Foundation repair
A basement wall crack that keeps widening or lets water through is worth a look. We find out what's moving before we patch, so the repair addresses the cause.
Masonry contractor in Kaukauna, WI - brick and stone work that suits your house
Heritage Appleton Concrete and Masonry is a masonry contractor serving Kaukauna, WI. We repair worn mortar joints, foundations and chimneys on Kaukauna homes and build new walls, walkways, paver driveways and fireplaces.
Heritage Appleton Concrete and Masonry repairs and builds masonry on Kaukauna homes, from tuckpointing worn mortar and fixing chimneys and foundation cracks to building retaining walls, walkways, paver driveways and fireplaces. Most calls here start with something a homeowner has noticed, like sandy joints, a crack in a basement wall or loose brick near the top of a chimney.
What masonry work looks like on Kaukauna homes
Kaukauna has older brick and stone houses close to the Fox River and newer homes with block or poured basements farther out, and the work differs between them. On the older houses we're usually repointing joints, repairing chimneys and replacing brick that has worn at the edges. On newer lots, homeowners more often ask for a retaining wall, a walkway or a masonry base for an outdoor kitchen.
We're based in Appleton, WI, so Kaukauna is close by for our crew, and we do the same work in nearby Freedom and Little Chute. On every job I start with the house itself, so the mortar, the base and the material fit what's already there and how it will be used.
- Based in
- Appleton, WI 54911
- Hours
- Mon–Sun: 6 AM–11 PM
Masonry services we offer in Kaukauna
Chimney repair
Loose brick near the crown, crumbling joints or a leaning stack are common on older chimneys. We repair or rebuild only as much as the chimney needs.
Tuckpointing
When mortar joints turn sandy or sit back from the brick face, we grind out the worn mortar and pack in new mortar matched to the old.
Brick repair
Cracked, loose or flaking bricks get cut out and replaced with brick matched as closely as we can find, set in mortar that suits the wall.
Driveway pavers
A paver driveway is only as good as what's under it. We dig out, pack a solid base and set the pavers so they stay level under your cars.
Retaining wall construction
Where a yard steps down or soil presses against a slope, we build retaining walls on a packed base with drainage behind them so the wall holds its line.
Masonry restoration
For an older brick or stone house showing its age, we repair what's worn using materials that match, so the new work looks and behaves like the original.
Fireplace installation
If you're adding a fireplace or replacing a worn one, we lay the firebox, surround and hearth in masonry chosen for how you'll use it.
Stone veneer installation
Stone veneer gives a plain foundation wall, column or fireplace face the look of stone. We set it over a properly prepared wall so it stays firmly attached.
Concrete block walls
For garage walls, outbuildings and garden walls, we lay concrete block on a solid footing with straight courses and full mortar joints.
Foundation block wall installation
When an addition or a failing basement wall calls for new foundation block, we lay it level and true so the house above sits right on it.
Outdoor kitchen masonry
We build the brick, block or stone base for a grill station or outdoor kitchen, sized to your yard and laid out around the way you cook.
Walkway construction
A walkway that has sunk or tipped usually needs a better base. We build new walks in brick, stone or pavers on a packed, graded base.
Brick wall installation
New brick garden walls, screening walls and additions to existing brickwork get brick and mortar chosen to sit well beside the rest of your house.
Stone masonry
Fieldstone and cut stone walls, steps and features are laid by hand, with each stone fitted and set in mortar that suits the stone.
Brick pointing
When only some joints have worn, pointing fills them with fresh mortar so the wall sheds water again, without a bigger job than the wall needs.
Get a free on-site estimate for your Kaukauna home
We reply to calls and messages within one business day to set a time that suits you. I then come out to your Kaukauna home, look at the work in person and write down what we'd do and why. The estimate is free, and there's no obligation to go ahead.
(920) 454-9038Working in Kaukauna: permits, credentials and what moves the price
In Kaukauna, the city's building inspector issues the permit when work builds, alters, extends or demolishes a structure, so a job that needs one starts once that permit is in hand. Whether yours needs one is the inspector's call, and we check before any work begins. You can read the rules in the city's online code, though the official hard copy governs wherever the two differ.
On a one- or two-family home, a contractor needs certification as a Dwelling Contractor from the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services, and must hold or employ a certified Dwelling Contractor Qualifier, to get that permit. It's fair to ask any contractor about it before you hire them. When a permit is needed, we pull it ourselves and keep the paperwork in order.
