Masonry contractor in Reno, NV - brick repair that suits older homes
Anchorstone Reno Concrete and Masonry is a masonry contractor based in Reno, NV. We repoint and repair brick, fix chimneys and build new walls, walkways and driveways for homes across the city.
Masonry work on Reno homes
Most of the Reno calls we get come from owners of older brick homes, and from people planning a new wall, walkway or chimney fix. The older houses usually sit closer to downtown, with brick that's been patched a few times by different hands over the years. The newer neighborhoods farther out lean more on block walls, stone veneer and pavers. We do the same work next door in Sparks and up the road in Sun Valley.
The price of a job here moves with its size, the material, how easy the spot is to reach and what turns up once the old mortar comes out. The schedule mostly turns on whether a permit is needed. When I come out, I lay out what we'd do on your house and why. Old brick also sets its own pace, the way you go slow sanding an antique so you don't take off more than you meant to.
What we do for Reno homes
A stair-step crack in the block or a wall that's bowing usually points to movement underneath, so we find the cause before we patch anything.
Older Reno chimneys often show loose bricks and crumbling joints near the top first, and we rebuild just what's failed rather than the whole stack when that'll do.
Tuckpointing is cutting out worn joints and refilling them with a fine contrasting line, a good fit for older brick fronts whose joints have gone sandy.
When a few bricks have cracked or flaked on an older home, we swap in replacements matched for size, color and hardness as near as we can.
Pavers make sense on Reno driveways where a slab has cracked and lifted, because single pieces can be pulled and reset instead of tearing out the whole drive.
Sloped yards on Reno's hillside lots often need a wall to hold the ground, built with drainage behind it so water doesn't build up and push on it.
For older brick homes that need more than a patch, we restore walls, steps and trim using materials that work with the original rather than covering it.
A remodel or addition is the usual time to add a masonry fireplace to a Reno house, and we build the firebox, surround and hearth to fit the room.
Newer Reno houses with plain stucco or block fronts are good candidates for stone veneer, thin real or cast stone set over the wall like a skin.
Block walls line a lot of Reno property lines and back yards. We build new ones on a proper footing and fix runs that have leaned or cracked.
For additions and garages going up on Reno lots, we lay the block foundation walls square and level, since everything built above sits on them.
Reno back yards get a lot of use, and we build the block or stone base, counters and grill surround for an outdoor kitchen that holds up.
On older Reno lots the original path to the door has often cracked, and we replace it in brick, stone or pavers over a packed base.
A brick garden or boundary wall suits Reno's older brick homes, and we choose brick and mortar that sit right beside what's already on the house.
Stone steps, columns and planters turn up on Reno homes old and new, and we fit natural stone piece by piece so each one bears evenly.
Repointing older Reno brick is what we're best known for, cutting out loose mortar and packing joints a little softer than the brick so the mortar wears first.
What older Reno homes ask of the work
I look at every Reno job myself, write the estimate and stay on site with our crew, so the person who explained the work is the one making sure it's done right.
Shown, not just told
I walk the wall with you and point out what's failing and why, so you understand your own house.
Repairs matched to old brick
On older Reno brick we pick mortar and replacement brick that move with the wall, not against it.
Plain word on what can wait
If a crack or loose joint can wait a few years, we say so instead of selling it to you now.
City or county, checked first
We find out whether Reno or Washoe County covers your address and handle the permit application before work starts.
Licensed, insured, guaranteed
We're licensed and fully insured, and it's satisfaction guaranteed on every job.
Reno masonry questions we hear
Does my masonry project in Reno need a building permit?
Most construction and building projects inside Reno city limits need a building permit from the city's Development Services Department. The building codes list some work that's exempt, so whether your wall, chimney or walkway needs one depends on the job itself, and the department is the place to ask. When your job needs one, we handle the application before any work starts.
How do I know if my home is in Reno or unincorporated Washoe County?
Check whether your address sits inside Reno city limits or in unincorporated Washoe County, the county's name for land outside Reno and Sparks, because that decides which office handles your permit. The county's permit getting-started guide asks you to sort this out first, and a property outside the city lines can still fall within what the county calls Reno's or Sparks' sphere of influence. If you're not sure, we'll help you ask the right office.
How long does a Reno building permit stay valid?
A Reno permit stays valid only if it records a passed or partial inspection within its first 180 days, and again within every 180 days after that. A permit that goes a full stretch with no such inspection expires. That's one reason we line up inspections as the work moves along instead of letting a job sit.
What happens if masonry work in Reno was done without a permit?
The city adds compliance fees on top of the regular permit fees when work that needed a permit was done before one was issued. Those fees go on the permit for that work, so getting a permit late costs more than getting it first. If you're not sure whether older work on your house needed one, we'll help you ask the right office.
What building codes does Reno use for masonry work?
Reno now accepts plans only under the 2024 edition of the building codes, along with the Northern Nevada amendments the city lists. If you had plans drawn up a while back under an older edition, they may need updating before the city will take them. We build to the codes that cover your address.
How much does brick and masonry work cost in Reno?
A Reno masonry job is priced on its size, its material, the access and the condition of what's already there, so two chimney repairs on the same street can land far apart. Old brick often hides soft bricks or loose joints that only show once the work opens up, and a permit, when the job needs one, adds its own fees. I'd rather come out and look than guess, and I'll show you where the money goes.
Outside Reno? Ask about your city
Pick your city to see what we do there. If it isn't listed, call (775) 447-1254 or send the form and ask, since we work beyond these pages.
Ask Anchorstone about your Reno masonry
Call (775) 447-1254 or send the form, since a quick look in person usually tells us more about old brick than any photo can.