Foundation repair
When a brick foundation shows stair-step cracks or a corner has dropped, we find the cause first, then repair the block or brick so the wall carries the house again.
Masonry Contractor in James Island, SC - Laid Out for the Water Each Lot Sees
Legacy Summerville Concrete and Masonry repairs and builds brick, block and stone on James Island, SC, from repointing older brick homes to new walls, walkways and driveways. I measure every job myself, and our own crew does the work.
Legacy Summerville Concrete and Masonry handles brick, block and stone work on James Island, from repointing and brick repair on older homes to new retaining walls, walkways and paver driveways. We come down from Summerville, I measure the job myself, and our own crew builds it.
The masonry work we see across James Island
A lot of our James Island calls start with older brick. The joints have worn back, a few bricks have cracked or come loose, or a chimney is letting water in at the top. We match the new mortar to the wall it's going into, because mortar harder than the brick around it can crack the brick instead of the joint. That's the core of our brick pointing work.
The rest is new work. Homeowners here ask us for walls, walks and driveways on lots that have to shed water, and that shapes the layout more than the choice of brick or stone does. We set the grades and plan the drainage before anyone mixes mortar, so the finished wall or walk sends water away from the house instead of toward it.
- Based in
- Summerville, SC 29483
- Hours
- Mon–Fri: 6 AM–11 PM, Sat–Sun: 7 AM–11 PM
Masonry services for James Island homes
Chimney repair
For chimneys with loose top courses, a cracked crown or worn joints, we rebuild what's failing and point the rest, so water stops getting into the brick from above.
Tuckpointing
When worn joints on an older brick home need to match closely, tuckpointing fills them with mortar matched in color and a fine line that keeps the original look.
Brick repair
Bricks that have cracked, loosened or started shedding their face get cut out and replaced with matched brick, set in mortar softer than the brick around it.
Driveway pavers
A paver driveway makes sense when concrete keeps cracking or you want a surface that can be lifted and relaid, and we build the base and slope to carry water off.
Retaining wall construction
On a yard with a slope or a low side, a retaining wall holds the soil back, and we build drainage in behind it so water doesn't push the wall over.
Masonry restoration
When an older house has worn joints, cracked brick and a tired chimney all at once, we plan the whole job together instead of patching one piece at a time.
Fireplace installation
For a new brick or stone fireplace inside or out, we lay out the firebox, hearth and surround to fit the room and the chimney before setting a single unit.
Stone veneer installation
Stone veneer gives a block wall, foundation or fireplace the look of stone, and we install it with the drainage gap and flashing it needs to keep water out.
Concrete block walls
Block walls suit garden walls, privacy walls and outdoor kitchen bases, and we set the footing and reinforcement so the wall stays plumb and level for the long run.
Foundation block wall installation
For an addition, a raised home or a new crawlspace, we lay foundation block course by course on a checked footing, so the framing above starts level and square.
Outdoor kitchen masonry
An outdoor kitchen needs a block or brick base built to carry the counter and grill, and we lay out the appliance openings before the first course goes down.
Walkway construction
When the walk to your door has heaved, sunk or holds puddles, we rebuild it in brick, stone or pavers on a packed base pitched to drain.
Brick wall installation
A new brick wall along a property line or garden bed gets a proper footing, weep holes that let trapped water out, and brick that sits well next to your house.
Stone masonry
For stone steps, walls or columns, we fit each stone by hand so the joints stay tight and the weight sits where it should.
Brick pointing
When mortar joints are soft, cracked or recessed, we grind them out to a set depth and refill them with mortar chosen to suit the brick on your wall.
Get a free on-site estimate for your James Island job
Send your address and a few lines about the job, and we'll get back to you within one business day, with no obligation to book. I'll come out to James Island, measure the work myself and write up an estimate listing the materials, the steps and anything not included, so you can compare it with other bids side by side.
(843) 376-1285Working on James Island: permits and what moves the price
On James Island, the permit depends on who governs your address. Inside Town limits, the Town of James Island handles building permits and inspections through SAFEbuilt. On County parcels, Charleston County Building Services issues permits for every trade and every job, whatever it costs. Part of the island sits inside the City of Charleston too, so the schedule starts with knowing which office your job goes to.
That's the first thing we check. We look up whether your address is in Town limits, City limits or the County, talk to the office that covers it, and handle the permit and inspections when the job needs them. If you're in an HOA or a historic district, we help you line up those approvals first, because they come before the permit. We're fully licensed and insured.
