Masonry Contractor in Smithfield, VA - Brick and Block Work That Fits Your House
K&R Newport News Concrete & Masonry is a masonry contractor working in Smithfield, VA. We repoint and repair older brick, fix chimneys and foundations, and build new walls, walkways and paver driveways that suit the house they belong to.
- Licensed and fully insured.
- Free quotes on site.
- Expect a reply within 1 business day.
Smithfield houses, from old downtown brick to newer lots
Smithfield is just across the James from us. We're a masonry contractor based in Newport News, and the calls we get from Smithfield tend to split two ways. Downtown and the older streets around it have brick houses, chimneys and garden walls carrying years of patches. The newer neighborhoods farther out have block foundations, paver driveways and sloped yards that could use a wall or a walk.
That mix shapes the job, because older brick needs a repair that matches what's already there, and the newer lots usually need more work below ground than above it.
Masonry services for Smithfield houses and yards
Foundation repair
When a Smithfield house shows a stair-step crack in the block or a door that starts sticking, we find the cause before we touch the wall.
Chimney repair
Chimneys on older homes lose mortar at the top first, where weather hits hardest, so we rebuild the cap and loose brick before water works its way inside.
Tuckpointing
On older Smithfield brick, we clean out tired joints, refill them with matched mortar and run a thin finish line so the wall looks crisp again.
Brick repair
When bricks crack or flake on a Smithfield stoop or garden wall, we cut out only the bad ones and set replacements that match in size and color.
Driveway pavers
Pavers suit the newer subdivisions outside downtown, and we dig out and pack the base deep enough that the driveway holds its shape under a loaded truck.
Retaining wall construction
Where a Smithfield yard slopes toward the house, we build a block or stone wall with drainage behind it so water doesn't push it over.
Masonry restoration
For older houses downtown that have had decades of patches, we sort out what's original, undo the repairs that are hurting it and bring the brick back together.
Fireplace installation
If you want a working masonry fireplace in a family room or addition, we build the firebox and surround to suit the house and the chimney above it.
Stone veneer installation
Thin stone veneer dresses up a plain block foundation or porch base on newer Smithfield homes, and we set it so water can drain out behind it.
Concrete block walls
On larger Smithfield lots, block walls go up for garages, shed foundations and property lines, and we fill and reinforce the hollow cores where a wall carries weight.
Foundation block wall installation
For an addition on a Smithfield crawl-space house, we lay the foundation block on a level footing so the new framing sits true from the first row.
Outdoor kitchen masonry
In roomy Smithfield backyards, a brick or block grill island stands up to weather better than a metal cart, and we leave vents for the gas line.
Walkway construction
On older Smithfield lots, we replace heaved front walks with brick or stone on a packed base, pitched so rain runs off instead of pooling at the steps.
Brick wall installation
Around Smithfield's older homes, a new brick garden wall should look like it came with the house, so we match the brick, the laying pattern and the joints.
Stone masonry
For Smithfield steps, columns or a wall with some character, we lay natural stone by hand and fit each piece so it bears on the stone below.
Brick pointing
Pointing refills worn mortar joints flush with the brick, and on older Smithfield walls we usually use a softer mortar so the joint gives before the brick does.
Get a free estimate for your Smithfield masonry job
Send the form with your address and we'll reply within one business day to set a time. I'll come out, walk the job with you and write up a free estimate on site, 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
Who signs off on masonry work in Smithfield
Most masonry jobs in Smithfield involve two offices. The Town of Smithfield's planning department issues the zoning permit for building, renovating or tearing down homes, additions, sheds, fences and similar work at addresses inside Smithfield's corporate limits. Isle of Wight County handles all building permits and inspections, and most of those jobs need a county permit as well. That means two sign-offs before we start. Before the building permit is issued, the contractor has to show a Virginia contractor license or sign a statement that the job doesn't need one. On a job worth more than $25,000, the applicant also has to contact the Treasurer's Office about a Smithfield business license, so it's fair to ask any contractor you're weighing whether they've got both.
