Masonry Contractor in Porters Neck, NC - Brick, Block and Stone Built Near Tidal Water
B&T Wilmington Concrete and Masonry is a masonry contractor based in Wilmington, NC, and we repair brick, fix chimneys and build walls, walkways and outdoor kitchens for homeowners all over Porters Neck.
Get a masonry estimate for your Porters Neck home
I check the joints, the slope and the drainage before I put down a number.
Request an estimatePorters Neck: a neck of land between tidal waters
Porters Neck is just what the name says, a neck of land with the tidal water of the Intracoastal Waterway on one side and Futch Creek on the other. It's mostly neighborhoods, from the streets around the country club out toward the marshes, with the shopping strung along Market Street, and a lot of folks here spend as much time on the water as in the yard. When I walk a job here, I look at where the yard drains and how close the water sits before I ever look at the brick.
We get a lot of the same calls here as up the road in Hampstead: brick steps that have settled, walkways laid on a thin base and garden walls starting to lean. On ground this close to tidal water, what's under the wall and where the runoff goes decide how long the work lasts, so that's where I spend most of my time.
Working in Porters Neck: county permits and careful drainage
Porters Neck is unincorporated New Hanover County, so your permit comes from the county's Building Safety office, not a city hall, and when a job needs one we don't start until it's issued, so the county's review sets the earliest start date. Before you hire anyone, check two things. The state says a general contractor has to be licensed once the total project cost reaches $40,000, and you can look a contractor up with the state licensing board, but don't go hunting for a county business license, because the county only issues one for beer and wine sales. We're fully licensed and insured, and I'll tell you which office handles your address and help you get the paperwork together before we start.
What moves the price is mostly what's under the work and how much old mortar or brick has to come out first, and the schedule turns on the permit, the weather and what I can only see once the job's open. The written estimate puts your own number down. Our crew runs up Market Street from Wilmington for these jobs, and we do the same kind of work close to the water down in Carolina Beach.
Services in Porters Neck, NC
Foundation block wall installation
Lower lots near the creeks need a block foundation built with water in mind. We handle foundation block wall installation on a solid footing, with drainage planned from the start.
Retaining wall construction
Yards that slope toward the marsh lose soil a little at a time. We build retaining walls with gravel and drain pipe behind them, so water leaves instead of pushing.
Tuckpointing
On older brick homes, worn mortar lets water in long before the brick fails. We grind out those joints and repack them with a mix matched to your brick.
Chimney repair
Brick chimneys usually show trouble first at the crown and top courses, where water sits. We rebuild the crown, repoint loose joints and replace bricks that have gone soft.
Walkway construction
Paths from the driveway to the back yard sink when the base under them is thin. We dig out, pack a real base and set the walkway so it sheds water.
Outdoor kitchen masonry
Plenty of folks here live on the patio, where a grill counter sits outside all year. We build outdoor kitchens on a real footing in block, brick or stone.
Your free on-site estimate in Porters Neck
Tell us about your Porters Neck project and we'll get back to you within one business day to set a time. I come out myself to look at the job, the estimate is free and in writing, and there's no obligation either way.
- Phone
- (910) 218-9550
- Location
- Wilmington, NC 28403
- Hours
- Mon–Sun: 6 AM–11 PM
- Credentials
- Fully licensed and insured.
What Porters Neck homeowners can count on
We're based in Wilmington, NC, and cover 16 masonry and concrete services across 12 service areas on this site, plus plenty of cities around them. Every job starts with a free on-site estimate.
- 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
How do I apply for a permit for masonry work in Porters Neck?
You apply online through the county's COAST portal, since every county permit goes through it, and you'll need the property address for any submittal. If you're not sure whether your project needs one, call the COAST helpline at (910) 798-7308, option 1, before we schedule anything.
Do flood rules apply to a masonry project near the water in Porters Neck?
They can, because the county's flood standards apply to new construction and to substantial improvements of older buildings in the 100-year floodplain, the flood-prone area on FEMA's maps. Those standards mainly raise the lowest floor and call for anchoring and foundations that let floodwater pass safely under the house, and the county's Engineering staff handle grading and fill in the floodplain, so a wall or patio that brings in fill is a question for them. You can check where your lot falls on the county's flood maps before we plan anything.
What building code applies to masonry work in Porters Neck, NC?
The North Carolina State Building Code applies here the same as anywhere else in the state, and the state's code office lists the 2018 North Carolina Residential Code as the one currently in effect for houses. We plan footings, walls and drainage around the code that's in effect for your job.
How much does masonry work cost in Porters Neck?
The price on a Porters Neck job comes from the size of the work, the material and what the ground needs underneath it. Natural stone and matched older brick usually cost more to buy and lay than block or new brick, and a lot near the water that needs more base, gravel and drain pipe costs more than a dry, level one. Repair usually costs less than a rebuild when the brick is sound, and I'll tell you which one your wall needs when I walk it.
What causes brick and mortar to crack on homes in Porters Neck?
Most cracking we see comes from water getting into the joints and staying there, or from the ground moving under a base that was too thin. Mortar that's harder than the brick around it makes it worse, because the brick takes the stress and cracks instead of the joint. We grind out the bad mortar and find where the water's coming from first, so the new joints aren't fighting the same problem.
What is the best way to keep water away from my foundation in Porters Neck?
The county's advice is to keep gutters and drains clear of debris and to add a sump pump with a battery backup. On our side, we slope the ground away from the walls, give downspouts somewhere to go and put gravel and a drain behind block foundations and retaining walls so water doesn't sit against the masonry.
Call about your Porters Neck masonry job
I'm the one who walks your job, and I'm on site with our masons while it's built.