Masonry Contractor in West Fargo, ND - Brick, Block and Stone Built for Frost
Masoncraft Fargo Concrete and Masonry repairs and builds brick, block and stone work on West Fargo homes, from cracked foundation walls and tired chimneys to new walkways, retaining walls and paver driveways.
Masonry work on West Fargo homes
West Fargo sits right against Fargo, where we're based, and the work here splits two ways. Near the older middle of the city we see block foundations, brick chimneys and brick that's been through a lot of winters, while the newer subdivisions bring stone fronts, paver patios and walks laid over fresh fill. We do the same work over in Moorhead.
The ground shapes most of what we do here. It's flat, heavy clay that holds water, and frost goes deep, so a wall, walk or driveway lasts only as long as the base and footing under it. What moves the price is mostly the size of the job, the material, how much digging and base work it needs and how closely new brick or stone has to match the old. The schedule turns on the weather, on whether the city wants a permit first and on how long matching material takes to arrive. I come out myself, look at the work and write you an estimate with the figure for your house.
What we do for West Fargo homes
Foundation repair
Cracked or bowing block foundation walls show up on older West Fargo houses, where wet clay pushes on them, and we find the cause before we patch anything.
Chimney repair
Brick chimneys here take years of freeze and thaw, so we rebuild a cracked crown, the concrete cap on top, and loose upper brick before water gets inside.
Tuckpointing
When the mortar joints in older West Fargo brick have gone sandy, we grind them out and repack them with mortar soft enough to protect the brick.
Brick repair
Spalled brick, where the face has popped off after a hard winter, gets cut out and replaced with brick picked to match the color and size of yours.
Driveway pavers
Paver driveways in the newer subdivisions stay flat only as long as their base does, so we dig out the soft clay and pack a solid base first.
Retaining wall construction
West Fargo yards are flat, so retaining walls here are usually short ones around patios and garden beds, set on a packed base with drainage behind.
Masonry restoration
On the city's older homes, worn brick, joints and stone often need work together, so we plan it as one job and keep the house looking like itself.
Fireplace installation
A wood-burning fireplace makes sense through a West Fargo winter, and we build the firebox and surround in brick or stone to suit your room.
Stone veneer installation
Newer West Fargo houses often wear a band of stone across the front, and we add or match it with a drainage gap behind so water gets out.
Concrete block walls
We set block walls for garages and outbuildings on footings below the deep frost here, then reinforce and fill the hollow blocks so the wall stays straight.
Foundation block wall installation
For an addition or a new garage, we lay the block foundation course by course, level and square, and seal the outside against wet clay.
Outdoor kitchen masonry
A brick or stone outdoor kitchen in a West Fargo backyard needs a solid base, because the masonry has to sit through winter without cracking.
Walkway construction
Front walks next to newer houses often sink into the loose dirt pushed back along the foundation, so we dig it out and pack a firm base first.
Brick wall installation
A new garden wall beside a brick-front West Fargo home looks right in matching brick, so we pick the brick and mortar color with you first.
Stone masonry
Fieldstone and cut stone show up on steps, planters and older foundations around here, and we set and point new stone so it sits right beside the old.
Brick pointing
Hairline gaps in the joints let meltwater into brick every spring, so we fill the small, scattered spots before they turn into a full tuckpointing job.
Tell us about your masonry job
Call (701) 566-7317 or send a request, and I'll come out to your house, look at the work and write you an estimate.
Why West Fargo homeowners call us
Since 2017, people have counted on us for repairs that suit the house they're on, and for plain reasons behind every choice before they agree to anything.
The owner writes your estimate
I come to your house, look at the work myself and write the estimate, so you can ask me anything about it.
Our own crew, with me there
Our own crew does the work and I'm on the job with them, so the plan doesn't change hands.
Mortar soft enough for old brick
On older chimneys and walls we use mortar softer than the brick, because hard mortar makes the brick crack and flake instead.
Straight talk about what can wait
If a crack is old and stable or a wall has years left, I'll say so rather than sell you a repair.
Licensed, insured, satisfaction guaranteed
We're licensed and insured, and our work is backed by our satisfaction guarantee, with the site cleaned up before we leave.
West Fargo masonry questions
How do I find out if my masonry project needs a permit in West Fargo?
Ask the West Fargo Building Department at (701) 515-5380, weekdays from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., because it answers permit and zoning questions for the city. Its permit list names work like additions, porches, accessory structures, demolition and repairs that change the structure, which doesn't settle every masonry job on its own. When a job may need a permit, we check with the city before we start, handle the paperwork when one is needed and tell you what we found. With a permit, the permit holder calls for each inspection, and no work moves on or gets covered until it's signed off.
Do I need a city permit to replace a driveway or sidewalk in West Fargo?
Yes, if the driveway or sidewalk sits in the right-of-way, the public strip the city owns along the street, you need the city's Sidewalk/Driveway Permit to remove, replace or repair it. Hardscaping like pavers that changes how your lot naturally drains also needs a Residential Civil Site Permit. The city's engineering permits page says every permit there except the Civil Site Permit has to be completed by a licensed contractor, so we sort out which ones apply before we dig.
Does a masonry contractor in West Fargo need a North Dakota license?
Yes, once a job's cost, value or price is over $4,000, the person doing the work has to be licensed as a contractor in North Dakota, according to the Secretary of State. That covers subcontractors and contractors from out of state too. It's fair to ask anyone bidding on your masonry, us included, whether they hold one.
What affects the cost of masonry repair in West Fargo?
The size of the job, the material and how much has to be matched or dug out set most of the price, so the honest figure is one written after I've seen your house. Repointing a few joints costs far less than rebuilding the top of a chimney, and matching old brick, deep base work under pavers or footings below the frost all add to it. Please call (701) 566-7317 and I'll come out and write you an estimate.
How do I check if my West Fargo house is in a flood zone?
Search your address on the FEMA Flood Map Service, or ask the city's Building Department to help you look it up. It matters for masonry because any work in a mapped flood zone needs a floodplain development permit from the local Floodplain Administrator before it starts, and the state says that should be the last permit issued for the project. If your lot is in one, we plan the job around that permit before we pick a start.
Who issues electrical and plumbing permits for an outdoor kitchen in West Fargo?
The North Dakota State Electrical Board issues electrical permits and does those inspections, and the North Dakota State Plumbing Board does the same for plumbing. Those permits are separate from any city building permit and cover installing, changing or adding wiring, piping or appliances. We build the brick or stone around the grill and counters, and the wiring and water lines go to those licensed trades.
Not listed here? Please call us
Pick your city below, or call (701) 566-7317 if yours isn't listed, since we work in the cities around Fargo, Moorhead and West Fargo too.
Get a masonry estimate in West Fargo
Our hours run seven days a week and into the evening, so please call (701) 566-7317 after work or on a weekend, or send the form.