Foundation repair
When a basement wall shows a stair-step crack, a bow or water at a joint, we find what's pushing on it before we patch, so the repair deals with the cause.
Masonry Contractor in Oshkosh, WI - Sound Brick, Stone and Foundations
Heritage Appleton Concrete and Masonry repairs and builds brick, block and stone work for homes in Oshkosh, WI. We tuckpoint worn joints and fix cracked foundations, and we build walkways, retaining walls, driveways and fireplaces.
Heritage Appleton Concrete and Masonry takes on the masonry an Oshkosh home usually needs. That means tuckpointing and brick repair on older walls, chimney and foundation repair, and new work such as block walls, paver driveways, walkways, retaining walls and fireplaces. I come down from Appleton to look at each job myself before anything is priced.
Masonry work on Oshkosh homes, from joints to foundations
Most calls from Oshkosh start with something the homeowner has noticed. It might be mortar crumbling out of the joints on an older brick house, a crack across a basement wall, or a chimney that's dropping bits of brick near the top. I'd rather look at the actual joint or crack with you than guess over the phone, because the cause decides the repair, and the cause is often smaller than it looks.
We also build new work here, including paver driveways, front walks, garden walls and retaining walls on sloped yards. On new work, the base under the paving or the footing under a wall decides how long it stays straight and level. That's why our crew spends most of its care below the surface, before a single brick or stone goes down.
- Based in
- Appleton, WI 54911
- Hours
- Mon–Sun: 6 AM–11 PM
Masonry services we bring to Oshkosh
Chimney repair
For a chimney with loose bricks, open joints or a cracked crown on top, we rebuild the part that's failing and leave the sound brick where it is.
Tuckpointing
Once the joints on an older brick house start crumbling, we grind out the worn mortar and pack in a mix suited to that brick, keeping the joints' original look.
Brick repair
We cut out spalled, cracked or loose bricks one at a time and replace them with matched brick, so a small problem stays a small job.
Driveway pavers
A paver driveway carries a car's weight on a packed base, and a damaged paver can be lifted and replaced instead of cutting out a cracked slab.
Retaining wall construction
When a slope is washing into the yard or an old wall is leaning, we build retaining walls with drainage behind them so water doesn't push them over.
Masonry restoration
For older brick and stone homes that need more than one repair, we plan the joints, bricks and trim together so the wall comes back as one piece.
Fireplace installation
We build masonry fireplaces sized to the room and the house, with the firebox, hearth and surround laid in materials made to take the heat.
Stone veneer installation
Stone veneer can dress a foundation, chimney or front wall. We set it over a proper backing with drainage so moisture behind it has a way out.
Concrete block walls
We put up block walls for garages, yards and outbuildings on a solid footing, adding reinforcement where the wall's height or load calls for it.
Foundation block wall installation
For a new foundation or a replaced section, we lay block walls true and level, because everything built on top inherits any error underneath.
Outdoor kitchen masonry
We build the brick, block or stone base for an outdoor kitchen or grill, with countertop support and openings planned around the appliances you've chosen.
Walkway construction
A front walk or garden path should stay flat and shed water, so we set brick, stone or pavers on a packed base with a slight pitch.
Brick wall installation
We lay new garden walls, screen walls and additions in brick and mortar chosen to match your house, not just whatever happens to be on hand.
Stone masonry
We lay natural stone walls, steps and facing by hand, fitting each stone so the work carries its own weight rather than leaning on mortar alone.
Brick pointing
When only some joints have opened up, pointing fills them before water gets in, which often heads off a bigger repair later on.
Get a free on-site estimate for your Oshkosh home
We reply to every call and form within one business day to set a time that suits you. I come out to your Oshkosh home myself, look at the job with you, and write down what we'd do and why. The estimate is free, and you're under no obligation.
(920) 454-9038Permits, timing and price for Oshkosh jobs
In Oshkosh, building permits come from the City of Oshkosh, and no work may begin until the permit has been issued and its fee paid. On a job that needs one, that puts the permit first on the calendar, ahead of any digging or demolition, so I raise it at the estimate rather than after you've agreed to the work.