We're licensed and fully insured. Before any work starts, we check with both offices for your address, and we handle the permit paperwork when the job calls for it. The price moves with how much brick, block or stone is involved, what shape the old wall or base is in once we open it up, the material you pick and how easy it is to get a mixer and pallets into your yard. The schedule mostly turns on the permits and on mild, dry days for laying mortar. We do the same kind of work nearby in Carrollton, and the estimate is where you get the figure for your own job, after I've walked it with you.
What wears out brick and block in Smithfield
On older Smithfield houses, the wear shows up at the joints and the tops first. Chimney caps and the top rows of yard walls take rain straight down into the brick. Decades of patching can leave one wall with three or four different mortars in it, some crumbling and some too hard, so we start by working out which joints are failing and why before we decide how much to open up.
On newer lots the trouble starts underneath. A walk or paver drive on a thin base sinks where water sits, and a yard wall with nothing behind it to drain leans as the soil gets wet, so we dig down to firm ground and give the water a way out.
How a masonry job runs when you call us in Smithfield
Here's how a job goes from your first call to the final walk-through, including where the permit side fits for a Smithfield address.
Tell us about the job
Call (757) 782-8614 or send the form with what you're seeing and your address, and we'll get back to you to set a time to come out. Photos help, but I'd still rather see it in person.
Walk the job with me
I come out myself, look at the brick or the ground with you and point out what I see before I write anything up. You'll get the estimate in writing, with what's driving the number explained, so you can decide without guessing.
Sort out permits and review
Once you say go, we check with the permit offices for your address and handle the paperwork, keeping in mind that the county building permit has to be in hand within six months of the zoning permit being issued. If your house is in a historic district or near the water, we flag it early so any review happens before we start.
Do the work, then walk it
I work alongside our masons on your job, and you don't need to be home while we're laying brick. At the end we walk the finished work together so you know what we did and what to watch for later.
Questions about masonry work in Smithfield, VA
Do I need a permit to build a brick fence wall in Smithfield, VA?
Yes, plan on it, because Smithfield's own guidance says a fence needs a zoning permit and a county building permit too. For an answer on your exact wall, the Isle of Wight County Permits Office at 757-365-6213 can tell you whether it needs a building permit. We handle the paperwork once you hire us.
Do I need a permit for foundation or chimney repair in Smithfield?
Yes, when the work involves structural parts, because Virginia's building code requires a permit from the building official before construction, before adding or removing walls and before work on structural parts. If a wall or chimney has to be made safe right away, the code lets emergency work start first, with the application due by the end of the first working day after. We check the permit question for your address before any work starts.
Does a historic home in Smithfield need extra approval for brick work?
It can, because some Smithfield permit applications go to the Board of Historic and Architectural Review for review or a decision. In a historic district, the building official can also require a permit for replacement siding, roofing and windows, which normally don't need one. If your house is in a historic district, I'll flag it at the estimate so any review happens before work starts.
What affects the cost of masonry repair on an older Smithfield house?
The biggest factor is how much of the old work has to come out once we open it up, followed by how closely the new brick and mortar have to match what's already there. Matching older brick takes more hunting and a few test batches of mortar, and permits or historic review add paperwork, not material. I'll give you a figure for your own job after I've seen it.
How do I check a masonry contractor's license in Virginia?
Look the business up with the Virginia Board for Contractors, which licenses businesses that build, repair or improve on property owned by others. Each license pairs a class, which sets how big a project it covers, with a specialty, which sets the kind of work, so check that both fit your job. A state license isn't the whole story, because a contractor also has to meet the licensing rules of each locality it works in.
What is the best way to repair crumbling mortar on an older brick house in Smithfield?
Rake the loose mortar out down to sound material and repoint with a mortar matched to the old brick in hardness and color, so the joint stays the softer part that wears instead of the brick. Hard modern mortar on soft old brick traps water in the face and pushes the damage into the brick itself, which is a fix that makes a new problem. When I look at your wall, I'll show you which joints need it now and which can wait.
Newport News, VA
Tell us about your Smithfield masonry job
A loose joint or a cracked chimney cap lets in a little more water every time it rains, so a look now usually means a smaller repair later.