Price turns on how much brick, stone or block needs work, what we find once it's opened, how closely new material has to match the old and how hard the wall or chimney is to reach. The schedule turns on the permit and on finding matching material. I look at each job in person and write down what we'd do and why, here and in Kimberly alike.
What you can expect from our crew in Kaukauna
I started Heritage Appleton Concrete and Masonry in 2013 after learning the trade under experienced masons around Appleton, and we're best known for careful mortar work on older brick and stone homes. I care that the work suits the house it's on, with the right mortar, the right base and the right material for how it'll be used. If a smaller repair is all your house needs, I'll tell you so plainly.
I come out to look at your job myself and write the estimate, and our crew of experienced masons does the work while I check it as it goes. We're licensed and fully insured, and our work is satisfaction guaranteed. If you've noticed crumbling joints, a crack or a chimney that needs attention, please call (920) 454-9038 or use our contact form. Thank you for considering us.
What shapes a masonry job on Kaukauna houses
A few things about Kaukauna change how we plan masonry work here, from where the county line runs to how old the brick on your house is.
One city, two counties
Most of Kaukauna sits in southeastern Outagamie County, and a small part reaches south into Calumet County along State Highway 55, also called Friendship Drive. The city's code covers buildings and structures across the whole city, with a few exceptions such as farm-only buildings, so a house on the Calumet side is held to the same city rules as one in Outagamie. We plan the job the same way on either side.
Older brick near the river
Many older houses near the Fox River were laid with a softer mortar than the hard mixes sold today. If new joints come out harder than the brick around them, the brick takes the stress and starts to crack or flake at the edges. We match the mortar to the wall, and that choice decides more about how long a repointing job lasts than anything else we do.
Designated historic buildings
The city's code lists historical buildings designated by the federal or state government among its exceptions. If your house carries one of those designations, the rules for work on it may not match the rules for the house next door. Please tell us at the estimate if yours does, and we'll confirm with the city what applies before we plan any of the work.
Repair or rebuild
A lot of what we see can be handled with a smaller repair than people expect, such as repointing a few courses or resetting the top of a chimney. When a wall or chimney has moved, or the brick itself is breaking down, rebuilding that section is the better choice, because new mortar won't hold on brick that's already failing. I'll show you which your house needs and why.
Questions Kaukauna homeowners ask about masonry
How much does masonry repair cost in Kaukauna?
It depends on the size of the job, and the honest figure comes after I've seen it. Repointing a few joints on one wall is a small job, while rebuilding a chimney top or a section of foundation wall is a much larger one. For new work, the material you choose, such as brick, natural stone or pavers, moves the number too.
How long does it take to get a masonry job done in Kaukauna?
Timing comes down to the size of the job, whether it needs a permit and how quickly matching material can be found. A small repair with no permit can usually be scheduled sooner than a rebuild that waits on the city. I'll tell you what your timeline depends on when I write the estimate.
How should I prepare for a masonry estimate at my house?
Make a note of what you've seen, like the crack, the sandy joint or the loose brick, and clear a path so I can get close to it. If you know the age of the house or have records of earlier repairs, those help me match the mortar and material. Being home lets me show you what I find.
Do I need a permit for a small masonry repair in Kaukauna?
Not always. Under the city's code, maintenance repairs up to $2,000 need no permit when the building's use, structural strength, fire hazard, exits, natural lighting, major equipment and exterior dimensions stay the same. A repair that costs more or changes any of those can need one, so we check with the city before we start.
Who can pull a building permit for my house in Kaukauna?
A state-certified Dwelling Contractor who holds or employs a certified Dwelling Contractor Qualifier can get a permit for a one- or two-family home. You can also apply yourself if you live in the house, or will, and the permit is for work on it. When your masonry job needs a permit, we pull it and handle the paperwork.
Does electrical or plumbing work on an outdoor kitchen need its own permit in Kaukauna?
Yes. The city's code requires electrical, plumbing and heating permits from the building inspector before that work starts, and heating includes ventilating and air conditioning. On an outdoor kitchen or a gas fireplace, that covers the wiring, piping or venting, separate from the masonry. The inspector may waive a permit for an insignificant alteration or a part replaced in normal maintenance.
Where can I find the official flood map for my Kaukauna property?
The official, effective flood insurance rate maps are at FEMA's Map Service Center. The Wisconsin DNR's flood map layer is for information only and isn't meant for regulatory uses such as floodplain zoning. If your house is near the Fox River, it's worth looking before we plan a foundation or retaining wall job.
Ask about your Kaukauna project and its permits
Our hours run 6 AM to 11 PM every day, so you can call (920) 454-9038 or send us the form at whatever time works for you.