Masonry Contractor in Laurel, MT - Brick, Block and Stone Work That Holds Up
Stonecraft Billings Concrete and Masonry repairs and builds brick, block and stone in Laurel, MT, from tired mortar joints and leaning retaining walls to new walkways, stone veneer and fireplaces. We're a masonry contractor based in Billings, MT.
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Masonry in Laurel, on old houses and new
The short answer: Stonecraft Billings Concrete and Masonry takes masonry jobs in Laurel, MT. We're based in Billings and work across the cities around it. In Laurel that mostly means repointing and repairing older brick, fixing walls that have started to lean, and building new walks, walls and veneer that hold up through the winters.
Laurel's southside, the part once called German Town, still has the houses Volga German settlers built to look like the ones they left behind in Russia, and plenty of them have been restored. Older houses are the work I like best. I opened this business in 2021 doing careful repair on old brick, and an old wall rewards a crew that takes the time to match the mortar and brick instead of patching with whatever's in the truck. Across town, newer homes and yards tend to call for walkways, retaining walls and outdoor kitchens built from scratch.
Laurel is a short run from our home base in Billings, and the calls we get here look a lot like the ones there. On an older house the job is mostly about matching what's already standing. On a newer lot it's about what goes under the wall, because footings and drainage decide whether a wall stays where you put it.
Why Laurel brick, block and stone need work
Water and cold do most of the damage we see here. Mortar joints soak up water, it freezes and thaws through the winter, and after enough seasons the joints go sandy and start falling out, which is mortar's way of filing a complaint. The same thing happens under walks and the bases of walls, where wet ground lifts and settles until something cracks or leans, so we start with what's underneath before we lay anything on top.
Age is the other thing. Older houses have usually had a patch or two over the years, often with a mix that's too hard or a color that doesn't match, and those repairs tend to fail first and take good brick with them. We cut them out and match the new mortar to the brick and the original joints, so the repair blends in instead of standing out.
Masonry services we bring to Laurel homes
Foundation repair
When a crack in your foundation wall widens or lets water in, we find what's pushing on it and repair the block or concrete before it spreads.
Chimney repair
Loose bricks, white staining or a cracked concrete cap on top of the chimney mean water is getting in, so we rebuild damaged brick and redo the cap.
Tuckpointing
On older Laurel brick with sandy, recessed joints, tuckpointing replaces the worn mortar with new joints finished to match, so the wall sheds water again.
Brick repair
When a few bricks are cracked, flaking or loose, we cut out just those and set matching ones, rather than selling you a wall you don't need.
Driveway pavers
If your driveway is cracked or you want something that's easier to fix later, pavers on a well-packed base let us replace single pieces instead of whole slabs.
Retaining wall construction
For a slope that needs holding back, we build retaining walls on a solid footing with drainage behind, because trapped water is what tips walls over.
Masonry restoration
Older Laurel homes get careful cleaning, repointing and repair that keeps the original brick and stone working, instead of covering them up with something new.
Fireplace installation
When you want a fireplace added or an old one rebuilt, we lay up the firebox, surround and hearth to the plan and the unit maker's instructions.
Stone veneer installation
Stone veneer gives a plain foundation, wall or fireplace the look of stone, and we install it over proper backing and flashing so water drains out from behind.
Concrete block walls
For garage walls, privacy walls or outbuildings, we lay concrete block on a footing sized for the job, with the steel and grout the wall needs.
Foundation block wall installation
For an addition or a new building, we lay block foundation walls square and plumb on proper footings, because everything above rests on them.
Outdoor kitchen masonry
If you want a grill station or outdoor kitchen, we build the block or stone base and counters to fit the appliances you've picked.
Walkway construction
When a walk has heaved or cracked, we dig it out, pack a fresh base and lay brick, stone or pavers so it drains away from the house.
Brick wall installation
New brick walls for a garden, a property line or an addition go up on a sound footing, with mortar and brick picked to suit the house.
Stone masonry
For natural stone walls, steps and accents, we fit and set each stone by hand, with joints sized so the work reads as one piece.
Brick pointing
When only a few joints have cracked or opened, pointing fills them with fresh mortar, which is often all a wall needs before the next winter.
