Foundation repair
When a brick foundation or pier on a low, wet lot cracks or settles, we find what's moving it before we rebuild, so the repair isn't fighting the same water.
Masonry Contractor in Charleston, SC - Brick, Block and Stone Built for Wet Ground
Legacy Summerville Concrete and Masonry repoints and repairs brick, builds walls, walks and patios, and lays stone for homes in Charleston, SC. I measure every job myself, and our own crew lays it square, level and ready for water.
Legacy Summerville Concrete and Masonry handles brick repair, repointing, retaining walls, walkways, pavers and stone work across Charleston, SC. Most calls here come from owners of older brick homes who need mortar work, or from people planning walls, walks and patios. On every one, I start by measuring how the ground sheds water.
Masonry work on Charleston homes, as we see it
A lot of what we see in Charleston is older brick on house fronts, steps, chimneys and garden walls, where the joints have worn back and rain gets in. On that work the mortar matters as much as the brick. We pick a mix that suits the wall, softer than the brick on older work, so the joint takes the wear instead of the brick face cracking.
Plenty of lots here sit low and hold water after a hard rain, and that shapes new work as much as repairs. A retaining wall needs drainage behind it, a walk needs a slight slope, and a footing has to sit on firm ground rather than soft fill. We do the same work nearby in Mount Pleasant, where we meet much the same ground.
- Based in
- Summerville, SC 29483
- Hours
- Mon–Fri: 6 AM–11 PM, Sat–Sun: 7 AM–11 PM
What we build and repair on Charleston homes
Chimney repair
Loose brick, open joints or a cracked crown on an older chimney let rain into the house, so we rebuild what's failed and repoint the rest to match.
Tuckpointing
Tuckpointing fills worn joints with mortar colored to the brick, then adds a thin contrasting line, which brings back the crisp look on older Charleston brick fronts.
Brick repair
When brick faces flake off or crack on steps, walls or a house front, we cut those bricks out and set new ones in mortar chosen to suit the wall.
Driveway pavers
Pavers suit Charleston driveways because they sit on a packed base sloped to drain, and a single sunken or broken paver can be lifted and reset later.
Retaining wall construction
On a lot with a grade change, a retaining wall holds the soil back, and we build drainage in behind it so soaked ground can't build pressure against it.
Masonry restoration
Older brick and stone that's been patched for years gets cleaned, repaired and repointed as one job, with mortar picked to suit the wall instead of a hard modern mix.
Fireplace installation
A new brick or stone fireplace gets laid out and checked for square and plumb before the first course goes down, so the firebox, hearth and face line up.
Stone veneer installation
Stone veneer gives a block or framed wall the look of stone, and we flash and detail the bottom edge so rain running down behind it has a way out.
Concrete block walls
Block works well for garden walls, privacy walls and raised beds here, set on a footing sized for the ground and filled solid where the wall needs the strength.
Foundation block wall installation
For additions and outbuildings, we lay foundation block walls true and level on their footings, because everything built above them takes its line from there.
Outdoor kitchen masonry
We build the block base, counters and brick or stone facing for an outdoor kitchen, set on a slab or footing sized for a yard that stays wet after storms.
Walkway construction
A brick, stone or paver walk here needs a firm base and a slight slope so water runs off it, which keeps it from heaving or holding puddles.
Brick wall installation
Garden walls, front walls and brick columns get laid out with string and level before any mortar is mixed, then built course by course on a proper footing.
Stone masonry
Natural stone walls, steps and edging are fitted stone by stone, with joints and footings set up for the water Charleston ground sees after a heavy rain.
Brick pointing
Pointing replaces worn or cracked mortar joints while the brick itself is still sound, and on many older Charleston walls it's all the wall needs to shed water again.
Get a free on-site estimate for your Charleston masonry job
Send the form and we'll get back to you within one business day to set a time, with no obligation to book. I come out to your Charleston address myself to look at the work and measure it. Then I write up the estimate with the materials, the steps and anything not included, so you can compare it side by side with others.
(843) 376-1285Permits, licenses and pricing for Charleston jobs
Inside city limits, the City of Charleston issues the permit, and work waits until the city shows it as issued. The city's residential permit list names jobs like fences, roofs and decks but not masonry, so whether yours needs one gets checked for your address. Anything placed in the street, the sidewalk or the grass strip between them needs an encroachment permit from the city's Public Service Department.
