Foundation repair
We find out why a wall or slab is cracking or settling before we patch anything, because sealing a crack over a footing that's still moving won't hold.
Masonry contractor in Delray Beach, FL - mortar repair and walls built on schedule
AJ West Palm Beach Concrete & Masonry is a masonry contractor based in West Palm Beach. We repair mortar, brick and block and lay new pavers, block walls and stone for homeowners and property owners in Delray Beach.
Masonry work on Delray Beach homes
Delray Beach is a short drive down the coast from our base in West Palm Beach, and we work here with the same masons and the same kind of plan we use in Boynton Beach next door and up in Westgate. The calls are the ones we get across the county: mortar crumbling out of a garden wall, a paver driveway that's sunk by the garage, a block wall that's started to lean, or a homeowner ready for an outdoor kitchen or stone on the front of the house.
Price moves with how much is actually failing once I look, the material you pick and whether a permit is involved, and the schedule usually turns on that permit and its inspections more than on our crew. You get your own number when I come out. On the block homes we see most, the real work often starts below what you can see, at the footing or the base, while on brick and stone it's mostly about matching what's already there.
Contractors register with the city first
The city requires a contractor to register and keep a current license on file before submitting any permit. We're licensed and fully insured, and it's worth asking any mason you compare whether they're registered here.
A county tax receipt to ask about
Palm Beach County's Tax Collector requires a local business tax receipt from anyone selling services in the county, on top of city licenses, so a contractor working on your house should have one.
Notice of Commencement on bigger jobs
For permits valued above $5,000.00, the city needs a Notice of Commencement recorded at a Palm Beach County courthouse before the first inspection, so we build that step into the schedule before work starts.
Masonry services for Delray Beach homes
Chimney repair
We repair loose brick, cracked crowns and worn joints on chimneys, and we tell you which part is urgent and which can safely wait for a later round of work.
Tuckpointing
We grind crumbling mortar out to sound material and pack new mortar back in layers, matched in color so the repaired joints don't stand out from the old ones.
Brick repair
We cut out cracked or spalled brick, the kind where the face has flaked away, and set replacements that match the size and color of what's already there.
Driveway pavers
Most paver driveways that sink or rock do it because of the base, so we dig out, pack a firm base and lock the edges before any pavers go down.
Retaining wall construction
We build retaining walls on a footing with drainage behind them, because water trapped behind a wall is what pushes most of them out of line over time.
Masonry restoration
On older brick and stone we repair what's failing and clean what isn't, matching mortar and units so the house still looks like itself when we're done.
Fireplace installation
We build masonry fireplaces and surrounds to the firebox maker's clearances for the unit you choose, and we plan the chimney with it so the two fit together.
Stone veneer installation
We set stone veneer over a prepared wall with proper backing and flashing, because veneer usually fails from water getting behind it, not from the stone itself.
Concrete block walls
We lay block privacy walls, garden walls and enclosures on a proper footing, with steel and filled cells where the wall needs them to stay straight.
Foundation block wall installation
We build block foundation and stem walls to the plan, level and square, so the slab or framing that goes on top starts out right.
Outdoor kitchen masonry
We build the block or stone base for an outdoor kitchen, with the grill, doors and counter openings laid out before the first course goes down.
Walkway construction
We build paver, brick and stone walkways on a packed base with a slight slope, so rain runs off instead of sitting in low spots by your door.
Brick wall installation
We build brick garden walls, screen walls and planters on a footing, with joints tooled so they shed water and the finished wall looks clean.
Stone masonry
We lay natural stone for walls, steps and borders, fitting each piece by hand, and we'll help you pick a stone that suits the house and the yard.
Brick pointing
When only some joints are cracked or open, we repoint those sections instead of the whole wall, which keeps the job smaller and the price down.
Get a free on-site masonry estimate in Delray Beach
Send the form and we'll get back to you within one business day to set a time. I come out, look at the job and give you a free estimate, with no obligation to book.
I look at the job myself
I come out to every estimate, so the person looking at your wall or driveway is the same one who plans the work and sets the schedule around it.
Our own masons do the work
The masons who show up on your job are ours, not a crew pulled together for the week, so I know who's at your house and what they're doing each day.
Straight answers on job size
If the job is smaller than you feared, I'll say so, and if it's bigger, you'll hear it at the estimate instead of finding out halfway through.
Delray Beach masonry and permit questions
Here are plain answers on permits, inspections and owner-built work for masonry jobs on a Delray Beach home.
Does my masonry project need a permit in Delray Beach?
It can, since the city's Building Division issues permits for repair, alteration and removal of any building or structure, not only new construction. The city extends that to anything connected or attached to those buildings, and the division handles plan review and inspections too. When your job needs one, we check with the city, pull the permit and set up the inspections.
How long does a Delray Beach building permit stay valid?
A permit expires if work doesn't start and get an inspection requested within 180 days, and once work starts it can still expire if the job sits for 180 days. The city counts going that long without an inspection as abandoned, which is one reason we schedule inspections as the job moves instead of saving them for the end.
Can I act as my own contractor for masonry work on my Delray Beach home?
Yes, if it's a home you live in, state law lets you act as your own contractor, and you sign the permit application in person with the city. If you hand any of the work to others, you have to supervise it yourself, and electrical, plumbing, A/C and roofing work has to go to licensed subcontractors.
What happens if masonry work is done without a permit in Delray Beach?
Code Enforcement issues a stop work notice, and the after-the-fact permit costs three times as much. If the work is already covered up, there can be added fees for a third-party engineer to check it, and if no permit gets issued, a Notice of Violation follows that could lead to fines. That's why we check before we start.
Masonry contractor service areas in Palm Beach County
These cities have their own page, and they aren't the only places we work. If your address isn't listed, call (561) 220-1584 or use the form to ask.
Book your Delray Beach masonry estimate
Call (561) 220-1584 any day or use the form, because a loose joint caught early is usually a smaller repair than one left to spread.