Foundation repair
When a stair-step crack runs up the brick or a door starts sticking, we find what moved and repair the foundation masonry beneath it.
Masonry contractor in Summerville, SC - brick repair, repointing and new walls
Legacy Summerville Concrete and Masonry is a masonry contractor based in Summerville, SC. We repoint and repair brick on older homes and build walls, walkways, patios and driveways across Summerville, with mortar matched to each wall.
Legacy Summerville Concrete and Masonry handles brick, block and stone work on houses all over Summerville. That means repointing worn mortar joints on older brick homes and building retaining walls, walkways, patios and paver driveways on newer lots. We're based in Summerville, so these jobs are close to home.
Masonry work on Summerville homes, old and new
Most calls from owners of older brick homes start with something they can see. It might be joints gone sandy and recessed, a crack stepping up through the brick, or a chimney losing mortar near the top. I come out, measure it and look for where water is getting in, because that usually decides whether the fix is repointing a few courses or rebuilding a section.
The rest of our calls are for new building. That could be a retaining wall where a backyard slopes, a brick or stone walk to the front door, or an outdoor kitchen on the patio. Those jobs start with layout, so we set lines and check grade before any mortar gets mixed. We do the same work in North Charleston and Ladson.
- Based in
- Summerville, SC 29483
- Hours
- Mon–Fri: 6 AM–11 PM, Sat–Sun: 7 AM–11 PM
Masonry services we offer in Summerville
Chimney repair
A chimney takes more weather than anything else on the roof, so we replace loose brick, repoint open joints and rebuild crowns before water works down into the house.
Tuckpointing
When old joints are recessed or crumbling, we cut them out and refill them with colored mortar and a fine raised line, so the wall looks crisp and sheds water.
Brick repair
We cut out cracked bricks, bricks with flaking faces and loose ones, then replace them with brick matched for size and color and mortar matched to the rest of the wall.
Driveway pavers
A paver driveway holds up when the base under it is dug deep enough and packed hard, so that's where we spend our time before the first paver goes down.
Retaining wall construction
Where a yard slopes toward the house or a bed keeps washing out, we build a retaining wall with drainage behind it so wet soil doesn't push it over.
Masonry restoration
On older brick that's been patched over the years, we restore the wall with mortar and brick that match what's there, so the repairs blend in instead of standing out.
Fireplace installation
We build masonry fireplaces to the firebox size and clearances the plan calls for, and we check every course plumb and level as it goes up.
Stone veneer installation
Stone veneer puts a stone face on a foundation wall, column or fireplace, and we install it with the backing and flashing that keep water from getting behind it.
Concrete block walls
Block walls work for privacy, garden borders and structures that need strength, and we fill and reinforce them where the wall's height and load call for it.
Foundation block wall installation
For additions and new structures, we lay foundation block walls to the layout on the plans and check square and level course by course before going higher.
Outdoor kitchen masonry
We build the block or brick base for a grill, counter and sink, with openings measured to the appliances you've picked so everything fits when it arrives.
Walkway construction
We lay brick, stone or paver walks to the door or around the house on a packed base, pitched slightly so rain runs off instead of pooling.
Brick wall installation
We build new brick garden walls, screen walls and planters on a proper footing, with the brick and mortar color picked to suit your house.
Stone masonry
We cut and set natural stone by hand for walls, steps, columns and accents, so the joints stay tight and each stone carries its weight the way it should.
Brick pointing
When only some joints have opened up, we fill them with fresh mortar matched in strength and color, which keeps water out before the brick itself starts to fail.
Get a free on-site estimate for your Summerville job
We'll get back to you within one business day to set a time, and there's no obligation to book. I'll come out to your Summerville address and measure the job myself. Then I'll write up the estimate with the materials, the steps and anything not included, so you can compare it side by side with others.
(843) 376-1285What to check before masonry work in Summerville
Inside the Town of Summerville, the Building Department requires permits and inspections for new buildings, renovations and repairs to a building's structure. A foundation repair or a wall tied into the house can fall under that. When a job needs a permit, plan review and inspections set the start date more than the work itself does, and the review time is in the questions below.