Price moves with the size of the job, the brick or stone you pick, how much old mortar or brick has to come out, how easy the wall is to reach, and what's below the surface on a foundation or wall job. The schedule turns on the permit, the approvals and how much prep the site needs. Your estimate covers both for your job. We do the same work in Hollywood and Charleston.
How we lay out and check every masonry job
I learned brick, block and stone on a big commercial outfit, where each course got measured and checked before the next one went on. I started this business in Summerville, SC in 2013 to work that same way on homes. I still come out to measure every job myself, our own crew does the work, and I check it as it goes.
Most masonry problems start before the first brick, with a footing out of level or a wall that traps water. So we lay the job out square and level, plan where the water goes, and pick mortar that suits the wall. I'd rather spend an extra hour checking than have you find a problem later. Satisfaction guaranteed on every job.
If you've got worn joints, a cracked chimney or a new wall in mind on James Island, call (843) 376-1285 or send your address and project. The address tells us which office covers the job, and your notes tell me what to measure when I come out.
Island rules that can shape your masonry job
James Island is split between three governments, and some County rules on flood zones and permits reach into masonry work. Here's what's worth knowing before a job starts, and what we watch for.
Three governments, one island
The Town of James Island borders unincorporated Charleston County, the City of Folly Beach and the City of Charleston, and plenty of islanders already live inside City limits. The island also has many donut holes, small pockets of unincorporated land under County jurisdiction. Your neighbor's rules may not be yours, so we confirm your own address before we talk about the permit side of your job.
Flood elevation certificates
In County flood zones, a Flood Elevation Certificate is required before the floor strapping inspection and the sheathing and strapping inspection. Those come up when masonry is part of a larger build, such as a new foundation under an addition. Any private land surveyor can provide one, so it's worth booking the surveyor early instead of waiting on one in the middle of the job.
How substantial improvement adds up
The County uses Substantial Improvement as a floodplain term for work during any five years in a row that costs at least 49 percent of the existing structure's market value. The Building Official sets that value at the start of construction. The count runs across separate projects, so a foundation repair now and an addition a few years later can land in the same total.
When work can start
Under County rules, work that needs a permit starts only after the permit card is posted somewhere easy to see on the property, so the card goes up before our crew does any work. County projects submitted on or after January 1, 2027 must meet a newer residential code than jobs submitted before then, so when a job is filed decides which code it's checked against.
James Island masonry questions we hear
Who handles the building permit for masonry work on James Island?
We do, when the job needs one. Which office issues it depends on whether your address is in Town limits, City limits or the County, as covered above, and we check that first. Town projects that were already under way with Charleston County Building Services before the Town started handling permits stay with the County.
Does a small masonry repair on James Island need a permit?
On a County parcel, it may not. County guidance waives the permit for work under $1,000.00 that needs no inspection, when you do the work yourself or a specialty contractor handles a one-trade project. That guidance covers County parcels only, so for Town or City addresses we check with the office that covers you before any work starts.
Who pays the fines if masonry work on James Island was done without a permit?
On County parcels, the current homeowner is liable for any fines. County guidance also makes that owner responsible for demolition or for retroactive permits, the ones issued after the work, to bring the structure into compliance. That's a big reason we pull the permit whenever a job needs one instead of skipping the step.
How much does masonry work cost on James Island?
There's no single number, because repointing a few feet of wall and rebuilding a chimney are different jobs. The things that move it, covered above, are the size, the materials, how much old work comes out and access. I measure on site and put your figure in writing so you can compare it with other bids.
What should I have ready before a masonry estimate on James Island?
Have your address handy, because it tells us whether the Town, the City or the County covers the job. If you're in an HOA or a historic district, have their contact or rules ready, since those approvals come first. Clear a path to the wall or chimney, and tell me about any cracks or leaks you've noticed.
How long does it take to get a masonry project started on James Island?
Most of the lead time is paperwork, not masonry. A repair that needs no permit can be scheduled once you approve the estimate, while a job that needs one waits on the permit, and HOA or historic approvals come before that. We start on the permit as soon as you say go, so the paperwork moves right away.
Call or send your James Island address
Our hours run from 6 AM to 11 PM on weekdays and 7 AM to 11 PM on weekends, so you can call (843) 376-1285 after work or send your address and project through the form.