Stone masonry in Midland TX - stone that weathers well and joints that let the wall dry
Crumbling joints or a plain wall you want faced in stone? We set new stone and renew old mortar so the wall stays sound.
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Do I need new stone or just new mortar?
Stone masonry in Midland, TX, is usually one of two jobs. One is setting natural stone on the outside of your house. The other is repointing old stonework, where we cut out the worn mortar and pack the joints with new. Both keep water out of the wall and make it look right again, but they use different materials and need different amounts of planning.
Most calls start with something you can see, like mortar turning to sand, a stone that's worked loose, or a bare wall you'd like faced in stone as part of a stone veneer installation. The price comes down to the size of the wall, the stone you pick, how the stone gets attached and how deep the old mortar has gone bad. The schedule turns on how much we need to look at before work starts and whether the city has to review the job first, and your written estimate puts all of that into a number for your wall.
How our stone masonry work goes
We start by asking whether you need new stone set or old joints renewed, because those are two different jobs with different materials. For new work, we help you pick a stone that holds up outdoors, prep the wall, set each stone the way your wall and stone call for, fill and tool the joints and clean the face before we leave. For old work, we cut the worn mortar out without chipping the stone edges, pack in a mortar that lets the wall dry, tool it to match and brush the face clean. A lot of what we cut out was put in by someone who figured harder mortar was better, and the stone usually disagrees.
Stonework rarely sits alone. If there's brick beside the stone with the same tired joints, we can do the brick pointing at the same time so the whole wall gets the right mortar. When cracks run up through the stone in a stair pattern, we look at the house under it first, because new mortar won't stay put until foundation repair has stopped the movement.
Stone masonry permits and jobs in Midland
The City of Midland's permitting office issues residential building permits, and its list covers new construction, additions, remodeling, repairs and detached accessory buildings without naming stone masonry, so whether your job needs one is a question for the city. When a job does call for a permit, we handle the paperwork with the city and wait for it before we start. A plan reviewer usually takes about 5 to 7 business days to go through the plans, so we build that wait into your schedule from the start.
Around Midland we see plenty of stone fronts, columns and planters where the stone is fine and the joints are worn, or where old joints got patched with hard gray mortar that's now cracking. We get the same calls in Odessa and Big Spring, and we handle them the same way, starting with what the wall actually needs.
Stonework and pointing up close
Get a written estimate for your stone wall
We reply within one business day to set a time, then I come out, look at the wall and give you a free written estimate with what's included spelled out, and there's no obligation. It helps if you tell us the wall's rough size and the stone you have in mind, and send a couple of photos of any worn mortar.
(432) 219-3791Stone masonry questions from Midland homeowners
How much does stone veneer cost in Midland, TX?
Installing stone veneer usually costs about $25 to $40 per square foot across the US, and that's the national going rate for installed veneer, not our price for your wall. Where your job lands depends on the stone, whether it's adhered or anchored, how much prep the wall needs and how high we have to work. Repointing is priced on different things, mainly how much mortar has to come out, and your estimate covers either job.
Who can get a building permit for stone work in Midland?
Only the property owner or the owner's licensed and bonded contractor can get a building permit in Midland. Contractors who build or renovate there also have to register with the city before any permit is issued, which the city says protects homeowners and helps make sure buildings are sound.
Why does the mortar type matter when repointing stone?
Mortar has to let moisture move out of the wall and dry off, because when it traps that moisture, the stone takes the damage instead of the joint. Ask any mason what mortar they plan to use and how it lets the wall dry, and we'll tell you before we mix a batch.
How long does repointing a stone wall take?
Repointing usually takes longer than people expect, because the work is slow and precise and the planning comes first. Time goes first to looking the wall over, finding what caused the damage and writing up exactly what's to be done, and the old mortar usually comes out with hand chisels, which is labor-heavy but the least likely way to hurt the stone. Expect some noise while we work, and on a tall wall, scaffolding may stay up for a stretch.
How do I choose natural stone for the outside of my house?
Pick a natural stone with a history of holding up to the weather where you live, because not every stone is suggested for outdoor use. That's the first thing we talk through when you're choosing stone for a new wall.
What is the best way to decide between adhered and anchored stone?
Let the job decide, since the wall's structure and support, the weight the stone puts on it, the type of stone and the local climate usually give a clearer answer than taste. Adhered stone is set with mortar right onto a prepared wall, and anchored stone is tied back to the wall with metal anchors. Ask us which of those points led to the method on your estimate, and we'll walk you through it.
Get your Midland stonework looked at
We answer (432) 219-3791 until 10 PM on weekdays and 9 PM on weekends, so you can call after work or send the form tonight.