Masonry Contractor in Decatur, AL - Sound Mortar and Walls That Drain
Capstone Huntsville Concrete and Masonry repairs brick, repoints mortar and builds retaining walls, walkways and stone work for homes in Decatur, AL. We're based in Huntsville and bring our own masons to Decatur jobs.
- Licensed and fully insured.
- Free estimates at your property.
- We respond within 1 business day.
Decatur homes we work on, and what they need
As a masonry contractor based in Huntsville, AL, we spend a good share of our time in Decatur, and it's a city with a lot of brick in it. Close in to downtown we see older brick houses, many still on their original, softer mortar. Farther out, newer subdivisions often have a brick front over a block foundation and a backyard that falls away from the house. It's a mix of homes and small businesses, much like what we work on down the road in Hartselle.
That mix shapes the job. On an older house, the work turns on matching soft mortar and old brick so a repair doesn't crack the wall around it. On a newer lot, it usually turns on grade and drainage, because water running toward a wall or foundation is most of what we end up fixing.
Masonry services we bring to Decatur homes
Foundation repair
When a brick house in Decatur shows stair-step cracks or a sticking door, we find what moved the foundation and repair the block or brick that carries it.
Chimney repair
Older chimneys here often lose mortar near the top first, where they're most exposed. We rebuild loose courses and redo the crown so water stays out.
Tuckpointing
When the joints on your brick have gone sandy or pulled back, we grind out the worn mortar and pack new mortar matched to the brick's softness.
Brick repair
Cracked or loose brick on an older Decatur house usually comes from water or movement. We fix that first, then set in the closest match.
Driveway pavers
For a Decatur driveway that's cracked or heaved, pavers on a packed, well-drained base give you a surface you can lift and reset instead of tearing out.
Retaining wall construction
Where a Decatur yard slopes, the wall has to hold the soil and let water out. We put gravel and drain pipe behind, because that's where walls fail.
Masonry restoration
Older brick homes in Decatur often carry decades of mismatched patches. We clean, repoint and rebuild with mortar and brick that suit the original work.
Fireplace installation
When you want a wood-burning fireplace or a masonry surround for an insert, we build the firebox, hearth and face to fit your room and your chimney.
Stone veneer installation
Stone veneer dresses up a foundation wall, porch or column on a Decatur house. It lasts when the wall behind it can shed water, so we start there.
Concrete block walls
For a backyard wall or a property-line screen, we set block on a solid footing and fill and reinforce it where the wall needs the strength.
Foundation block wall installation
For an addition, a crawlspace or a garage on a Decatur lot, we lay the foundation block level and square so everything built on top starts right.
Outdoor kitchen masonry
We build the block base, counters and brick or stone face for a Decatur backyard kitchen, with gas and power runs left open for those trades.
Walkway construction
A brick or stone walk from the drive to the door gets daily use, so we set it on a packed base sloped to shed water.
Brick wall installation
For brick garden walls or entry piers, we size the footing to the wall and pick brick and mortar that blend with your house.
Stone masonry
Fieldstone and cut stone show up on porches, steps and older chimneys around Decatur. We lay new stone and repair old work with mortar that suits it.
Brick pointing
When just a few joints on your house have opened up, pointing those spots keeps water out from behind the brick while the repair is still small.
Get a free masonry estimate for your Decatur home
Send the form and we'll reply within one business day to set a visit. I come out, look at the job and follow up with a free written estimate, no pressure and no obligation.
- Based in
- Huntsville, AL 35801
- Hours
- Mon–Fri: 6 AM–9 PM, Sat–Sun: 7 AM–9 PM
Permits, licenses and pricing for Decatur masonry jobs
Every construction permit in Decatur comes from the city's Building Department, and that covers repairs as well as new construction and additions. Whether your wall or repair needs one is that office's call, so I check with them before we start and we handle the permit when the job needs one, which can add lead time before our crew shows up. If your house sits in a historic district, I get that review moving first. A business holding a city license renews it through the city's online portal, so it's fair to ask any contractor whether theirs is current, and we're licensed and fully insured. Price moves mostly with how much wall we're working on and how much of the job sits behind or under it, and the schedule turns on the permit and the prep, so your written estimate is where you get your own figure.
I-65 runs right past Decatur, so getting materials and our crew here is simple from Huntsville. We do the same work in Athens and up in Meridianville, and a Decatur job runs with the same crew and the same habits. I sold brick, block and stone before I ever laid it, so when an older Decatur wall needs brick to match, I usually know where to look and which mortar won't fight the old brick.
Why Decatur brick and yards need masonry work
Older brick wears at the joints first. The mortar goes sandy, pulls back from the brick and lets water in, and on a lot of houses we find an earlier patch done with mortar harder than the brick, which makes the brick crack instead of the joint. We cut out the bad mortar carefully and repoint with a mix that suits the brick, because the mortar should be the part that wears, not the wall.
On newer lots the trouble is usually water. When the yard slopes toward the house or a wall has nothing behind it but packed dirt, that wall leans or the foundation cracks, so we build the drainage before we build the wall.
How a Decatur masonry job runs, from call to walkthrough
Here's how it goes from your first call to the last walk around the finished job, with a written estimate in your hands before you decide anything.
Call or send us a note
Call (256) 417-4326 or use the form, and we get back to you within one business day to set a time. You don't need to have anything figured out first.
I look the job over
I come out myself, take photos and tell you what I see, including what the job doesn't need. You get a free written estimate, so you know the price before you commit to anything.
We check permits and build
I check the permit and any historic district steps with the office that covers your address, and a CityView account lets you follow the application and inspections online. Our crew lead runs the job day to day with our masons.
Walk the finished job together
When the work's done, I walk it with you and show you what went in behind the wall and in the joints before it's out of sight. Satisfaction guaranteed on every job.
Questions about masonry work in Decatur
How do I apply for a building permit in Decatur, AL?
You apply with a CityView account on the city's CityView portal, which is where Decatur takes permit applications. When you hire us, that's a step we take care of if your job needs a permit.
Who do I ask about setbacks or height limits for a brick wall in Decatur?
Decatur's Planning Department answers setback, building height and fence questions, since it runs the city's zoning rules. If your wall will sit along a property line or near the street, it's worth asking them before we lay it out.
How does masonry work get permitted in Decatur if a general contractor is running my project?
It goes on the general contractor's master project, not on a separate permit application. Anyone working under a general contractor contacts the Building Department to be added, so when we're the masonry crew on your job, that's the step we take.
How much does masonry work cost in Decatur, AL?
There's no single price, because cost here turns on the size of the job and the parts you won't see when we're done. A retaining wall costs more when it needs gravel and drain pipe behind it, and a repoint costs more when an earlier patch used hard mortar that has to be cut out by hand. I'd rather put your money into those hidden parts than into extras you don't need, and your written estimate lays it all out.
What causes mortar to crumble on older brick houses in Decatur?
Usually it's age and water, and sometimes an earlier repair made with mortar harder than the brick. Water from a bad gutter or a yard that slopes toward the house works into worn joints, and hard mortar forces the brick to take the stress. We match new mortar to the brick, which on an older house usually means a softer mix than what comes in a hardware store bag.
How do I find out about floodplain rules for a wall or foundation job in Decatur?
Ask the Building Department, which enforces Decatur's floodplain rules along with issuing permits. If your lot is in a floodplain, I raise that with the office before we plan a wall or foundation job, since it can shape what gets built.
Tell us about your Decatur masonry job
A short note about what you're seeing, a cracked joint, loose brick or a wall that's starting to lean, lets me plan the visit around your problem.