Stone masonry in Reno NV - walls and repairs that let water out and keep standing
Mortar crumbling out of your stone wall, or a rock wall starting to lean? We repair it so water drains away and it holds.
What does stone masonry work involve in Reno?
Stone masonry in Reno, NV usually means one of two jobs. One is repointing a mortared stone wall, where we rake out the worn mortar between the stones and pack in new. The other is building or fixing a rockery, a wall of dry-stacked rocks that holds back a slope.
Most calls start with something you can see, like mortar sanding out of the joints, a stone that's worked loose, or a rock wall along the yard that has started to bulge. Sometimes it's a slope you'd like to hold back with a new rock retaining wall. The price turns on how tall and long the wall is, whether it holds back earth, how much old mortar has to come out and how easy the wall is to reach. Height matters most, because a taller rock wall needs an engineer's design and inspection, and that, along with any permit, also sets the schedule. When I come out and see the wall, I'll give you your own figure.
Why Reno homeowners hire us for stone masonry
Old masonry deserves a repair that works with it, and you deserve a straight answer about your wall, so that's what you can count on from us.
I'm on site for the work
I'm on site with our crew while the work gets done, so the person who planned your wall sees it built.
Licensed and fully insured
We're licensed and fully insured, which matters when a crew is digging and setting heavy rock in your yard.
Trained on block and brick
I laid block and brick on new houses before starting this business in 2023 to work on homes people already live in.
You'll understand your own wall
I explain what's going on with your masonry as we go, so you know your own house when we leave.
Satisfaction guaranteed on every job
That's our promise on stone work too, so call (775) 447-1254 when you'd like me to look at yours.
Stone masonry work we take on
Which of these fits your wall depends on whether it's mortared or dry-stacked, where the water goes around it and whether it holds back a slope, so that's where I start.
What happens when you call about stone masonry in Reno?
We plan stone work around your house and your yard, starting with a close look at the wall itself and at the ground and water around it.
You get in touch
Call (775) 447-1254 or send the form, and we get back to you to set a time for me to come out.
I look at it with you
I come out myself, walk the wall with you and explain what I see, from loose joints to where the water runs.
Your written estimate
You get an estimate that lays out what we'd do and why, and I'll tell you plainly if part of it can wait.
The work and walkthrough
If you go ahead, we sort out any permit, protect your home and yard, do the work, then I walk you through the finished wall.
Questions about a step? Call and talk it through.
(775) 447-1254Stone wall questions we hear in Reno
Does a rock retaining wall over 2 feet need an engineer in Reno?
Yes. Under the Northern Nevada code amendments, a rockery wall over two feet tall has to be engineered, and one over three feet also needs special inspection, an extra round of checks during the build. No single rock wall, and no tier of a stepped wall, can go past 6 feet. We'll measure your slope with you and tell you which side of those lines your wall falls on.
What is the best way to choose mortar for repointing a stone wall?
Choose a mortar that lets moisture and water vapor move out of the wall and dry off, because mortar that traps it leads to damage in the stones. Think of a breathable jacket next to a plastic bag. Before any repointing starts, ask your mason how the new mortar will let the wall dry out.
How do I apply for a building permit in Reno?
You apply online, because the City of Reno takes all building permit applications through its portal at onenv.us. Work started without a permit the job needs gets compliance fees on top of the regular permit fees. When your job needs one, we find out which office covers your address and handle the application before work starts, and if you're not sure, we'll help you ask.
Can I build my own stone wall in Nevada without a contractor?
Yes, if you're improving your own home that you live in and aren't selling or leasing it, because Nevada's licensing law exempts that owner. You do have to apply to the Nevada State Contractors Board for the exemption.
What is the difference between repointing and tuckpointing?
For most homeowners there's no real difference, since repointing also goes by pointing and, not quite accurately, tuck pointing. Each one means raking out worn mortar and packing in new. We also have a page on tuckpointing if that's the word you searched.
How much does stone veneer cost per square foot?
Installed stone veneer across the US usually costs about $15 to $45 per square foot. That's a national range for veneer only, not for repointing or rock walls and not our price, and the spread tells you how much the stone and the wall change the number. Your own figure comes from the estimate, once I've seen the job.
Stone masonry in Reno and the rules for rock walls
Around Reno, rock walls follow the Northern Nevada code amendments, and those rules cover more than height. A rockery has to sit against a cut in native soil and can't carry extra load from a foundation, another retaining wall, a slope above it or vehicles. Anything like that has to sit back from the wall at least as far as the wall is tall, and the base has to go below the frost line, which decides how deep we dig. We check those points before we sketch a wall, so the plan fits your lot from the start.
On jobs here we see plenty of yards cut into slopes and older stone walls that have taken years of runoff, and we find the same on jobs in Sparks and Carson City. If your city isn't on our list, ask us.
Get a stone work estimate in Reno
It's easier to plan a rock wall around the height and setback rules before the first stone goes in, so call or send the form.