Stone masonry in McAllen TX - stone set solid and old walls left able to breathe
Mortar crumbling out of an old stone wall, or new veneer on the way? We match the mortar to the wall and set every stone solid.
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- Stone masonry
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- (956) 331-0202
How can you tell your stonework needs a mason?
Mortar crumbling from the joints
You find sandy mortar on the ground, or the joints have sunk back from the face of the stone. On an older wall that usually means the mortar has simply worn out, and every rain that gets into those open joints soaks deeper into the wall, so the repair grows the longer it waits.
Stones that sound hollow
You tap a veneer stone and it sounds hollow, or one rocks a little when you push on it. That usually means there's a gap behind it where water can sit, and if it's left alone the stone can work loose and come off.
Stone faces flaking away
The stone itself is flaking or crumbling while the patched joints beside it stay rock hard. That often means someone used a mortar harder than the stone, and once the stone wears away it's a much bigger job to match and replace than a joint ever is.
What's involved in stone masonry on a McAllen home?
Stone masonry in McAllen, TX usually comes down to one of two jobs, setting new stone veneer on a wall or repointing an older stone wall, which means raking out the worn mortar between the stones and packing the joints with fresh mortar. Done right, either one keeps water out of the wall and leaves stone that looks like it belongs on the house.
Most folks who call me are either looking at an old stone wall with tired joints or planning veneer on a new or existing wall, and those two jobs price out differently. Veneer moves with the square footage, the stone you choose and how much the wall needs before any stone goes on, while repointing turns on how deep the bad mortar goes and how much wall there is. The schedule mostly depends on how soon your stone arrives and whether the city needs a permit, which we handle for you. You'll get your own number from me once I've seen the wall.
Details to note before an estimate
- Rough height and length of the wall
- Age of the house or wall
- Crumbling joints, loose stones or old patches
- The stone and look you have in mind
How we do stone masonry
On an older stone wall, we rake out the worn mortar until we reach sound material, then pack the joints with a mortar softer than the stone so the wall can breathe and moisture leaves through the joints instead of through the stone. If something has to give someday, it should be the joint, which we can redo, and not the stone, which you can't easily replace. On new veneer, we set every stone in a full bed of mortar with no gaps behind it, then tool the joints and clean up. I learned under a boss who'd make you tear out a course over one bad joint, and nobody ever sees the back of a stone, which is exactly why we fill it. Every job is backed by our satisfaction guarantee, and I'll also tell you straight when good old stone should just be left alone.
Plenty of houses here mix stone with brick, and when the brick joints are going the same way, our brick pointing work follows the same careful approach. If a crack runs through stone and mortar alike, I look at what's underneath before touching the joints, because new mortar over a moving wall just cracks again, and that's where foundation repair comes first.
Work that often goes with stone
Brick pointing
If the brick on your house has the same sandy, crumbling joints as the stone, we can repoint it too so everything matches.
Foundation repair
Cracks that run through stone and mortar together, or a wall that's leaning, can mean the foundation is moving, and that gets fixed first.
What happens after you call about stone work?
Call or send a request
Call (956) 331-0202 or fill out the form and tell us whether it's new veneer or an old wall that needs work. We'll set a time for me to come out and see it.
I look at the wall myself
I check the joints, tap the stone, ask a lot of questions and talk through what I see. Your estimate spells out the work, the mortar we'll use and the price so you know where you stand before anything starts, and if the job needs a permit we handle it with the city.
We build it and walk it
My crew and I do the work ourselves and clean up when we're done. Then we walk the finished wall with you so you can look it over before we call it finished.
What people ask about stone masonry work
How much does stone veneer cost per square foot in McAllen?
Installing stone veneer across the US usually costs about $25 to $40 per square foot, and that's a national figure for the installed veneer, not a McAllen quote. Where your wall lands depends on the stone you pick, how much prep the wall needs and how hard it is to reach, so I price it after seeing it. Repointing an old wall is priced differently, by how deep the worn mortar goes, and on wide joints that can mean removing old mortar several inches deep.
Can a mason use modern cement mortar on my older stone house?
Not if the wall was laid in soft lime mortar. Preservation guidance warns that repointing those walls with a harder mortar like Portland cement can make the stones soak up moisture and fail, and that damage can be structural, not just cosmetic. Ask any mason which mortar they plan to use, and with us you'll hear the answer at the estimate.
Why does stone veneer need full mortar behind each stone?
Because even small gaps behind a stone can collect water over time, and that water leads to the veneer failing early. One stone veneer installation guide calls complete mortar bedding essential for exactly that reason. If you're comparing installers, ask each one how they fill the back of every stone.
Who handles permits for stone work in McAllen?
We do. McAllen's Building Permits and Inspections Department issues permits, and as a general rule the city requires one when you build, alter, repair or improve, so we take care of the paperwork and set up the inspections. We're licensed and fully insured, and if you'd like to check on anything yourself, the city takes questions at (956) 681-1300 and issues permits through its online permit portal.
How do I choose stone veneer that holds up on a McAllen house?
Pick a stone with a history of standing up to the weather around here, and ask the supplier for certification that it suits local weathering conditions. That advice comes from a stone veneer installation guide, and getting the certificate before you order ties your choice to how the stone will actually wear on your house. I'm happy to look at samples with you before anything gets ordered.
What is the best way to clean an old stone wall?
Skip acid washes on stone like limestone and stay away from highly alkaline cleaners too, since a conservator warns both can harm the stone. Guidance written for the limestone missions in San Antonio adds that the best protection is keeping water from getting into the walls in the first place. A downspout or sprinkler soaking the wall is worth fixing before or along with any cleaning.
Get an estimate on your stone wall or veneer project
We reply within one business day to set up a time, and I come out myself to look at the wall and give you a free on-site estimate. There's no obligation, so you can take the number, think it over and call us when you're ready.
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Send us photos of your stone wall
A few photos, the rough size and the age of the building let me show up already knowing what to look for.