Stone masonry in Springfield IL - stone and mortar that belong on your house
Loose stones, crumbling joints or a wall you want built from scratch? We pick stone and mortar that hold up and look right.
What does stone masonry on a Springfield house involve?
Stone masonry in Springfield, IL is building with natural stone and keeping it sound. At Artisan Springfield Concrete and Masonry, that's usually one of two jobs. We lay new stone veneer on a wall, or we repoint old stone by raking out the worn mortar between the stones and packing in fresh.
Most people call because mortar is crumbling out of the joints, a stone has come loose, or they want a stone face on a wall, a chimney or a front step. Stone looks like it'll last forever, but it wears, mostly at the mortar, so a wall that's been fine for decades can still need work. The price turns on how much wall there is, the stone you pick, how much old mortar has to come out and how hard the wall is to reach. The schedule turns on when your stone comes in and what your city asks for before we start. When I come out, I'll tell you what I see and write it all up, so you have your own figure instead of a guess.
How we handle stone masonry, new and old
On a repair, we start by finding out what's actually wrong, because sometimes it's a few bad joints and not the whole wall. We rake out the loose mortar, clean the joints and pack in new mortar a layer at a time. On older stone, we pick a mortar that won't be harder than the stone it sits against, so the mortar wears instead of the stone. Before a big repair, we put up a small sample section for you to approve first, so you see the color and the joint before the whole wall gets it. On new veneer, we prep the wall, set the stone, point the joints and clean up before we leave.
Stone work often sits next to other jobs. If the brick on your house needs its joints redone too, we handle brick pointing with the same care about mortar. If cracks in a stone wall trace back to what's underneath it, that's foundation repair, and I'll tell you so before we touch the stone.
Stone repairs, older walls and permits in Springfield
In Springfield, the city's Building Division handles permit reviews and inspections, and I won't guess from your driveway whether your stone job needs a permit. We check with the city or village office for your address before we start, and if a permit is needed, we take care of the paperwork, here in Springfield or in the cities around it.
A lot of the stone we're called to is on older houses, in foundations, garden walls and steps that have stood a long time, and those walls need a lighter hand than new work. If you're planning repairs on an older building and want background first, the city's Historic Sites Commission helps people preserving older structures find information and resources. We see the same kind of older stonework on jobs in Chatham and Jacksonville, and we repair it the same way, with the mortar picked to suit the stone.
How our stone jobs go
Call or send the form
Call (217) 210-0722 or send the form, and we'll set a time for me to come out. Photos of the wall help me know what I'm walking into.
I look it over on site
I come out myself, look at the stone and the joints, and tell you what I see, even when the answer is a smaller job or one that can wait. You get a written estimate that spells out the work and the price, so nothing's left to guess.
Check the rules, set a date
Once you say go, we check what your city or village asks for and put you on the schedule. The date also depends on when your stone comes in.
Do the work, walk it together
We do the work, then walk it with you before we pack up. Anything you want a second look at gets looked at while we're still there.
A free on-site estimate for stone walls, veneer and repointing
We reply to every call and form within one business day. I'll come out, look at the stone with you and write up a free estimate, and there's no obligation to go ahead.
Questions before you book stone masonry
How much does stone veneer cost in Springfield, IL?
Installing stone veneer in Springfield usually costs about $2,600 to $10,000 per job, and that's the going range around here, not a quote from us. Where your job lands depends on the size of the wall, the stone you choose and how much prep the wall needs. I'll give you your own number at the estimate.
Which natural stone holds up best outdoors in Springfield?
The stone that holds up best is one with a history of standing up to local weather, because not every natural stone suits outdoor use. Before you order, ask how that stone has done in Springfield weather, and I'll tell you what I've seen.
What is the best mortar for repairing an old stone wall?
Use a mortar no stronger than the stone beside it, which is what a federal guide for historic masonry calls for, so harder isn't better. Mortar that keeps moisture from leaving a wall damages the stone, and high lime mortars let moisture through better than denser cement mortars. That's why we match the mortar to your stone.
Can I use dry stack stone on the outside of my house?
One stone veneer guide says to keep dry stack work to indoor walls or warm climates without freezing. The same guide advises against open joints on outdoor veneer where freeze and thaw cycles happen, so if you love that look, plan it for a wall inside.
What causes stone to flake off a wall?
Salt crystallizing inside the stone can make parts of the face spall, or flake away, while salt that stays on the surface is usually fairly harmless. If your stone is flaking, I'll look at where the water's getting in before we talk about replacing anything.
How do I clean a stone veneer wall without damaging it?
Skip aggressive high pressure washing, because one stone veneer guide warns it might loosen the stone. If your wall looks like it needs more than a rinse, call me before you rent a pressure washer.
Why Springfield homeowners call Artisan Springfield Concrete and Masonry for stone work
I write every estimate myself
I come out to look at every job and write the estimate myself, then I'm on the job working right alongside our crew. The person who told you what your wall needs is there making sure it gets done that way.
Doing this work since 2013
I started this business in 2013, and in 13 years we've become best known for repointing and repair on older homes. That's the work where the wrong mortar does real harm, so it's where we're most careful.
Licensed and insured for your job
We're licensed and insured. It's the first thing worth asking anyone before they put a ladder against your house.
Garage footings dug to city depth
The city's notice on garages wants footings below the frost line for every attached garage and any detached garage with masonry, with the bottom at least 36 inches under finished grade. If you're adding a stone garage, we dig to that depth before any stone goes up.
On stone, the mortar and the stone have to suit each other, and that's the call I make at every estimate. Get in touch and I'll come take a look.
Work that often goes with stone masonry
Brick pointing
If your house has brick alongside the stone, its joints often wear out on the same schedule, and redoing both in one visit saves a second setup.
Foundation repair
When a stone wall cracks or leans because the ground or footing under it moved, fixing the foundation first keeps new stonework from cracking the same way.
Get your stone wall or veneer looked at
Call (217) 210-0722 or email projects@springfieldconcreteandmasonry.com with a few photos, the wall's rough size and whether it's new veneer or a repair, and I'll show up already knowing what to bring.
