Masonry Contractor in Midland, TX - Brick and Block Repairs That Start With the Cause
Masoncraft Odessa Concrete and Masonry is a masonry contractor based in Odessa that works in Midland, TX, repairing brick, joints, block walls and foundations, and building new walls, walkways and stone work for Midland homeowners.
Midland homes as we see them on the job
Drive through Midland and you see a lot of brick. On our calls here that's mostly brick ranch homes in the older neighborhoods, newer houses toward the edges of the city with stone fronts and block walls along the back fences, and some shops and offices mixed in. It's a short drive from our base in Odessa, and houses in the two cities are built a lot alike, which helps when I'm working out why a wall moved.
What's under those houses matters more than the brick. Much of the city sits on caliche, a hard, chalky layer under the topsoil, so a lot of what goes wrong here starts at the footing, the base a wall rests on, long before it shows in the brick.
Services in Midland, TX
Tuckpointing
Old patches in mismatched gray mortar are common on Midland brick. With tuckpointing we grind out the weak mortar and pack in joints matched to the old color.
Foundation repair
Sticking doors and gaps over windows in a brick ranch usually mean the footing moved. We dig to find why, then fix the footing before the brick.
Concrete block walls
Block privacy walls along Midland back fences lean when the footing was poured shallow or without steel. We rebuild them or build new ones on solid footings.
Brick repair
Flaking brick shows up low on Midland walls where sprinklers hit it. We cut out the bad ones and set new brick once the spray is aimed away.
Stone veneer installation
Plenty of Midland owners add a stone front over plain brick or siding. We set the veneer with flashing and weep gaps so trapped water can get out.
Driveway pavers
Concrete drives on Midland lots crack where the ground shifts. We lay pavers on a packed base, so a sunk spot can be lifted and reset.
Permits, contractors and price in Midland
Who issues the permit for masonry work inside Midland city limits? The city's Code Administration does, and the city's Development Services Department takes the applications and tracks where each one stands. Work can't start until a needed permit is issued, so on those jobs the start date waits on the city. Anyone who builds or renovates here also has to be registered with the city, and that's a fair thing to ask any contractor before you hire them.
Midland is a short run down I-20 from our base, and the same crew works up in Andrews and out in West Odessa, so the ground and houses here aren't new to us. What moves the price is how far the problem goes, and what moves the schedule is mostly the permit, so my estimate puts both in writing for your job.
What Midland's weather and ground do to masonry
A lot of Midland's brick ranch homes have been standing a long time, and between the summer heat, hard wind and blowing dust, the mortar joints wear out well before the brick does. If you can rub sand out of a joint with your thumb, or the joints on the south and west walls look sunk back, that wall is due for new mortar before water starts working into it. We check how deep the softness goes before we pick between pointing a few spots and doing the whole wall, because there's no sense redoing joints that are still sound.
Winter is milder here, but the ground still freezes. A copy of a city code change lists Midland's frost line, how deep the ground freezes, at 12 inches, so when we pour footings for a new wall or rebuild an old one, we take them below that.
Get a free on-site estimate for your Midland masonry job
We reply within one business day, and the estimate is free, done on site and comes with no obligation. After you send the form, we get in touch to set a time, then I come out to your Midland property, look at the problem and write up what I think is causing it and what we'd do about it.
How it works when you call us about a Midland job
Call us or send the form
Call (432) 280-0058 or use the form and tell us what you've noticed, a crack, a leaning wall or loose brick, and about when it started. We set a time for me to come out.
I come out and look
I come out myself, look the job over and ask what you've seen, like whether a crack has grown or a door started sticking. It helps if the area is clear and I can get into the yard.
You get a written estimate
I write up what I think is causing the problem and what we'd do about it, so you can weigh it against anything else you've heard. If a smaller fix will do the job, that's what I'll write.
We handle the permit step
Once you say go, we check with the city or county office that covers your address and take care of any permit application ourselves. You'll know where it stands before the crew shows up.
We finish and walk it together
My crew and I do the work, clean up and walk it with you at the end. I'll show you what we found and what to watch, so you can keep an eye on it after we leave.
Masonry questions from Midland homeowners
Does masonry repair in Midland, TX need a building permit?
In many cases it does, since the city says most construction projects need a building permit and its residential permits cover repairs and remodeling along with new construction, additions and detached buildings. The permit has to come from you as the owner or from a licensed and bonded contractor working for you. I'd rather check your job with the city than guess, so that gets sorted before we set a date.
How do I apply for a building permit in Midland, TX?
You can apply online through PermitMidland, the city's permit site, or in person at the city's One Stop Shop permit counter at 300 N Loraine St., open Monday to Friday, 8 AM to 4 PM. If your house is outside city limits in Midland County, a driveway permit comes from the county's Public Works office instead.
When does a building permit expire in Midland, TX?
Work has to start within 180 days of the day the permit is issued, and if work stops for more than 180 days in a row, the permit expires on its own and a new application is needed. If a job is going to stall, you can ask for an extension by calling 432-685-7390.
Does a masonry contractor have to register with the City of Midland?
Yes, and before the city issues a contractor any permit, a $10,000 bond has to be on file and approved by the City Attorney. That bond is good for 2 years, so ask whoever you hire whether their registration and bond are current before they pull your permit.
What affects the cost of masonry work in Midland?
Mostly how far the problem goes, since repointing a few worn joints is a much smaller job than resetting a footing that has dropped. Matching older brick or stone, getting to a wall in a tight back yard, how high the work is and whether a permit is needed all add to it. I write up your own number on site, along with what I think is causing the problem.
What causes stair-step cracks in brick walls in Midland?
Usually it's the footing moving, most often because water from a sprinkler, a downspout or a leak is soaking the ground under one side of the house while the rest stays dry. The crack follows the mortar because that's the weakest line in the wall. Cracks straight through the brick or a wall bowing out point to other causes, which is why I want to see it before anyone quotes a fix.
Tell us about your Midland masonry project
A crack that's still small is usually a smaller job than the wall it can pull out of line later, so call (432) 280-0058 or send us the form while it's still small.