Masonry Contractor in Silver Lake, NC - Walls and Brick Built to Shed Water
B&T Wilmington Concrete and Masonry is a masonry contractor working in Silver Lake, NC. We repair brick, repoint worn mortar joints and build retaining walls, block walls, walkways and outdoor kitchens for homes in this part of New Hanover County.
Get your Silver Lake masonry job estimated
I walk the job with you, point out what I see and put it in writing.
Request an estimateSilver Lake homes and where the water goes
Silver Lake is a community in New Hanover County rather than a city with its own government, and most of what brings us out here is houses: brick and block homes, the walks and driveways in front of them and the garden walls out back. We see a lot of the same mix in Kings Grant. When I walk a job here, the first thing I look at isn't the crack. It's where the water goes, because the brick that's in trouble is usually the brick that stays wet, and the county keeps flood zone maps that are worth a look for any address here.
So water shapes how we build. A new wall here gets a drained base and weep holes, the gutters get checked before we patch a foundation, and on older brick I match the mortar to the brick so the joint wears before the brick does.
What to know before masonry work starts in Silver Lake
Silver Lake falls under New Hanover County, and the county's Building Safety Department issues building permits when a project involves new construction, so when your job needs one, the permit and its inspection come before the start date and I plan the schedule around them. We tell you which office handles your address and help you get the paperwork together before work starts. On a bigger project, check the contractor as well, because state law says a general contractor has to be licensed when the total project cost is $40,000 or more, and that rule comes from the NC Licensing Board for General Contractors. The county's business license only covers beer and wine sales, so that's not one to ask a mason for. We're fully licensed and insured.
Your price moves with the size of the wall or repair, how easy it is to get the crew and materials to it, what's under it and how much drainage it needs. The schedule turns on whether a permit comes into it, on getting matched brick in and on the weather, since fresh mortar needs time to set before it takes any load. The written estimate gives you the number for your job. We do the same work in Northchase and Myrtle Grove, and in plenty of other cities around Wilmington.
Services in Silver Lake, NC
Retaining wall construction
Where a yard slopes toward the house, a retaining wall holds it back. We build on a packed base with drainage behind, so water drains out instead of pushing.
Foundation repair
A cracked block or brick foundation usually starts with water sitting against it. We fix the crack and the reason it's wet, because patching one alone usually brings it back.
Tuckpointing
Older brick often has sandy, worn joints that let rain into the wall. We grind out the bad mortar and repack it with a mix suited to that brick.
Brick wall installation
Many yards here get a brick wall to mark a line or screen a patio. We pour a real footing and leave weep holes so the wall drains.
Driveway pavers
Concrete driveways that crack and hold puddles are a common call. We lay pavers on a compacted base pitched to shed rain, and one damaged paver can be lifted out on its own.
Chimney repair
On a brick chimney, water usually gets in through a cracked crown or loose joints up top. We rebuild the crown and repoint the top rows of brick so the chimney sheds water.
Get a free on-site estimate for your Silver Lake job
Send the form and we get back to you within one business day to set a time. I come out to your Silver Lake property myself, walk the job with you and put the estimate in writing. It's free, and there's no obligation.
- Phone
- (910) 218-9550
- Location
- Wilmington, NC 28403
- Hours
- Mon–Sun: 6 AM–11 PM
- Credentials
- Fully licensed and insured.
What Silver Lake homeowners can count on
We're based in Wilmington, NC and offer 16 masonry services across the 12 service areas on this site, Silver Lake among them, plus plenty of cities beyond. 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 much does masonry work cost in Silver Lake, NC?
Your cost comes down to the size of the job, what's under it and how much drainage it needs, and the written estimate after I see it gives you your number. Rebuilding a section usually costs more than repointing it, and matching old brick or working where a crew can't easily get materials in adds to it. If the county requires a permit for a small repair, its residential fee schedule lists $60 for a minor permit, meaning work that needs one inspection.
How do I check if my house in Silver Lake is in a flood zone?
New Hanover County's flooding page points you to the NC flood maps and the county's flood zones map, and that's where to look up your address. Tell me what you find when we walk the job, because on a lot that can flood I plan the base, the drainage and the height of what we build around it.
What causes water damage in brick walls and foundations?
Most of the time it's water that keeps getting to the masonry, from a clogged gutter, a downspout dumping at the foundation, soil sloped toward the house or mortar joints worn soft. The county's flooding advice starts with keeping gutters and drains free of debris, and that's the first thing I check before we patch anything, because a repair on a wall that stays wet won't hold up for long.
Do I need a permit for a pool and the pavers around it in Silver Lake?
The pool itself needs a permit under New Hanover County zoning, and its setbacks are measured from the pool, not from the slab or pavers around it. That gives you more room to work with on the deck, and whether the pavers need a permit of their own is something we check with the county for your address before we start.
How do I plan a brick wall along my property line in Silver Lake?
Start with your easements and your homeowner's association rules, because county planning advises keeping fences out of access, stormwater and utility easements and checking HOA rules first. County zoning doesn't regulate fences, but a brick wall still needs a proper footing, and we check with the county on whether yours needs a building permit.
What does New Hanover County ask for when a home addition costs $40,000 or more?
The county's checklist for residential additions adds two items at that cost: a general contractor's certificate of insurance for workers' compensation and a lien agent registration at liensnc.com. If you're remodeling or improving the house you live in, you're exempt from the lien agent step whatever the cost, and if the property is in a flood zone the checklist calls for an Elevation Certificate. We lay foundation block for additions, so I go over that list with you on those jobs.
Call about your Silver Lake masonry today
Catching a soft joint or a leaning wall early usually keeps the repair small.