Masonry contractor in Odessa, TX - brick and block work that holds up
G&R Midland Concrete and Masonry is a masonry contractor working in Odessa, TX. We repoint and repair brick, fix chimneys, and build block walls, retaining walls, walkways and stone work for homes, rentals and small businesses.
Odessa houses and what they ask of masonry
Odessa is a working city, and the houses show it. Closer to the middle of town we see a lot of older brick ranch houses with long, low walls and chimneys that have taken decades of sun and wind. Out toward the edges and over in West Odessa, the lots get bigger and newer, and the calls lean toward block walls, walkways and slabs. Mixed in are rental houses and small shops along the main roads, where owners want a repair done once so they aren't paying for it twice.
That mix shapes the job. On an older house most of the work is matching brick and mortar so the repair doesn't stand out, and on a newer lot it's getting a solid footing and a straight first course into hard, dry ground.
Working in Odessa: permits, registration and what moves the price
Inside Odessa city limits, permits come from the city's Building Inspections Division, and that office also inspects the work for code. When your job needs a permit, we don't start until it's issued, so the city's review can set your start date more than our calendar does. The city also requires a licensed contractor to register with it before it will issue a permit, so it's fair to ask anyone you're considering whether they've done that. We're licensed and fully insured, we handle the permit paperwork, and we wait for the permit before we dig.
The price here turns on a few things: how much brick or block the job takes, how hard it is to match what's already on the house, how much old mortar has to come out, and how deep the footing needs to go. The schedule turns on the permit, the weather and how quickly matching brick turns up. I spell all of that out in the written estimate, so you can see what's in it. It's a short drive down Interstate 20 from Midland, and we bring the same crew and the same care to Big Spring.
Why brick and block wear the way they do in Odessa
Hot sun, dry wind and blowing grit wear on mortar faster than on the brick around it, so on older houses here the joints usually go first. Mortar is meant to wear out before the brick does. Bad mortar takes that job a little too seriously. Once the joints open up, water gets in on the rare rainy day or cold night, and that's when bricks crack and walls start to lean. We rake out the worn joints and repoint with a mix that suits the old brick, and on a lot of these houses chimney repair is the same job one story up, because the chimney takes the most weather.
On newer lots the calls are for block walls along the back and side lines, retaining walls where a yard steps down, and walkways. A wall is only as straight as its footing, so we take the time to dig and level before the first block goes down. I'd rather spend an extra afternoon there than have you staring at a leaning wall in a few years.
Get a free written estimate for your Odessa masonry job
Send the form and we'll reply within one business day to set a time. I come out to your place in Odessa myself, look at the job and give you a free written estimate that spells out what's included. There's no obligation, and if a small fix is all you need, that's what I'll tell you.
(432) 219-3791How a masonry job in Odessa goes, start to finish
Call or send the form
Call (432) 219-3791 or use the form and tell us what you're seeing. A couple of photos of the crack, or of the spot where you want the wall, help me come ready.
I look at it in person
I come out myself and look at the brick, the mortar and the ground. If you have any leftover brick from when the house was built, have it handy, because it can save a long hunt for a match.
Get the written estimate
You get it in writing, with the work, the materials and everything included spelled out. If a smaller repair will do the job, the estimate says so.
We handle any permit
When the job needs a permit from the city, we do the paperwork and wait for it before we start. The city's review sets that part of the timeline, so the start date follows it.
We build, then walk it together
The crew and I do the work and clean up as we go. Before we pack up, I walk the finished job with you.
Brick, block and stone work
Odessa masonry questions we hear often
How much does a masonry contractor cost in Odessa, TX?
It depends on the size of the job, the materials and how much prep the old work needs, so I give you a figure once I've seen it. Matching old brick, raking out a lot of worn mortar, a deep footing or a permit all push the number up, and a small repair that solves the problem keeps it down. You'll see every item listed in the written estimate.
What is the best way to build a block wall along my street in Odessa?
Start with a permit, because the city's posted code requires a fence permit for any fence or barrier within 25 feet of a street, and for one along a property line next to an alley. A block wall closing in a front or side yard is that kind of barrier. We pull the permit first, then set the footing and lay the wall straight.
Does a carport need a permit in Odessa, TX?
Yes, building a carport needs a Residential Building Permit from the City of Odessa. If we're pouring the slab or building masonry posts for it, we take care of that permit before we start. If you have questions of your own, the city's permits office answers at 432-335-3214.
When is a shed exempt from a permit in Odessa?
A one-story detached shed or playhouse is exempt only when it meets every condition in the city's posted code: finished walls under 7 feet tall, a roof no bigger than 100 square feet, no concrete slab, no gas line under it and no plumbing or electrical. It also has to stay clear of any easement and meet the city's other codes. The slab rule is the one that catches people, because once we pour a pad for your shed it no longer fits that exemption, so plan on a permit and we'll handle it.
How do I make sure a masonry contractor can pull permits in Odessa?
Ask whether they're registered with the city, because Odessa won't issue a permit to a licensed contractor who hasn't registered first. It's a fair question to ask during the estimate visit, and a contractor who pulls permits here should answer it without hesitating.
How deep do footings need to go for a masonry wall in Odessa?
Deeper than 12 inches at the least, because the city's building code puts the frost line here at 12 inches, and a footing belongs below it so the wall doesn't heave on a hard freeze. How much deeper depends on the wall's height, what it holds back and what we find once we dig. I'll tell you on the estimate visit.
Where we work
Call about your Odessa masonry job today
A cracked joint is a small fix this month and a bigger one after another summer of sun and wind, so call (432) 219-3791 or send us the form.