Get a free on-site estimate for your Laurel masonry job
Send the form and we'll reply within one business day to set a time. I come out to Laurel myself, look the job over and write you a free estimate on site, with no pressure to book.
Working in Laurel: permits, licenses and price
In Laurel, the City of Laurel Building Department issues building, demolition and right-of-way permits inside city limits. Its list doesn't name masonry on its own, so ask them whether your job needs one. When it does, we help with the paperwork and can file it for you, and the city's review sets the earliest day we can start. Before you hire anyone, ask to see a Montana contractor license and a current City of Laurel business license, which the city requires of general contractors. We're licensed and insured.
What moves the price here is how much of the work is really failing, how closely the brick, block or stone has to match what's there, and how much digging the job needs underneath. The schedule mostly turns on the permit, when there is one, and the weather, since fresh mortar and concrete don't take kindly to a hard freeze. I write the estimate on site, so you get a figure for your job, not a guess. Our crew works across the cities around Billings, Lockwood included, and I'm usually on the job with them.
How it goes when you call us about a Laurel job
Here's how a Laurel job runs from the first call to the final walk-through. I handle the estimate myself, our crew does the work, and you'll know what's happening at each step.
- Step 01
Call us or send the form
Ring (406) 318-2106 or send the form, tell us what you're seeing, and we'll set a time for me to come look. You don't need the trade words, "the bricks are coming loose" is plenty.
- Step 02
I look and write the estimate
I come out, look the job over and ask a few plain questions, and it helps if you're home to show me what's been bothering you. The estimate says what the job needs and what it doesn't, so you're not paying for a new wall when a few joints will do.
- Step 03
We handle permits and work
If the job needs a permit, we sort out the paperwork and keep you posted while the city reviews it, since that review sets the start date. Then our crew does the work, and I'm usually right there with them.
- Step 04
We walk the finished job
Before we pack up, we walk the finished job with you so you can look it over and ask about anything. Satisfaction guaranteed on every job.
Laurel masonry questions homeowners ask us
How do I get a permit for a gas line to an outdoor kitchen in Laurel, MT?
You get it through the State of Montana's permit website, because Laurel sends electrical, plumbing, mechanical and fuel gas permits there instead of issuing them at the city. That's separate from any city building permit for the masonry itself, so an outdoor kitchen with gas and power can mean more than one application. We build the masonry and help with its paperwork, and the gas and electrical work go through their own permits.
Does a masonry contractor need a state license in Montana?
Yes. Montana requires every construction contractor to be licensed with the Montana Department of Labor & Industry, and that covers anyone who bids on or takes on building, altering, repairing or tearing down an improvement for someone else. Repair work counts, not just new building, so ask any contractor you're considering to show you theirs.
How long does a building permit stay valid in Laurel?
A Laurel building permit becomes void if work hasn't started within 180 days of the day it's issued, unless the city approves a written request for an extension. If your project might wait for spring, tell me when we talk, and we'll time the filing to the season you actually want the work done.
How deep do footings need to be for a house wall in Laurel, MT?
Laurel's design criteria for one and two family homes put the frost depth at 36 inches to the top of the footings, so a footing for a house or an addition goes down at least that far. Under a city permit, that work stays uncovered until the required inspection is approved, so we leave it open until it passes. Before digging, the permit holder calls 1-800-424-5555 two days ahead to get underground lines marked, and when we file the permit, that call is ours.
How much does brick and mortar repair cost in Laurel, MT?
Your cost follows the size of the repair, not the size of the house, so a few bad joints cost far less than a wall that has to come down and go back up. The choices that move it most are spot repointing versus a whole wall, matching old brick versus using new, and whether the job needs footings, a permit or both. I'll price it on site and point out anything you can safely leave for later.
How do I know if my leaning retaining wall in Laurel can be saved?
A wall that leans a little but has sound block and no wide cracks can often be taken down to the lean, given drainage and a better base, and put back up with the same block. A wall that's bowed, split or sliding at the bottom usually needs rebuilding, because the base under it has already given up. I'll tell you which one you've got, and if yours can be reset, I'll say so rather than sell you a new one.
Other areas we serve
Call about your Laurel masonry job
We pick up from early morning until 11 PM every day of the week, so call (406) 318-2106 or send the form when you first spot a loose brick, not after another winter has worked on it.