Masonry Contractor in Kings Grant, NC - Sound Mortar on Older Brick Homes
B&T Wilmington Concrete and Masonry is a masonry contractor working in Kings Grant, NC. We repoint and repair older brick, fix chimneys and foundations, and build the walls, walks and outdoor projects homeowners here have been putting off.
Book a masonry estimate in Kings Grant
I walk the job with you, point out what I'm seeing and write it up.
Request an estimateKings Grant: older brick on sandy ground
Kings Grant is a census-designated place in New Hanover County, a settled neighborhood of family homes rather than a city of its own, and it's close to home for us since we're based in Wilmington. A lot of what I see here is older brick ranch houses on established lots with big trees, brick front steps, block or brick foundations under crawlspaces, and chimneys that have taken years of coastal wind and rain. It's much the same era of brick we work on up in Ogden.
The ground is mostly sandy and fairly flat, so water from a heavy rain tends to sit against foundations and under steps instead of running off. That's why on most jobs here I look at the mortar and the drainage together, because fresh joints on a wall that stays wet won't hold up the way they should.
Working in Kings Grant: permits, licenses and what sets the price
New Hanover County's Permits & Inspections department issues building permits for construction, alterations, demolition and accessory structures, and you can apply online through the county's COAST portal or in person at the Government Center. Some zoning and right-of-way permits go through the City of Wilmington's permitting portal instead, and its first question is whether your property sits inside city limits, so I'll tell you which office handles your address and whether a historic district review could come into it. When a permit is needed it has to be in hand before we start, so it often sets the start date more than we do, and we help you get the paperwork together early. The NC Licensing Board for General Contractors says a general contractor has to be licensed once the total project cost is $40,000 or more, so on a bigger job ask anyone bidding about their state license, and we're fully licensed and insured.
What moves the price here is mostly what I find once I'm standing in front of it, like how much old mortar has to come out, whether your brick can be matched, how easy it is to get a mixer into the yard, and what's going on under the wall and where the water drains. The schedule turns on the permit, the weather and how long matching brick or stone takes to come in. I walk the job with you and put the estimate in writing, so you see your own figure and what's in it. We're out in Myrtle Grove and Murrayville on the same kinds of jobs, so our crew knows how these lots behave.
Services in Kings Grant, NC
Tuckpointing
Soft, sandy joints on older brick ranches here let rain soak into the wall. We grind out the worn mortar and repack it with a mix matched to your brick.
Chimney repair
Years of driving rain loosen the crown and top courses on older chimneys here. Our chimney repair rebuilds those courses and reseals the crown so water stays out.
Foundation repair
Block foundations under crawlspaces here can crack when sandy ground stays wet. We repair the block and sort out the drainage that usually started it.
Brick repair
Bricks on steps and low courses of older homes here crack and flake where rain splashes back. We cut out the damaged ones and set matched brick in their place.
Walkway construction
Walks here heave over tree roots and sink into soft sand. We dig out, pack a firm base and lay a new walkway that sheds water away from the house.
Outdoor kitchen masonry
Roomy backyards here leave space for the outdoor kitchen you've been putting off. We build it in block, brick or stone on a proper footing, because sandy ground moves.
Your written masonry estimate for your Kings Grant home
Send us your address and what's going on with your brick, chimney or wall, and we'll get back to you within one business day to set a time. I'll come out to your Kings Grant home myself, walk the job with you and put a free estimate in writing, with no obligation.
- Phone
- (910) 218-9550
- Location
- Wilmington, NC 28403
- Hours
- Mon–Sun: 6 AM–11 PM
- Credentials
- Fully licensed and insured.
What Kings Grant homeowners can count on
We're based in Wilmington, NC, and offer 16 masonry and concrete services across the 12 service areas on this site, Kings Grant included. Every job starts with free on-site estimates.
- Based in
- NC
- Wilmington
- Services
- 16
- Service areas
- 12
- Fully licensed and insured.
- Free on-site estimates.
- We respond within 1 business day.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a permit for masonry work in Kings Grant, NC?
Ask the county before any work starts. New Hanover County's residential permit chart gives general guidance on which permits each project needs, and if you're not sure which type your job calls for, the county takes calls at 910-798-7308. On a bigger job like a new wall or a rebuilt chimney, I'd rather we know the answer before the first brick comes off.
How much does masonry repair cost in Kings Grant?
The price comes down to how much work your wall or chimney actually needs, which I can only tell you after looking at it. Repointing turns on how many joints have to be cut out and how deep, repairs turn on whether we can match your brick, and new walls or walks turn on size, material and the base underneath. A fenced backyard or a tight side yard adds time too, and the written estimate spells out each of those for your house.
Does homeowners insurance cover flood damage in New Hanover County?
Usually not, since New Hanover County says homeowners' and renters' insurance typically leaves flood damage uncovered. The county also notes that more than 20% of flood claims come from properties outside the high-risk flood zone, so a house doesn't have to sit in one to take on water. That's why I check where rainwater goes around your foundation and steps before we repair any brick.
What is the best time of year for brick and mortar work in Kings Grant?
Spring and late fall are usually the easiest stretches, because mortar cures best when it isn't baking or getting soaked. Around here September averages 8.69 inches of rain and July's average high is 90 degrees, so in summer we start early and keep fresh joints damp and shaded, and in a wet spell we cover the work and wait out the rain. The work goes on year-round, and the weather mostly decides which days we pick.
What causes mortar joints to crumble on older brick homes in Kings Grant?
Water is usually the cause, because older mortar is softer than brick and every soaking rain and dry spell wears the joints down a little more. It goes faster where joints stay wet from poor drainage or splashback, and a hard modern patch on old brick can push the damage into the bricks themselves. We cut out the worn mortar and repoint with a mix that suits your brick, so the joint takes the wear instead of the brick.
Who handles floodplain building rules for homes near Kings Grant?
New Hanover County's Building Safety Department administers the building parts of the county's floodplain regulations for unincorporated areas, while Wilmington and the beach communities run their own. If your project sits on low ground or near water, I'll tell you which office covers your address before we price the work.
Tell us about your Kings Grant project
We pick up seven days a week from 6 AM to 11 PM, so call (910) 218-9550 while you're looking at the crack.