We start by finding out whether your address is in city limits or the county, then check with the office that covers it and handle the permit and inspections when the job needs them. If you have an HOA, we help you line up its approval first. On any contractor you're comparing, check two things, the state contractor license and the city business license.
Price moves with how much material the job takes, how much old mortar or brick has to come out, and how much digging and drainage the ground calls for. The schedule turns on the permit and on dry weather for laying and pointing. My estimate puts each of those in writing for your job. We work the same way next door in North Charleston and on James Island.
Why Charleston homeowners call us for brick and stone
I learned brick, block and stone on a big commercial outfit, where every course got measured and checked before the next one went on. I started this business as a masonry contractor in Summerville, SC in 2013 to work that same way on homes. I come out to measure your job myself, our own crew does the work, and I check it as it goes.
We're best known for repointing and brick repair with mortar chosen to suit the wall. I'd rather spend an extra hour checking layout and water runoff than have you find a problem later. We're fully licensed and insured. Satisfaction guaranteed on every job. Call (843) 376-1285 or use the form above to set up a visit.
Flood zones and wet ground on Charleston lots
The city maps flood zones across Charleston, and a lot of our planning here starts with which zone your lot sits in and how water moves across it.
Zones AE and VE
The city calls zones AE and VE high hazard flood zones, and both sit inside the regulated Special Flood Hazard Area. If your lot is in one, we plan footings, wall drainage and joint details around water reaching the masonry. We also check with the city on what the zone means for your particular job before we write the estimate.
Zones X and X shaded
Zones X and X shaded sit outside that area, as low and moderate hazard flood zones. The city points out that plenty of flood insurance claims still come from these lower-risk areas. So a wall or walk in zone X gets the same drainage and footing care from us as one closer to the water.
Planning for higher water
The city recommends planning for sea level rise over the coming decades. That matters for masonry because walls, steps and footings stay in place for a long time once they're built. On low lots we favor details that let water drain out and dry, rather than trapping it behind brick or stone where it can work on the joints.
Digging or grading your lot
Every city project that disturbs the ground, by digging or grading, needs an erosion protection and sediment control certification. That covers a lot of masonry work, from retaining wall footings to walk bases and foundation repairs. We account for it when we plan the dig, and we keep loose soil on your lot and out of the drains.
Questions Charleston homeowners ask about masonry
How do I check if my Charleston address is inside city limits?
Use the interactive GIS map on the city's Permit Center page to confirm whether your address is inside city limits. If your address doesn't show up there, the city points you to other GIS services, such as Charleston County's. We check this before anything else, because it decides which office handles any permit your job needs.
Does a masonry contractor need a City of Charleston business license?
Yes, any contractor doing business inside Charleston city limits needs a city business license, even one with no office in the city. We're based in Summerville, so that rule covers us too. When you're comparing contractors, ask each one about the city license as well as their state license.
Can I pull my own permit for masonry work in Charleston?
Yes, the city's applications and guidelines page has a form that lets homeowners get residential single-family permits themselves, except fuel-gas permits. Whether your masonry job needs a permit at all gets checked for your address. If you hire us, we handle the permit and inspections when the job needs them.
How much does masonry work cost in Charleston, SC?
The price comes down mostly to the size of the job, the material and the prep. Matching older brick and mortar, a footing taken down past soft ground, drainage behind a retaining wall and a tight side yard all add to it, while new work on firm, open ground keeps it lower. Your estimate lists the materials, the steps and anything not included.
How soon can a masonry job start in Charleston?
If the job needs a permit, work can begin once the city shows it as issued and the permit placard is printed and posted at the site. After that the schedule turns mostly on weather, because we don't lay or point brick in heavy rain and fresh mortar needs time to set. I'll tell you what the permit check finds when I give you the estimate.
How do I get my yard ready for a masonry crew?
Clear a path from the street to the work so we can bring in brick, block and a mixer, and move cars, planters and patio furniture out of the way. Mark sprinkler heads and any buried lines you know about before digging starts. If you have pets, keep them inside while we're working.
Call (843) 376-1285 to book your visit
Open joints let in more water with every storm, so getting a wall looked at early usually means repointing a section instead of rebuilding it, and you can reach us through the form just as easily.