Masonry contractor in Fort Lauderdale - repairs that fix the real cause
Elite Deerfield Beach Concrete & Masonry is a masonry contractor based in Deerfield Beach, working on homes and condos in Fort Lauderdale. We repair brick, block, chimneys and foundations, and build walls, walkways, driveways and outdoor kitchens.
Masonry work for Fort Lauderdale homes
Fort Lauderdale is a short drive south of our base in Deerfield Beach, past Lighthouse Point and Pompano Beach, and our crew is down there often. The houses run from older block and brick homes with a few rounds of patching on them to condos with shared walls and newer homes where the owners want a paver driveway or an outdoor kitchen.
The price here comes down to how far the problem runs once we open it up, how easy the work is to reach and what we have to match, and the schedule mostly turns on whether the city wants a permit and inspections. I'll give you your own figure after I've looked at the job in person. On the older houses especially, the crack you can see is usually the last thing to show up, so I trace it back to the cause before we price a repair.
Masonry services in Fort Lauderdale
When a crack runs through the block and up into the stucco, we find out whether the house is settling or water is the cause before we repair it.
Not many Fort Lauderdale houses have a chimney, and the ones that do are often older. We rebuild loose brick, crowns and joints so water stays out.
On older brick homes the joints wear thin long before the brick does. We rake out the worn mortar and pack in new mortar matched to the old.
Brick with a face that's cracked or flaking off gets cut out and replaced with a matching brick, once we've worked out why it failed.
Plenty of Fort Lauderdale homeowners trade a cracked concrete driveway for pavers. We dig out, pack a firm base and lay them so they sit level.
Where a yard changes level or a planter bed needs holding back, we build block retaining walls with drainage behind them so water doesn't push them over.
For older Fort Lauderdale houses and condo buildings, we bring tired brick, block and stone back into shape while keeping the look the building started with.
A masonry fireplace here is usually a design choice, indoors or out by the patio. We build the firebox, surround and hearth, and match the stone or brick to the space.
Stone veneer, thin stone set over an existing wall, dresses up a plain block-and-stucco front, and we prep the wall first so the stone holds.
A lot of the property lines and pool areas we see in Fort Lauderdale are closed in with block. We build new walls on proper footings and repair cracked ones.
For additions and rebuilds, we lay the block foundation walls the rest of the house sits on, set true so the framing above starts square.
Outdoor kitchens come up a lot on our Fort Lauderdale calls. We build the block base, the counters and a stone or brick finish around your grill.
We lay walkways from the driveway to the front door or out to the pool in pavers, brick or stone, on a packed base so they sit flat.
Brick garden and courtyard walls suit a lot of older Fort Lauderdale homes. We lay them on a solid footing with joints that match the house.
Natural stone steps, columns and planters take more fitting than block, so we cut and set each piece by hand to keep the joints tight.
When only a few joints have cracked or gone soft, brick pointing fills them with fresh mortar. It's a common small fix on condo and townhouse brick here.
What Fort Lauderdale homes need from a mason
We're licensed and fully insured, and I come out to every job myself. You get a straight answer, or an honest "let me take a closer look" when it isn't clear yet.
The cause, not just the crack
I trace a crack back to why it opened, because a patch over the wrong problem usually comes back.
An estimate the owner writes
I write the estimate myself after walking the job, so it covers what's actually wrong and not a guess.
A mason leading the crew
An experienced mason runs our crew on site, and I check in on the work as it goes.
City permits handled for you
When your job needs a Fort Lauderdale permit, we pull it, do the paperwork and line up the inspections.
Know what to watch for
I'll show you what failed and why, so you can spot the same trouble early on your own.
Fort Lauderdale masonry questions
Do I need a permit for masonry work in Fort Lauderdale?
Often you do, because the city's Building Services division issues permits for work that builds, alters or repairs a building or structure. The exemption for small jobs is narrow, covering only single-family homes outside a flood hazard area with work valued under $7,500 that isn't structural, electrical, plumbing, mechanical or gas work, and even a project under $7,500 isn't exempt automatically. The city only takes applications for addresses inside its boundaries, so we check that first, and when a permit's needed we pull it and line up the inspections.
How long does a single-family permit last in Fort Lauderdale?
A single-family permit in Fort Lauderdale expires one year after it's issued, or when the next Florida Building Code takes effect, whichever comes later. That's why we like to start soon after the permit comes through and keep the job moving to the final inspection.
Do I need a Notice of Commencement for a masonry job in Fort Lauderdale?
You do if the contract is over $5,000, and either you or the contractor has to file it. If it needs your signature, I'll tell you early on, and we handle the rest along with the permit paperwork.
What affects the cost of masonry work in Fort Lauderdale?
Size, access and how far the problem runs once it's opened up decide most of the price. Matching old brick or mortar, hand-set natural stone and work that needs a permit and inspections add to it, while plain block and simple paver patterns keep it down. I'll give you your own number after I've seen the job.
What causes cracks in brick and block walls on older Fort Lauderdale homes?
Most cracks come from movement in the wall or the ground under it, water getting in behind the masonry, or earlier repairs done with mortar that doesn't suit the wall. A hairline in a joint and a crack straight through the block usually mean very different fixes, so I look at where it starts and which way it runs before I tell you what it'll take.
Does a masonry contractor need a city license to work in Fort Lauderdale?
Most businesses operating in the City of Fort Lauderdale need a Local Business Tax Receipt from the city, renewed every year. A business now also needs zoning approval, called a Certificate of Use, before it can apply for that receipt. We're licensed and fully insured, and you're welcome to ask me about our paperwork when I come out.
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Get a Fort Lauderdale masonry estimate
Call (754) 253-5630, seven days a week and well into the evening, or send a request and tell us about your job.