Masonry contractor in Fargo, ND - repairs that suit the brick you have
Masoncraft Fargo Concrete and Masonry is a masonry contractor based in Fargo. We repair older brick, stone and block, fix crumbling joints and tired chimneys, and build new walls, walkways and outdoor projects across the city.
Masonry contractor for Fargo homes
Fargo is home for us, so most of our days are spent on houses here. They range from older brick homes and two-story places in the established neighborhoods near downtown to newer houses with block foundations and paver drives toward the edges of the city. We also cross the river into Moorhead and head west to West Fargo, and the brick, block and ground there behave much the same as they do here.
The ground is flat, heavy clay that holds water, so we see a lot of cracked basement walls, heaving steps and joints worn open by water that gets in and freezes. On the older brick, a repair only works if the new mortar is softer than the brick around it, because hard mortar pushes the damage into the brick you're trying to save.
What we do for Fargo homes
Foundation repair
Clay that swells and shrinks under Fargo yards puts pressure on basement walls, so we find where a crack or bow is coming from before we fix it.
Chimney repair
Winters are hard on older Fargo chimneys, cracking crowns and making the brick face flake off, so we rebuild what's failing and keep the sound brick in place.
Tuckpointing
On older Fargo brick homes, we grind out worn joints and refill them with mortar matched to the brick, so the joint gives before the brick does.
Brick repair
Frost cracks a few bricks on many Fargo houses long before the wall is in trouble, so we cut out the bad ones and set in matching brick.
Driveway pavers
Pavers suit Fargo's clay because a section that shifts can be lifted and reset, but only if we dig out and pack a solid base first.
Retaining wall construction
Even on flat Fargo lots, a wall can hold back soil around a walkout or raised bed, and we build in drainage so water doesn't push it over.
Masonry restoration
For Fargo's older brick and stone buildings, restoration means cleaning, redoing the joints and repairing brick in an order that saves as much original material as we can.
Fireplace installation
A fireplace gets heavy use through a Fargo winter, so we lay out the firebox, hearth and surround to fit your room and how it's framed.
Stone veneer installation
On newer Fargo homes with plain concrete foundations, stone veneer gives the front a finished look, and we leave water a way out from behind it.
Concrete block walls
Block suits garage walls, privacy walls and outbuildings here, and on Fargo clay the footing under it matters most, so we size it for the ground we find.
Foundation block wall installation
When a basement wall has failed or an addition needs a new one, we lay block with reinforcing and drainage built for wet clay pushing on it.
Outdoor kitchen masonry
A backyard kitchen here sits out through the winter, so we build the base and counters from block, brick or stone that handles freezing and thawing.
Walkway construction
Walks that heave or sink are common on Fargo clay. We rebuild them on a well-packed base and slope them so meltwater runs off instead of freezing.
Brick wall installation
New brick next to an older Fargo house should look like it belongs, so we match the brick, the joint color and the laying pattern before we start.
Stone masonry
Older Fargo homes sometimes have stone steps, walls or foundations, and we repair or add stone so new pieces sit right beside the old.
Brick pointing
Open joints in a few spots on a Fargo house, under a sill or along a chimney, are worth filling before water gets in and freezes.
Tell me about your masonry job
Call (701) 566-7317 or send the form, and I'll come out and look at the work myself before I price anything.
Why Fargo homeowners call us
We've been in business since 2017, and what you can count on is plain talk about your house and work that suits it.
Repairs that suit your house
We match mortar, brick and stone to what's already there, so the new work doesn't wear out the old.
I write your estimate
I come out myself to look at the job, and I explain each choice before I ask you to agree to it.
Our own crew, with me there
Our own crew does the work, and I'm on the job with them, so the person who priced it sees it through.
No work you don't need
If a wall only needs a few joints filled, I'll tell you that rather than sell you a rebuild.
Licensed, insured and guaranteed
We're licensed and insured, and our work is backed by our satisfaction guarantee.
Fargo masonry questions
How do I find out if my masonry project needs a permit in Fargo?
Check it against the city's list, because the Inspections Department issues permits for any new construction, addition, remodeling project or structural alteration, and its FAQ adds stairs and steps. By that same FAQ, a flat patio with nothing built on it needs no permit, while repair work like tuckpointing isn't named either way, and the department will go over a project's requirements if you contact it. When a job may need a permit, we check with the city before we start, handle the paperwork when one's needed and tell you what we found.
When does a masonry contractor need a license in Fargo?
North Dakota requires a state contractor license whenever a job's cost, value or price is more than $4,000, and that applies to subcontractors and out-of-state contractors as well. The city adds its own license for certain listed businesses, and that list includes sidewalk builders and excavators, so walkway and digging work can call for it. We're licensed and insured, and it's fair to ask any contractor about both before work starts.
What happens if work starts before the permit is issued in Fargo?
The city charges an extra fee, and on work valued at $0 to $50,000 that means the permit fee is doubled. On work from $50,001 to $500,000 the extra is half the permit fee, with a $550 minimum. Sending in the application doesn't count either, because the city says the application isn't a building permit and doesn't let construction start, so we wait for the permit itself before we dig.
How do I schedule inspections for a masonry job in Fargo?
Whoever holds the permit arranges the inspections, and they can be scheduled through the city's Inspections Web Portal. On new home construction, the city's handout lists a foundation inspection and a final inspection among the ones required, along with framing, electrical and heating. When we handle the permit for your job, we'll tell you which inspections it calls for and when they fall.
Do Fargo floodplain rules apply to retaining walls and fill?
They can, because if your property is in a designated floodplain, the city, the state and the federal government all have rules for building structures there, permanent or temporary, and for placing earthen fill. That matters for a retaining wall, a raised patio or new fill around a foundation, and the city has a form to apply for floodplain development permission. Only FEMA can place a property in the flood hazard area or take it out, so the map is what decides it.
How much does masonry work cost in Fargo?
I can only give you a fair number after I've seen the job, because masonry here is priced on its size, the material, how easy the work is to reach and how much old brick, stone or mortar we have to match. Foundation and chimney work can grow once it's open and we see what water and clay have done behind it, and a permit adds the city's fee. The schedule turns mostly on the permit, the weather and how long matching brick takes to find, and your estimate gives you your own figure.
Outside Fargo? Give us a call
Choose another city below, or call (701) 566-7317 if yours isn't listed, since we work in the cities around Fargo too.
Get a Fargo masonry estimate from Masoncraft
Call (701) 566-7317 any day of the week or send the form, because a crack or open joint caught early usually means a smaller repair.