
- Expect a reply within 1 business day.
What does stone masonry repair and repointing involve in Bellingham?
Stone masonry repair in Bellingham is mostly repointing. That means raking the worn mortar out from between your stones and packing in fresh mortar so the joints shed water and the wall stays tight. At Allied Bellingham Concrete and Masonry, this often comes with resetting a few loose stones, cleaning the face of the wall or pointing the brick next to it.
Most people call when mortar is dribbling out of an old stone wall or foundation, or when a stone has started to rock under their hand. The price depends on how many joints need work and how deep the damage goes, what kind of stone it is, how high and easy to reach the wall is, and whether loose stones need resetting. The schedule depends mostly on the weather and on what the office for your address requires, and the written estimate lays out what I'd do on your wall so you can see it before you decide.
How can you tell your stone wall needs repointing?
Sandy, crumbling mortar joints
If you can scrape mortar out with a key, or it's piling up at the base of the wall, the joints have worn past the point of keeping water out. Left alone, water gets deeper into the wall each winter, and a repointing job can turn into resetting stones.
Loose or rocking stones
A stone that shifts when you push on it usually means the mortar behind it is gone, not just the mortar at the surface. Caught early, it's a few stones to reset, but if you wait, the stones around it start to loosen too.
Damp spots or white staining
Dark patches that stay wet long after rain, or a white powdery crust on the stone, tell you water is soaking into the wall instead of draining out through the joints. On a foundation that dampness ends up in your basement, and on any wall it wears the stone down faster.
Work that often goes with it
Brick pointing
If your house mixes stone with brick, the brick joints wear on their own schedule, and doing them on the same visit saves a second round of setup.
Foundation repair
When foundation stones have shifted or cracks run through the stone itself, fresh mortar usually won't fix it, and the wall needs structural work first.
How we handle stone masonry repair on your wall
We start by finding out what kind of stone you have, before any cleaner touches it, because some cleaners can etch and dissolve stones like limestone and marble. On older stone walls we take the worn mortar out with hand tools to spare the stone. It takes more labor than a grinder, but a grinder can chip the edges of old stone and widen the joints for good. Then we mix a mortar that suits your stone and your house, pack it into the joints, shape the surface to match the old joints and clean the wall down before we leave.
Stone often sits right next to brick, and when the brick joints are worn too, we take care of that as brick pointing on the same visit. If stones have moved or a foundation wall is cracking through the stone, I'll tell you it needs foundation repair first, because new mortar won't hold a wall that's still moving.
Repointing worn joints
This suits a wall whose stones are still solid and tight but whose mortar has gone soft or sandy. It's the usual fix when the wall itself is sound, and it keeps the original stonework in place.
Resetting loose stone
This suits a wall where a few stones have loosened or fallen out, often at corners, caps or the top row. We lift out the loose stones, clean the bed and set them back in fresh mortar before we point the rest.
Get a written estimate for your stone wall
We'll reply within one business day. Then I'll come out, walk the wall with you and leave a free written estimate with no obligation. You can also call (360) 255-7006.
Call (360) 255-7006Why Bellingham homeowners call us about their stone walls
I walk every wall myself
From Bellingham out across Whatcom and Skagit counties, I come out to look at the stone and write the estimate myself, then check in with our masons and with you while they work. The person who chose your mortar is the one making sure it goes in right.
In business since 2013
We started this business in 2013. Before that, I spent years selling brick, block and stone, then learned on job sites next to experienced masons. Those years at the counter taught me to explain a choice twice rather than rush anyone into one.
Licensed and insured, easy to check
We're licensed and insured, and I'd rather you check that than take my word for it. The state keeps a public lookup of registered contractors, and the questions below explain how to use it.
On an old stone wall, the mortar matters more than anything else, so the first step is letting me see yours. Ask for a visit and bring your questions.
What happens after you call about your stone wall
Call or send a request
Call (360) 255-7006 or send a request, and we'll find a time for me to come look at the wall with you.
Walk the wall together
I look at the stone and mortar with you, answer your questions and leave a written estimate. It shows what I'd do, which mortar we'd use and how the old joints come out, along with the price, so the cost won't surprise you later.
Check rules, set a start
Once you're ready, we check what the office for your address needs and tell you what it says, and we help with the application if a permit is needed. Then we set a start date that works with the weather and your schedule.
Our masons do the work
Our masons clear out the old joints, repoint them and clean up, while I check in with them and keep you posted. The work is backed by our satisfaction guarantee.
Common questions
What does repointing a stone wall involve?
Repointing means removing the worn mortar from the joints of a wall and replacing it with new mortar. It's also called pointing or tuckpointing. The stones stay where they are, so an old wall gets sound joints without being rebuilt. Most of the time goes into clearing the old mortar out cleanly, because the new mortar can only be as good as the joint it goes into.
Why does mortar type matter for an older stone home?
On an older stone home, a mortar harder than the original lime mortar, such as Portland cement, can send moisture into the stone instead of out through the joints, and that can make the stone fail. Preservation guidance for historic buildings warns that this risks structural damage, not just a worse look. That's why I look at what's already in your wall before I pick a mix.
How much does stone veneer installation cost?
Installing stone veneer across the US usually costs about $25 to $40 per square foot. That's a national figure for stone veneer installation only, not our price. It doesn't cover natural stone walls, rockeries or repointing, which we price after seeing your wall at the estimate.
How do I check a masonry contractor's registration in Washington?
Look them up in the state's Verify a Contractor, Tradesperson, or Business tool, which lists registered contractors. Washington requires all construction contractors to register with the Department of Labor & Industries. State law also requires them to be bonded and insured to protect the public.
What is the best time to clean a stone wall with water?
Wait until there's no chance of frost or freezing. Water that soaks into the stone can freeze and crack it, so any water cleaning should be planned for warmer weather.
Do I need a permit to repair a stone wall in Bellingham?
It depends on the job and the address, so we check with the office that covers your address before any work starts. Inside Bellingham city limits, that's the city, which handles permits by email at permits@cob.org and through its eTRAKiT portal, open around the clock. The city's City IQ tool shows whether your address is inside the limits. Washington also releases new building code editions every three years, which is one more reason we check each job fresh.
Book a look at your stone wall
Call (360) 255-7006 weekdays 8 AM to 9 PM or weekends 6 AM to 9 PM, or use the form, and have your address, the type of stone and a few photos of the joints ready so I can start sizing up the job before I arrive.