You can check two things about any contractor before you hire them. South Carolina requires contractors to be licensed for the work they do. For residential specialty work, the state licensing board requires a license or registration once a job reaches $500. Summerville also requires a business license from companies working inside its limits, which the questions below cover.
We start by checking whether your address is inside Summerville or in unincorporated Dorchester, Berkeley or Charleston County. Then we ask the office that covers it and handle the permit and inspections when the job needs them. The price moves with the job's size, access and drainage, and the schedule moves with permits and weather. Your estimate spells out which of these apply. We work the same way in Sangaree.
How we lay out and build every job
I learned brick, block and stone at a big commercial outfit, where every course got measured and checked before the next one went on. I started Legacy Summerville Concrete and Masonry in 2013 to work that way on homes. I still come out to look at the job and measure it myself.
Our own crew does the work, and I check it as it goes, because a wall that's off square or out of level gets harder to fix with every course. Your estimate lists the materials, the steps and anything not included, so you can set it beside another bid and see what each one covers.
We're fully licensed and insured, and our promise is satisfaction guaranteed on every job. If you'd like me to look at a crack, a chimney or a yard you're planning to build in, call (843) 376-1285 or send the form, and we'll set a time.
What Summerville's weather and houses mean for masonry
Masonry in Summerville deals with long, hot summers, heavy rain and a lot of older brick. These are the things that shape how we plan and build a job here.
Older brick needs softer mortar
A lot of older brick is softer than today's mortar. If a repair uses a mix harder than the brick, the brick takes the stress and the water instead of the joint, and its faces start to crack and flake. Matching mortar is what we're best known for. We match the mortar's strength and color to the wall, so the joint wears first and the brick lasts.
Summer heat on fresh mortar
Hot afternoons pull water out of fresh mortar before it can cure, and mortar that dries too fast ends up weak and powdery. In summer we start early, wet the brick when it needs it and cover finished work so it cures slowly. Heat and storms can push a workday back. We'd rather wait than lay brick in conditions that will cost you later.
Built for the water it'll see
Heavy rain is the hardest thing on masonry here. Wet soil pushes on a retaining wall with no drainage behind it, a walk laid flat holds puddles, and a cracked chimney crown sends water into the house. We plan the drainage, pitch and flashing before anything else, because that's what decides whether the work holds up.
Drawings and approvals before the permit
A permit application inside Summerville needs construction documents sealed by an architect or engineer licensed in South Carolina. Some work can go without a seal. That includes a detached, one-story structure that isn't living space, up to 800 square feet with a roof pitch of 7/12 or less. If your home is in a historic district or has an HOA, we help you line up those approvals first.
Questions about masonry work in Summerville
How much does masonry work cost in Summerville, SC?
We price each job after I measure it on site, because two jobs that look alike can differ a lot underneath. Matching old brick, reaching a tall chimney or adding drainage to a wall raises the price. Repointing before the damage spreads usually costs less than rebuilding later. Your free estimate lists each item so you can see where the money goes.
How long does permit plan review take in Summerville?
In most cases, residential plan review in Summerville takes three weeks. Once work starts, inspections requested by 3:00 pm through the online permit portal can usually be done by the end of the next business day. Workload and weather can stretch both, so when a job needs a permit, we build that wait into the start date.
Does a contractor from outside Summerville need a business license to work here?
Yes. Summerville requires an annual business license from any business providing goods or services inside its limits, even when it's based outside them. Licenses run from May 1 to April 30, so ask for a current one, and for the contractor's South Carolina license for the work, before you sign.
How do I get ready for a masonry estimate at my house?
Clear a path to the wall, chimney or spot you want built on, and have any HOA rules or property survey handy. If water has been getting in, note where it shows up and after what kind of rain, because that helps me find the source. I'll measure everything on site, and the rest goes into the written estimate.
Can I do my own masonry work on my house in Summerville without a license?
Sometimes. South Carolina law exempts certain improvements to residential property from building permit and licensing rules when the property owner does the work. The exempt work falls into categories such as building, electrical, gas, mechanical and plumbing. The exemption covers only certain work, so ask Summerville's Building Department about your project before you count on it.
Call us about your Summerville masonry job
We answer (843) 376-1285 from 6 AM to 11 PM on weekdays and 7 AM to 11 PM on weekends, so you can call after work or send the form any time.