When a job needs a permit, we pull it ourselves and keep the paperwork in order. Whether it needs one is the city's call, so I check with them before work starts. We handle permits the same way on jobs closer to home in Kimberly, Neenah and Fox Crossing, and the same crew does the work.
The price comes mostly from what's behind the surface. That means how many joints or bricks are failing, whether a crack is still moving, how deep we dig for a new base, and the brick, stone or pavers you choose. The schedule turns on the permit, on materials arriving, and on what we find once a wall is open. Your written estimate lays out each part and the reason for it.
Who comes out and who does the work
I started Heritage Appleton Concrete and Masonry in 2013 after learning the trade under experienced masons around Appleton. As a masonry contractor in Appleton, WI, we're still best known for careful mortar work on older brick and stone homes. I come out to look at your job myself, and our crew of experienced masons does the work while I check it as it goes.
If a wall needs a few joints repointed rather than a full rebuild, I'll tell you so and show you the joints I mean. I'd rather do a smaller job well than sell your house more than it needs. We're licensed and fully insured. Satisfaction guaranteed. When you're ready, call (920) 454-9038 or use the form above, and thank you for considering us.
What Oshkosh houses tell us about the work
These are the things we look for on Oshkosh homes and what each one means for the repair, starting with this past spring's river notices.
After the Fox River notices
This past spring, the city posted advisories about possible Fox River flooding, along with guidance on getting rid of flood debris. If water reached your basement or sat against an outside wall, it's worth having the foundation and the lowest courses of brick looked at. Soaked mortar and shifted soil can show up later as new cracks or loose joints. I'm glad to look before you decide on anything.
Older brick needs matched mortar
On older brick and stone homes, the joints often wear back until the mortar turns to sand at a touch. We look at how soft the old brick and mortar are and mix new mortar to suit. A joint harder than the brick around it pushes the stress into the brick faces, which can crack them off. New pointing that's done right should wear before the brick does.
Cracks in basement walls
A hairline crack in a poured or block basement wall isn't always a structural problem. One that's widening, stepping along the joints or letting water in needs a closer look. I mark and measure cracks so we can tell whether they're moving. Then we deal with the cause, which is often drainage or soil pressure outside the wall, before we fill anything.
Chimneys wear from the top
On most chimneys, the crown and the top few courses fail first, because they take water from every side. Loose bricks up top, white staining on the brick or bits of mortar in the gutters are the usual signs. We rebuild the part that's failing and repoint what's still sound, so you aren't paying to rebuild a whole chimney that only needs its top put right.
Questions Oshkosh homeowners ask about masonry
Do I need a permit for masonry work in Oshkosh?
New driveways, patios, fences, additions and new construction are on the city's list of work that may need a permit. A concrete sidewalk up to 4 feet wide doesn't need one. Repairs like tuckpointing and chimney work aren't named on that list, so we ask the city before starting.
Which building code applies to my house in Oshkosh?
For one- and two-family homes and their accessory buildings, the city lists the Wisconsin Uniform Dwelling Code for building work. New foundation walls, additions and similar structural masonry on your house are held to that code, and we plan that kind of work with it in mind.
Can I apply for a building permit online in Oshkosh?
Yes. Homeowners and contractors can apply online for building permits through the city's permits page. On jobs we take on, we handle the permit for you, so you only need to apply yourself if you'd prefer to.
How much does masonry repair cost in Oshkosh?
I can't give you an honest number until I've seen the wall, because the price comes from how much mortar or brick is failing, how hard it is to reach, and whether there's a cause to fix first. Your written estimate breaks the work into parts so you can see what each one is for.
How should I prepare for a masonry estimate at my house?
Make a note of where you've seen cracks, loose bricks, leaks or falling mortar, and roughly when it started. If you can, clear a path to those spots inside and out. Older photos of the house help me see what's changed, and I'll walk the job with you and point out what I find.
How soon can a masonry job start in Oshkosh?
A job can start once you've agreed to the estimate, any permit the city requires is issued and paid for, and the materials are in. Repairs that need no permit can usually be scheduled sooner than new construction. I'll give you a realistic start when I write the estimate.
Tell us about your Oshkosh masonry job
We take calls at (920) 454-9038 seven days a week from 6 AM to 11 PM, or you can describe the job on our request form whenever it suits you.