Masonry Contractor in Billings, MT - Brick Repair and Walls That Stay Put
Stonecraft Billings Concrete and Masonry is a masonry contractor in Billings, MT. We repair older brick, chimneys and foundations, and build retaining walls, block walls, walkways, paver driveways and stone work for homes across the city.
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Masonry work in Billings, from old brick to new walls
The short answer: Stonecraft Billings Concrete and Masonry is based in Billings, and most of our masonry work happens right here. We repoint tired brick, fix chimneys and foundations, and build retaining walls, walkways and paver driveways. I started the business here in 2021, and I still come out to look at the job myself.
A lot of our Billings calls come from older brick houses in the established neighborhoods, where the mortar has been doing its job for decades and has started to quit, usually one sandy joint at a time. We also see plenty of newer houses on the edges of the city with block foundations, paver driveways and backyards that slope more than anyone planned for. The same kinds of calls come in from Lockwood, and we handle them the same way.
That mix decides how a job starts. On an old house the first question is how much is worth saving, and on a newer lot it's what the ground behind the wall is going to do.
Older brick and sloped yards keep Billings busy
Mortar is meant to wear out before the brick does, and on the older brick homes here it's had plenty of time to get started. Once the joints go sandy or hollow, water gets behind the face and starts working on the brick itself, which is when a small repointing job turns into brick repair. We grind out the bad joints and refill them with mortar matched to your brick, because mortar that's harder than the brick pushes the damage into the brick instead of taking it.
Retaining walls usually lean for one reason, water sitting behind them with nowhere to go. On sloped Billings lots we put as much work into the parts you'll never see, the dug-out base, the gravel and the drainage, as into the face you'll look at every day.
Masonry services we do for Billings homes
Foundation repair
When you see a stair-step crack in block, a cracked basement wall or a wall bowing inward, we find what's pushing on it and repair that section.
Chimney repair
Loose bricks up top, a crumbling cap or stains running down the chimney usually mean water is getting in. We rebuild what's failing above the roofline.
Tuckpointing
For brick walls where the joints have gone sandy but the bricks are still sound, we grind out the worn mortar and refill it with a matching mix.
Brick repair
Cracked, chipped or flaking bricks get cut out and replaced with brick that matches your house, so the patch doesn't stand out from the street.
Driveway pavers
If your driveway is cracked or you want one you can fix a piece at a time, pavers on a well-packed base handle daily parking without fuss.
Retaining wall construction
For a sloped yard that's washing out or an old wall that's started leaning, we build on a solid base with drainage behind, so water isn't shoving it over.
Masonry restoration
Older brick and stone houses that need several fixes at once get a plan that saves what's sound and repairs only what's actually failing.
Fireplace installation
When you want a real masonry fireplace in the living room or basement, we build the firebox, surround and hearth to fit the room and the house.
Stone veneer installation
Thin stone over a plain block foundation, a bare wall or a dull entry gives the house a stone face without the weight of full stone walls.
Concrete block walls
Block walls suit garages, sheds, privacy screens and property-line walls where you want something solid that won't ask much of you afterward.
Foundation block wall installation
For additions, garages and new builds, we lay block foundation walls straight and plumb on proper footings, because everything above them depends on it.
Outdoor kitchen masonry
If your patio is ready for a grill station, counter or pizza oven surround, we build it in block, brick or stone to go with the house.
Walkway construction
Sunken, heaved or cracked front walks get torn out and rebuilt in pavers, brick or stone on a packed base so they sit level underfoot.
Brick wall installation
New brick walls for gardens, entries or additions, laid to match the brick already on your house so the new work looks like it belongs.
Stone masonry
Natural stone steps, walls, columns and accents, cut and fitted by hand, for homeowners who want work that looks right beside an older house.
Brick pointing
When only a few joints have cracked or dropped out, we point just those, which costs a lot less than redoing the whole wall.
