Masonry contractor in Indian Hills, NV - walls and walkways that handle runoff
Anchorstone Reno Concrete and Masonry is a masonry contractor based in Reno that builds and repairs brick, block and stone for homes in Indian Hills, from retaining walls and walkways to chimney fixes and repointing.
Masonry work in Indian Hills
Indian Hills looks out over the Carson Valley, and the jobs we see here are mostly homes people have lived in for a while, with block walls, brick fronts, patios and walkways that have started to show their age. We drive down from Reno for this work, and it's a lot like what we do in Carson City, with one difference worth knowing about.
That difference is water. Storm water here moves through ditches, retention ponds and ravines, and the Indian Hills General Improvement District clears trees and debris out of their inlets and outlets each fall so it keeps flowing. Your yard needs the same thinking on a smaller scale, because soaked soil behind a retaining wall pushes much harder than dry soil, the way a wet sponge outweighs a dry one, and a walkway that holds water loosens its own joints. So I start every job here with where the water goes. That drainage work, the size of the job and the brick or stone you pick are what move the price, and the schedule turns on whether a permit is needed and what we find once old work is opened up. At the estimate I walk the job with you and lay out what we'd do and why.
What we build and fix in Indian Hills
When a crack shows up in a foundation wall here, we find out whether water or settling caused it before we patch anything, so we're fixing the cause.
On Indian Hills homes, loose bricks and crumbling joints near the top of a chimney let water into the house. We rebuild what's failing and leave sound brick alone.
Older brick houses here often have joints that have gone sandy. We rake out the worn mortar and pack in new mortar matched to your brick's color.
Our crew cuts out cracked or flaking bricks one at a time and sets matching ones in, so a few bad spots don't turn into a whole-wall job.
A paver driveway here is only as good as the base under it. We dig out, compact the gravel in layers and slope it so water runs off.
When your yard drops off, a retaining wall holds the soil back. We build them with gravel and a drain behind, so water doesn't push the wall over.
For brick and stone that's been patched a few times over the years, we undo the bad repairs and bring the wall back with materials that match.
Adding a masonry fireplace to an Indian Hills home means planning the firebox, hearth and chimney as one piece, so each part fits the room and the roofline.
Homes here with stucco or siding can take stone veneer, a thin stone facing, and we put a water barrier behind it before the first stone goes up.
Block makes a solid privacy wall along an Indian Hills property line, and we can finish it with stucco or a cap so it suits the house.
Adding a garage here starts with a block foundation wall, laid on a level footing and filled with grout and steel where the plans call for it.
For an Indian Hills patio, we build a block base for the grill and counter, then face it in brick or stone that matches your house.
A walkway that holds water turns slick and lets the joints wash out. We set ours on a compacted base with a slight pitch so water runs off.
A brick garden or entry wall needs a real footing under it, not just a trench, so it stays straight as the ground around your house settles.
Natural stone suits a lot of yards here. We fit each piece by hand for walls, steps and planters, and set it on a solid base.
When only a few joints on your house have cracked or dropped out, pointing fills just those, so you aren't paying for a full repoint you don't need yet.
What Indian Hills homes ask of masonry
I started this business in 2023 to work on homes people already live in, so you can count on a plain explanation of what's going on and what we'd do about it.
I come out myself
I look at the job and write the estimate in person, then I'm on site with our crew while we work.
Honest about what can wait
If a crack is cosmetic or a wall has years left in it, I'll tell you that instead of selling a repair.
Repairs that match old brick
We match mortar and brick to what's already on your house, so a repair blends in and doesn't fight the old wall.
A tidy site each day
We pick up the work area at the end of every day, because you're still living in the house while we work.
Insured, with a guarantee
We're licensed and fully insured, with satisfaction guaranteed on every job, and I walk you through the finished work.
Indian Hills masonry questions
How do I get a building permit for masonry work in Indian Hills, NV?
You apply to Douglas County's building official, because the county's community development department issues permits here even though Indian Hills has its own district and board of trustees. A permit covers building, altering, repairing, moving or tearing down a structure, and the owner or someone the owner authorizes applies for it. When your job needs one, we find out which office covers your address and handle the application before work starts.
Do I need a permit to build a retaining wall in Indian Hills?
A wall over 4 feet tall needs one, and a shorter wall is exempt under the county's building code unless it holds up extra weight, like a driveway or a slope above it, or holds back fuel or other flammable liquids. The 4 feet is measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall, so a wall that looks short from the yard can measure taller once you count what's buried. I measure it with you at the estimate, and if it's over, we plan for the permit.
Does a block or brick privacy wall need a permit in Indian Hills?
Fences no taller than 7 feet are exempt from a building permit under the county's code, so a freestanding garden or privacy wall at that height may fall under that exemption. Whether a masonry wall counts as a fence on your lot is the building official's call, so we ask before we build rather than guess. Either way it gets a real footing, because a block wall weighs a lot more than a wood fence.
Do small brick repairs need a permit in Douglas County, NV?
Non-structural work valued at $2,000 or less on a house, or on a detached garage or shed, doesn't need a building permit under the county's code. Small repairs like repointing a few joints can fit there, while rebuilding a chimney or a foundation wall usually counts as structural. Gas or electrical work, like a grill line for an outdoor kitchen or a gas insert in a fireplace, still needs its own permit unless the county exempts it.
How long does a building permit last in Douglas County?
A permit expires if the work it covers hasn't started within 180 days of the day it's issued. That's why we settle the start date before the application goes in, rather than letting the permit sit while the clock runs.
What makes masonry work cost more in Indian Hills?
Height, length and how much ground has to move drive most of the price, because a taller wall needs a deeper footing, more gravel and a drain behind it. Natural stone usually costs more than block or brick since each piece is fitted by hand, and a job that needs a permit adds paperwork and wait time. Repairs that can wait cost you nothing today, and I'll tell you plainly which ones those are.
Your city not listed? Call us
We also work in the cities listed below. If yours isn't on the list, call (775) 447-1254 and ask, because we work in plenty of cities around Reno.
Tell Anchorstone about your Indian Hills project
Call (775) 447-1254 or use the form, since a job that needs a county permit goes smoother when we start that talk early.