Masonry Contractor in Poquoson, VA - Brick and Block Work for Raised Homes
K&R Newport News Concrete & Masonry is a masonry contractor in Newport News, VA, and we work in Poquoson on brick repair and repointing, block foundations, chimneys, retaining walls, walkways and pavers for the houses here.
- Licensed and fully insured.
- Free quotes on site.
- Expect a reply within 1 business day.
Poquoson is mostly homes on low, flat ground
Most of our calls in Poquoson come from people living in their houses, not from businesses. It's a small city of neighborhoods, with older brick homes, newer builds, flat yards and the water close by, and the calls fit that mix: crumbling joints on a chimney, a front step pulling away, a walk that holds water after rain. We do the same work next door in Hampton and back home in Newport News.
That mix shapes the job. An older brick house needs mortar and brick that suit what's already there, while a newer one with block underneath and pavers out front needs a solid base more than an old-brick match.
Masonry services we do on Poquoson homes
Foundation repair
When the block foundation or piers under a house crack or settle, we find the cause first, then rebuild the section so it carries the load again.
Chimney repair
Brick chimneys usually lose mortar near the top, where they catch the most weather, so we rebuild the cap and loose top rows before water gets inside.
Tuckpointing
On brick houses with tired joints, we grind out worn mortar and pack in new, matched in color and softness, so the joint gives before the brick does.
Brick repair
We cut out cracked, flaking or loose brick around steps, sills and foundation walls and replace it with brick matched in size, color and hardness to yours.
Driveway pavers
On flat lots a driveway needs a firm, well-packed base and a slight slope toward the street, so we build both before the first paver goes down.
Retaining wall construction
Where a raised patio or bed needs holding back, we build block or stone walls with gravel and drain pipe behind, so water drains out instead of pushing.
Masonry restoration
When an older brick house has had years of patchwork, we take out the hard, mismatched repairs and bring the wall back to one sound, even face.
Fireplace installation
For a den or backyard patio, we build masonry fireplaces from the footing up, laying the firebox, flue and hearth so heat and smoke go where they should.
Stone veneer installation
Stone veneer dresses up a plain block foundation or porch base, and we set it over proper backing with a drainage gap behind it.
Concrete block walls
Block works well here for privacy walls and patio walls, and we fill and reinforce the hollow cores where a wall has to carry weight or hold soil.
Foundation block wall installation
For an addition, a garage or a porch, we lay block foundation walls on a sound footing, plumb and level, so everything built on top sits right.
Outdoor kitchen masonry
We build the block base, brick or stone face and counters for an outdoor kitchen, with room left for the grill maker's clearances and gas and power runs.
Walkway construction
We lay brick, stone or paver walkways on a packed base with a slight pitch, so rain runs off into the yard instead of pooling against the house.
Brick wall installation
A new brick garden or entry wall gets a solid footing, weep holes and a cap, so water has a way out and the wall stands straight.
Stone masonry
For stone steps or garden walls, we pick and fit each stone by hand and set it in mortar suited to the stone, so the joints hold up.
Brick pointing
When a few patches of joints have gone sandy, under a window, by a downspout or along the steps, we point just those areas and match the rest.
Get an on-site estimate for your Poquoson masonry job
Send the form or call, and we'll get back to you within one business day to set a time. I come out to Poquoson, walk the job with you and write up a free estimate, with no obligation.
(757) 782-8614- Based in
- Newport News, VA 23606
- Hours
- Mon–Fri: 6 AM–10 PM, Sat–Sun: 8 AM–10 PM
What we check before masonry work in Poquoson
Permits here go through the city's Building Official's office, which handles inspections and permit compliance, so before work starts we check with that office for your address and do the paperwork when the job calls for it. When a permit is part of the job, the start date waits on it, and if your house is near the water I flag that early so any review happens first. Before you hire anyone, you can check two things. Virginia's Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation handles state contractor licensing, and the city's business license comes from the Commissioner of the Revenue. We're licensed and fully insured.
What moves the price here is mostly what we find on the house: how much wall or foundation is involved, how high it sits off the ground and how hard the old brick is to match. The schedule follows the permit and what opens up once old mortar comes out, and I give you your own figure after we've walked the job together. We drive over from Newport News for these jobs, and they run the same way as our work in Gloucester Point and the other cities around us.
Raised foundations and flat yards shape the work here
Many homes here have been raised on taller foundations, so more block wall shows, some houses sit on piers, and the front steps run longer and higher than on a house sitting near the ground. That exposed masonry takes more weather and more knocks, so we look hard at cracked block, open joints and steps pulling away from the house, and we repair them with block and mortar that suit what's already there.
The yards are flat and low, so rain doesn't drain off fast. Water that sits against a foundation or under a walk works into the joints and the base, so every walkway, patio and driveway we build is pitched to send it away from the house.
How a masonry job in Poquoson runs once you call
From your first call to the last walk-through, here's how a job with us goes, and who you'll see at each step.
Call or send the form
Call (757) 782-8614 or send the form with a few lines about the job and your address. We get back to you to set a time for me to come out.
Walk the job together
I come out myself, look at the wall or the ground with you and point out what I see, including anything that would change the price. Then I write up the estimate, so you have the work and the cost in writing before anything starts.
Sort permits, then build
Once you say go, we sort out permits and any review your address needs, then start the work. I work alongside our masons, so the person who wrote your estimate is on the wall.
Walk the finished work
When we're done, we walk it with you and show you what we did and why. That way, if something changes down the road, you'll know what you're looking at.
Questions about masonry work in Poquoson
How do I get a building permit for masonry work in Poquoson?
You download the forms and turn them in through the city's Permit Portal, where you can pay for permits online too, as the Poquoson permit office page lays out. The forms cover building and zoning, land disturbing, right-of-way and driveway work, among others, and whether your job needs one is a question for that office. If you hire us, that paperwork is ours to handle.
Does an out-of-town masonry contractor need a Poquoson business license?
A contractor based outside Poquoson needs one once their gross receipts for the calendar year go over $25,000, the city says, and anyone based in Poquoson needs one before starting. It's a fair thing to ask any contractor about before work begins.
Why are so many houses in Poquoson raised off the ground?
Because the city sits very low above sea level and floods badly when a storm comes through, so many homes here have been raised on taller foundations. During Hurricane Isabel in 2003, storm surge put most of the city under several feet of water, and the 2009 nor'easter and Hurricane Irene in 2011 flooded it again. That's why foundation block, piers and steps get so much of our attention here.
What building code applies to brick and block repair on an existing home in Poquoson?
The city's permit page lists Virginia's Uniform Statewide Building Code, and its Part II, the Virginia Existing Building Code, covers repair, alterations and additions to existing buildings. The code sets minimum rules for building and maintaining structures, so repairs to an older home fall under it along with new work.
How much does masonry repair cost in Poquoson?
Your price comes from the estimate I write after walking the job, and it's set mostly by size, height and how closely the new work has to match the old. Pointing a few patches costs less than repointing a whole wall, hunting down brick to match an old house takes more than ordering new, and natural stone runs higher than block or pavers. Work up high on a raised foundation or a chimney needs more setup, which adds to it too.
What causes mortar to crumble on older brick homes in Poquoson?
Usually water and time, because mortar is meant to be the softer part of the wall and wears first as it soaks up water and dries out over the years. Old patches done with mortar harder than the brick make it worse, since the brick then takes the strain and starts cracking at the edges. We match new mortar to the old brick, so the joint wears first the way the wall was built to.
Newport News, VA
Tell us about your Poquoson masonry project
A small crack or a few loose joints usually cost less to fix now than after water has worked in behind them.