Get a free on-site masonry estimate in Billings
Send the form and we'll reply within one business day to set a time. I'll come out to your place in Billings, look at the job, ask a few plain questions and give you a free estimate. There's no pressure to book.
Working in Billings: permits, licenses and what sets the price
Permits in Billings go through the city's Building Division, and it takes every application online. When your job needs one, we put the paperwork together, file it for you and keep you posted, and the start date waits on the city's approval rather than our calendar. Every business working inside the city needs a City of Billings business license, so it's fair to ask any contractor to show you theirs. We're licensed and insured, and we're happy to show you.
The price moves with the size of the job, how much damage turns up once the bad mortar or block comes out, how hard your brick or stone is to match, and how easy it is to get materials and the mixer to the spot. The schedule turns on the permit, when there is one, and on how big the job is. If the work reaches past your lot into the strip along the street, the city's right-of-way rules come into it too. Your estimate is where you get your own number, and we run jobs the same way out in Laurel.
How it works when you call us in Billings
Here's what happens from your first call to the last bag of mortar. I'm the one who looks at the job, and I'm usually on site with the crew while the work gets done.
- Step 01
Call or send a note
Call (406) 318-2106 or use the form and tell us what you're seeing. We set a time for me to come out, and photos help if you have them.
- Step 02
I look over the job
I look at the job, ask a few plain questions and write the estimate myself, so you see what the job needs and what it doesn't. A few bad joints don't call for a whole new wall, and I'll tell you so.
- Step 03
We handle permits and build
When a permit is needed, we file the paperwork with the city and keep you posted, then our crew does the work with me usually right there. We plan the loud work inside the city's construction hours, covered in the FAQ below.
- Step 04
We walk the finished job
Before we pack up, we walk the finished work with you and clean up the site. Satisfaction guaranteed on every job.
Masonry questions we hear in Billings
How do I apply for a building permit in Billings, MT?
You apply online, because the city takes every permit through its online permit portal. For new construction, the permit form also asks you to follow the city's storm water rules and state environmental rules where they apply, and that holds for sites under an acre too. When your masonry job needs a permit, we put the paperwork together and can file it for you.
Who handles permits for masonry work along the street in Billings?
Billings Public Works handles permits for the boulevard and the city right-of-way, the public strip along the street. Its list includes an encroachment permit application at $75 and a free permit for planting, pruning or removing boulevard trees, and work in the right-of-way follows the city's public works standards. If your walk, wall or driveway ties into that strip, we sort it out before anyone digs.
Does a contractor based outside Billings need a Billings business license?
Yes, the city requires a business license for any business activity inside Billings, even when the business is based outside the city limits or licensed by another city. Working without one can bring violation notices, citations and court action, and the license has to be renewed every year, so it's worth asking to see a current one.
What hours can contractors do construction work in Billings?
Billings Public Works says construction is generally exempt from noise limits between 7 am and 8 pm. Inside that window there's no noise level limit on the work, and the city council has allowed waivers for special cases outside it, such as starting before 7 am. We plan the brick cutting and mixer work for those hours.
What causes mortar to crumble on older brick houses in Billings?
Mostly age and water. Mortar is the part of the wall that's supposed to give up first, and it's usually happy to oblige, and once joints crack or go sandy, water gets in and speeds things along. Caught early, that's often a handful of joints to point instead of a section of wall to rebuild.
How much does masonry repair cost in Billings?
The cost comes down to how much needs fixing and what it's made of, so your real number comes from a look at the job. Pointing a few failed joints costs far less than rebuilding a wall, old brick or natural stone takes longer to match, and a retaining wall's price depends as much on its base and drainage as its face. If the work reaches into the right-of-way, the encroachment fee above gets added.
Other areas we serve
Call about your Billings masonry job today
Cracks and loose joints are smaller jobs while they're still small, so call (406) 318-2106 or send the form before the next chunk of mortar lets go.