Stonecraft Edinburg Concrete and MasonryStonecraft Edinburg Concrete and Masonry

Masonry contractor in Alton, TX - brick and block work that starts with the cause

Stonecraft Edinburg Concrete and Masonry is a masonry contractor working in Alton, TX. We repair cracked brick and worn mortar and build block walls, pavers, stone work and outdoor fireplaces for homes here.

Request a quote(956) 450-7417
A circular gray stone patio with a metal fire pit and turquoise chairs sits in a leafy backyard.
  • Licensed and insured.
  • Free on-site estimates.
  • We respond within 1 business day.

About Alton, TX

Alton sits just north of Mission in Hidalgo County, and nearly every call we get there is for a house. Most of the city is newer subdivisions of single-story homes with brick or stone on the front, with older houses on bigger, more open lots toward the edges. The streets and houses look a lot like what we work on in Palmview, so the jobs run much the same.

The ground is flat and the houses are young, so the brick itself is usually sound. What wears first is the mortar and the base under walls, walks and steps, and that's where I look before I price anything.

Services in Alton, TX

  • Brick repair

    Brick fronts on Alton's newer homes crack where a slab moves or a sprinkler keeps the base wet. We find the cause first, then replace the cracked brick with a matching one.

  • Tuckpointing

    Builder-grade mortar on many houses here starts washing out of the joints over time. We grind out the soft mortar and pack in new mortar matched to the old color.

  • Concrete block walls

    Many Alton backyards need a block privacy wall along a road or next door. We pour a footing sized for the wall, since a wall is only as straight as its base.

  • Driveway pavers

    On flat Alton lots a driveway has to shed water toward the street. We dig out, pack a solid base and lay pavers sloped so water runs off instead of sitting.

  • Outdoor kitchen masonry

    Newer Alton homes often have a covered patio with room for a grill island. We build the base in block and finish it in brick or stone to match the house.

  • Fireplace installation

    Alton backyards often have room for an outdoor fireplace off the patio. In a fireplace installation we set the firebox on its own footing so the slab doesn't carry the weight.

Working in Alton: permits, inspections and what sets the price

In Alton, building work inside city limits runs through the city's Building Projects office, where permits are paid and inspections are scheduled. When a job of ours needs a permit, we apply for it and request the inspections as the contractor, and the schedule follows the city, since the next stage waits until an inspector signs off on the last one. For a home outside city limits, we check with the county office before we start. We're licensed and insured, and I'm the one who comes out, prices the job and works it with the crew. The price moves with how much old work comes out, how big the new work is, the footing under it, the material you choose and how easy your backyard is to reach, and the written estimate puts a number on your job.

We're based in Edinburg, close enough that our crew and a load of block get to Alton without a long haul. A lot of Alton streets are rows of houses built from the same few plans, so matching brick and mortar color on a front matters, and if your street has an association, its rules on wall height and finish are worth checking before we price a privacy wall. We do the same brick and block work in Donna and the other cities around Edinburg.

Alton, TX properties and local conditions

A house outside the mapped floodplain can still take water in Alton. In Hidalgo County, flooding often comes from sources that aren't on the federal flood maps, and many homes flood when storm water drains too slowly and ponds until it reaches inside. Long before that happens, water sitting against a brick front, a block wall or a patio edge washes mortar out of the joints and softens the dirt under the footing. Before we build or patch, I look at where water stands on your lot, and we slope pavers and walks away from the house and leave weep holes in walls so trapped water can get out.

Plenty of Alton yards got a block wall, a patio or a grill area added years after the house went up, often on whatever base was handy. When those start leaning or cracking, we check the footing before we touch the face, because rebuilding the top of a wall on a bad base just gets you the same crack again.

Get a free on-site masonry estimate for your Alton home

Send the form and we'll reply within one business day to set a time for me to come out to your place in Alton. The estimate is free and done at your property, and there's no pressure to book.

What happens when you call us about a job in Alton

  1. Call or send the form

    Tell us what you're seeing, whether it's a crack, loose mortar or a wall you want built, and we'll set a time for me to come out. You don't need measurements ready.

  2. I look at the job

    I walk it with you, find what's causing the damage and tell you right there what I'd do and whether it can wait. A written estimate follows, so you see the price before you decide anything.

  3. We handle permits and inspections

    If the job needs a permit from the city, we apply for it and request the inspections ourselves. Work moves to the next stage once each inspection passes.

  4. We build, then clean up

    I'm on site with the crew of masons and helpers until the work is done and the site is cleaned up. You don't need to be home while we work, as long as we can reach the job.

Frequently asked questions

Where do I get a building permit for masonry work in Alton, TX?

Permits for construction inside Alton city limits are paid through the city's Building Projects service, which also schedules the inspections. You can call 956-432-0730, email planning@alton-tx.gov, or pay and book through the city's online services site. It's also the place to ask whether your job needs one, and when it does, we apply and request the inspections as your contractor.

Does the electrician wiring my outdoor kitchen in Alton need a Texas license?

Yes, Texas requires anyone doing electrical work to hold a state license, with some exemptions the state lists, and that covers wiring at a home or on its property. Before the wiring starts, you can look up an electrician or electrical company by name or license number in TDLR's license database.

What drives the cost of a block privacy wall in Alton?

Length and height drive it most, then the footing, because a taller wall needs a deeper, wider one under it. A plain block wall costs less than one finished in stucco, brick or stone to match the house, and tearing out an old fence or wall adds to it. I'll measure it and walk the line with you, and the written estimate is free.

What causes cracks in the brick on newer homes in Alton?

Most cracks we see here come from movement under the brick, like a corner of the slab settling, or from water sitting at the base and washing out the mortar. A thin crack that follows the joints and isn't growing is usually old movement and can wait, while one that's widening or splits the brick means the base needs a look first. I'd rather tell you it can wait than sell you a repair you don't need.

How long does tuckpointing take on a brick house in Alton?

It turns on how much wall needs it and how deep the old mortar has worn, so a single front wall is a much shorter job than a whole house. Most of the time goes to grinding the old joints out cleanly, which can't be rushed without chipping brick edges. When I look at your walls, I'll tell you how long we expect to be there.

Can you match the brick on my house in Alton?

Usually, yes, because most houses here are young enough that the same brick or a close one is still sold. We mix the mortar to match the color of your old joints too, so the repair doesn't stand out. If a close match is the best we can get, I'll tell you before we start.

Service areas

Explore the services

Edinburg, TX

Call us about your Alton masonry job

A soft joint or a hairline crack is usually a small fix while it's small, so call (956) 450-7417 or send the form before water and time make it a bigger one.

Request a quote(956) 450-7417
(956) 450-7417Request a quote