Masonry Contractor in Mercedes, TX - Brick and Stone Work Built for Wet Yards
Cornerstone McAllen Concrete and Masonry is a masonry contractor working in Mercedes, TX. We repoint crumbling mortar, repair brick so it matches the old work, and build block walls, walkways and outdoor kitchens for homes across the city.
- Service area
- Mercedes, TX
- Call
- (956) 331-0202
Brick homes and backyards across Mercedes
Mercedes is a short drive east of our base in McAllen, just past Weslaco, and you know you've arrived when you pass one of those big painted cowboy boots. The houses run from older brick homes near downtown, with mortar that's taken decades of weather, to newer block and stucco homes on slabs, plus plenty of bigger lots out toward the fields.
What shapes the work here is water. A lot of yards are flat and slow to drain, so after a hard rain it sits against foundations, under walks and along the bottom courses of brick, and that's where I look first on every Mercedes job.
Our services in Mercedes, TX
Many older brick houses in Mercedes have mortar gone sandy where water sits against the wall. We cut out the worn joints and repack them with mortar matched to the old color and strength.
Cracked, chipped or loose brick usually shows up near downspouts, garden beds and spots that stay wet. We replace what's failed with brick matched to your house, so the repair blends into the wall.
When storm water pools against a slab, it can open cracks in the foundation and the brick above it. We find where the water comes from, repair the masonry and regrade so it drains away.
Front walks in Mercedes settle and hold puddles when they were laid flat on a soft base. We dig out, pack a firm base and set a slight slope so rain runs off the walk.
Plenty of Mercedes families cook out in the backyard, so a built-in grill station gets real use. We lay up the outdoor kitchen masonry on a solid footing and leave openings for your plumber and electrician.
Block walls along back lot lines and alleys give Mercedes yards privacy and a clean edge. We set them on a proper footing with steel and grout in the cells, even though nobody sees it.
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 it works when you call us in Mercedes
Call or send a request
You call (956) 331-0202 or send a request through the form, and we set a time for me to come out to your place in Mercedes. It helps if you're home for the visit so you can show me what's been bothering you.
I look at the job
I come out myself, ask a lot of questions, talk through what I see and give you an estimate. I'll tell you what's moving the price, mostly how much old work has to come out and which material you pick, and what the schedule hangs on, usually a permit and its inspections.
We handle permits and build
When the job needs a permit, we take care of the paperwork with the City of Mercedes and set up the inspections along the way. My crew and I do the work ourselves and pace it around the city's inspection points, such as a slab or a driveway curb cut.
Clean up and walk it
We clean up and walk the finished job with you, joint by joint if you like. Every job is backed by our satisfaction guarantee.
Mercedes masonry questions answered
Do I need a permit to dig or trench for a wall footing in Mercedes, TX?
The city requires an excavation permit for digging, trenching and underground utility work, so a footing trench or a gas line run out to an outdoor kitchen is worth asking about before anyone breaks ground. The city's Planning Department is the office to ask about your project. When a job needs a permit, we handle the paperwork and set up the inspections.
What happens if masonry work starts without a permit in Mercedes?
If the city finds work that started without a needed permit while inspections can still be done, the contractor pays double permit fees. Anything built past a point that should have passed inspection may have to come out, and the owner or contractor can be fined. That's why we sort out permits before work starts, not after.
How do I check a plumber's license for an outdoor kitchen in Mercedes?
Look them up with the license lookup on the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners site. The sink and any gas line on an outdoor kitchen are plumbing work, and if you're adding outlets or lights, electricians fall under the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. We do the masonry, and we're licensed and fully insured.
How do I find out if my part of Mercedes floods?
Call the city at (956) 565-3114, since Hidalgo County's drainage district sends residents to their own city to learn which areas flood. The district also says flooding happens often in the county outside the mapped flood zones, when storm water can't drain into the storm system fast enough. Either way, we slope walks and patios away from the house and keep drainage open behind walls so the water has somewhere to go.
How much does masonry work cost in Mercedes, TX?
The price comes down to the size of the job, the material and how much old work has to come out first, and I put a number on it once I've seen it in person. Stone runs higher than block, old brick can take time to match, and a backyard reached only through a gate or the alley adds labor. An outdoor kitchen also brings in plumbing and electrical work from other licensed trades.
What is the best way to get rid of old brick and debris in Mercedes?
Have your contractor haul it off, because city code treats debris left anywhere but your own side of the alley, or in a dumpster that isn't yours, as illegal dumping. If you're tearing out an old wall or structure, the city has a demolition permit application with guidance on debris and utility disconnections. Our crew loads up our own debris and takes it with us.
Free on-site masonry estimate for your Mercedes home
We reply within one business day to set up a visit, and I come out to Mercedes myself to look at the job and talk it through with you. The estimate is free and comes with no obligation, so you can take your time and think it over.
- Call
- (956) 331-0202
- Location
- McAllen, TX 78501
- Hours
- Mon–Fri: 6 AM–11 PM, Sat–Sun: 8 AM–9 PM
Get your Mercedes brick looked at early
Mortar caught while it's just going soft is usually a repointing job, but left alone it can turn into relaying brick.