Masonry Contractor in McAllen, TX - Brick and Mortar Repairs That Blend In
Cornerstone McAllen Concrete and Masonry is a masonry contractor based in McAllen, TX. We repair crumbling mortar, cracked brick and leaking chimneys, and we build walls, walkways and patios for homes across the city.
- Service area
- McAllen, TX
- Call
- (956) 331-0202
Homes and yards we work on in McAllen
McAllen is home base for us, and it's where I started this business in 2023 after years on my old boss's crews. Across the city we work on brick and stucco houses on slab foundations, block fences around the backyards, and walks and patios on lots about as flat as a tabletop. In the older neighborhoods closer to the middle of the city, the brick has usually held up fine while the mortar between it has gone soft. The newer subdivisions out toward the edges have more stone veneer and long runs of block wall.
We do the same work next door in Pharr, Edinburg and Mission, but jobs here usually come back to that flat ground. When a hard rain has nowhere to go, it sits against the base of a wall or along a walk, so I look at where the water collects before we touch a single joint.
Our services in McAllen, TX
When rain stands along a slab on a flat lot, we start seeing stair-step cracks in the brick above it. Our foundation repair finds what's moving first, then repairs the masonry it cracked.
Mortar on older brick homes here often goes sandy and falls out long before the brick wears. We clear the loose joints and repack them with mortar matched to yours in color and hardness.
A brick that's cracked or flaking usually sits near a sprinkler head or where roof water runs down the wall. We cut out the bad ones and set matched brick so the repair blends in.
A chimney that leaks after a hard Valley rain usually has cracked mortar at the top or open joints where it meets the roof. We repoint and rebuild what's failed so rain runs off instead.
Many backyards here are closed in by block fences, and one that leans usually sits on a footing too small for it. We build walls on a real footing with steel and grout filling the blocks.
A walk laid dead level holds a puddle at the front door after every rain. We dig out, pack the base and set it with enough slope to shed water into the yard.
Every service we offer
Foundation repair
Chimney repair
Tuckpointing
Brick repair
Driveway pavers
Retaining wall construction
Masonry restoration
Fireplace installation
Stone veneer installation
Concrete block walls
Foundation block wall installation
Outdoor kitchen masonry
Walkway construction
Brick wall installation
Stone masonry
Brick pointing
How a masonry job goes when you call us in McAllen
Call us or send a request
Call (956) 331-0202 or use the form, and we'll set a time for me to come by. It helps if you can be home so you can show me where the water gets in or where the cracks started.
I come look at the job
I come out myself, ask a lot of questions and talk through what I see, like how far the mortar damage runs and whether your brick can be matched. Those are the things that move the price, so the estimate makes sense before you decide anything.
We take care of permits
If the job needs a permit, we handle the paperwork with the city and set up the inspections. Your start date usually turns on that permit and on getting brick or stone that matches yours.
We build it and walk it
My crew and I do the work, clean up the site and walk the finished job with you joint by joint. Every job is backed by our satisfaction guarantee.
Questions we hear in McAllen
How do I know if my masonry job needs a permit in McAllen?
If your house is inside McAllen city limits and the job builds, alters, repairs or improves a structure, plan on a city building permit, because that's the city's general rule. The city's permit office issues them and answers questions at 956-681-1300. City permits don't reach past the city limits unless a subdivision's plat restrictions bring a property under them, and when your job needs one, we take care of the paperwork and set up the inspections.
Does painting brick or putting in new counter tops need a permit in McAllen?
No, the city doesn't require a permit for painting, tile, counter tops or other finish and cosmetic work. Building the brick, block or stone underneath is building work, though, so a new outdoor kitchen or wall usually falls under the permit rule.
Do I need a permit to tear down an old brick structure in McAllen?
Yes, the city requires a permit before any demolition project starts. The first step is checking with the city's planning and zoning office that both the tear-out and what you plan to build afterward are allowed on your lot, and an older structure may also need a review for historic significance.
How are building permit fees figured in McAllen?
The city sets residential permit fees by the value of the improvement or the square footage of new construction, with a $48.00 minimum. Remodels and new work are figured differently, so check the city's permits page for current amounts before you budget.
How much does masonry repair cost in McAllen?
The cost comes down to how much wall needs work, how far the damage goes behind what you can see and how hard your brick or stone is to match. Access, a city permit and whether we're repairing or building new move it too, and I'll go over what drives your number when I come out.
What causes flooding in McAllen homes that aren't in a flood zone?
Many homes here flood because storm water can't drain into the storm sewers fast enough, so ponding in the street and yard reaches inside, and in Hidalgo County that happens often in places the official flood maps don't show. That's why we build walks and walls with slope and leave weep holes, the small gaps at the bottom of a brick wall that let water out. For floodplain questions about your lot, the city is the place to ask.
Get a free masonry estimate at your McAllen home
We reply within one business day to set a time, and I come out to your McAllen home myself to look at the job and talk through what I see. The estimate is free and done on site, with no obligation to hire us.
- Call
- (956) 331-0202
- Location
- McAllen, TX 78501
- Hours
- Mon–Fri: 6 AM–11 PM, Sat–Sun: 8 AM–9 PM
Call about your McAllen masonry job today
Crumbling mortar caught early is usually a joint repair, while waiting can let water behind the brick and turn it into a rebuild.