Masonry contractor in Athens, AL - brick and mortar work that holds up
Advanced Madison Concrete and Masonry is a masonry contractor based in Madison. In Athens, AL, we repair brick, mortar, chimneys and foundations, and we build walls, walkways, fireplaces and outdoor kitchens.
- Licensed and fully insured.
- Free quotes on site.
- We respond within 1 business day.
Masonry work on Athens homes, old and new
We work Athens the same way we work Decatur and Meridianville, with me on the crew and the masonry done by our own people. Most calls here are crumbling joints, a chimney that's started to look rough, or a wall or walkway someone wants built right.
Athens has historic districts with homes going back to the early 1800s, and plenty of newer houses and yards around them. The price moves with how much masonry the job takes, how easy it is to reach and how closely we have to match what's already there, and the schedule turns mostly on materials and whether the city wants a permit. Your written estimate gives you the real number. On the old brick, most of the job is mortar and matching. On the newer places, it's more often a wall, a walk or a fireplace built from the footing up.
- Mortar matched to your older brick
- Your price in writing up front
- The owner working on your job
- Backed by our satisfaction guarantee
What we build and repair in Athens
Here's the masonry we do on Athens homes, from patching a few joints to building a wall, walkway or fireplace from the footing up.
Foundation repair
Cracked block or brick at the base of an older Athens house usually points to settling, so we find where it's moving before we patch anything.
Explore Foundation repairChimney repair
Older chimneys often go rough first. We rebuild the loose brick and the cap on top and repoint the rest, instead of selling you a whole new stack.
Explore Chimney repairTuckpointing
When the joints on an older Athens house are sandy or sunk back, we rake out the bad mortar and pack in new mortar matched to the old.
Explore TuckpointingBrick repair
Brick with its face flaked off lets water into the wall. We cut out the damaged ones and set in the closest match we can find.
Explore Brick repairDriveway pavers
Pavers work for a new driveway or one cracked past patching. We dig out and pack the base first, because that's what keeps them flat.
Explore Driveway paversRetaining wall construction
A sloped yard needs a wall that drains. We put gravel and a drain line behind ours so water doesn't build up and push it out.
Explore Retaining wall constructionMasonry restoration
For the oldest brick in Athens, restoration means keeping as much original material as we can, cleaning it gently and repairing it with mortar that suits its age.
Explore Masonry restorationFireplace installation
A new fireplace has to draw right and sit on a solid base. We build the firebox, hearth and surround together so it works and looks finished.
Explore Fireplace installationStone veneer installation
Veneer stone dresses up a plain foundation or a newer home's entry. We set the backing and drainage first, since that's what keeps it on the wall.
Explore Stone veneer installationConcrete block walls
Block walls for property lines, garden beds or a shop out back go up on a footing dug to firm ground, with every course checked for level.
Explore Concrete block wallsFoundation block wall installation
For an addition or new crawl space, we lay foundation block on a poured footing and fill the hollow cores with concrete where the plans call for it.
Explore Foundation block wall installationOutdoor kitchen masonry
Plenty of Athens backyards have room for an outdoor kitchen. We build the block base and the brick or stone face to carry a grill and countertop.
Explore Outdoor kitchen masonryWalkway construction
A walkway that heaves or puddles usually has a thin base. We dig deeper, pack the base and give it a slight slope so water runs off.
Explore Walkway constructionBrick wall installation
A new brick wall beside an older Athens home looks right when its brick and joints match the house, so we pick samples with you before ordering.
Explore Brick wall installationStone masonry
Older Athens properties often have stone steps or garden walls. We fit each stone by hand and lay it in mortar or dry, whichever the spot calls for.
Explore Stone masonryBrick pointing
If only a few joints have cracked or dropped out, pointing just those spots is often all your wall needs, and I'll tell you when that's the case.
Explore Brick pointing
Get a free Athens estimate
Tell us where the house is and what you're seeing. We reply within one business day, I come out to look, and there's no obligation.
What Athens houses ask of a mason
Athens mixes brick homes that go back generations with newer houses and yards, and each asks something different of the mortar, the base and the mason.
Soft mortar on older brick
Old brick was laid in softer mortar than today's bagged mixes. We match it, because mortar harder than the brick cracks the brick instead of the joint.
Historic district exteriors
In Athens's three federally listed historic districts, the city's Building Department protects the exteriors. If your house is in one, we ask them before touching the brick.
Chimneys on older homes
A chimney that's stood for generations can be loose at the top and still look fine from the yard. I go up and look before I price it.
Working near Athens? Give us a call
We're based in Madison and work across the cities around it, including the others listed here, so pick yours to see what we run into there. If your city isn't on the list, call (256) 289-8018 anyway, because these aren't the only places we go.
From your call to a finished Athens job
I keep the estimate simple because you should know what I see and what it'll cost before anyone picks up a trowel, and you get that in writing.
Call or send a note
Call or use the form and tell us what's going on, whether it's crumbling joints, a rough chimney or something you want built.
I look it over
I come out to your Athens house, look the job over and tell you what I see and what I'd do, including when a smaller fix will do.
Your price in writing
You get what I'd do and what it costs in writing, and you sign a contract with that scope and price before any permit gets filed.
We build, then walk it
Once you say go, we line up materials and any permit, I work alongside our masons, and we walk the finished job with you.
Athens masonry questions
How do I get a building permit for masonry work in Athens, AL?
The Athens Building Department issues construction permits for work inside the city limits. Whether your job needs one is up to them, so we find out what they ask for on your job and handle the paperwork when a permit is needed. Outside the city limits, we check with the office that covers your address.
Does a masonry contractor need a business license in Athens, AL?
Yes. Anyone earning money inside Athens city limits needs a City of Athens business license, and the City Clerk's Office handles them. When contractors renew, the city also asks for a current certificate of insurance, so it's fair to ask any mason you're weighing to show you theirs. We're licensed and fully insured.
Which building codes apply to masonry on my house in Athens?
Athens works from the International Residential Code for houses, plus Alabama's residential and energy codes. The city's adopted codes list also includes the International Existing Building Code, which covers work on buildings already standing. We build to what the city has adopted and what the department asks for on your job.
What causes mortar joints to crumble on older brick homes in Athens?
Age and water, mostly, because mortar is meant to wear away before the brick does. After enough years the joints turn sandy, and if you can scratch mortar out with a key, it's time to look at tuckpointing. Catching it early usually means repointing joints instead of replacing brick.
How close to my property line can I build a wall in Athens, AL?
The city's zoning setbacks decide that distance, and the Building Department enforces them on new construction. We check the setback for your lot before we lay out a new wall, outdoor kitchen or block building, so nothing ends up on the wrong side of the line.
How much does masonry work cost in Athens, AL?
Masonry is priced by the job, and I give you your number in writing after I've looked at it. The biggest factors are how much brick, block or stone is involved, how hard the work is to reach, how much digging or base work sits underneath, and whether we're matching old brick and mortar. A few cracked joints and a rebuilt chimney are very different jobs.
Talk through your Athens masonry job
We take calls until 9 PM every day, weekends included, so call (256) 289-8018 or use the form when it suits you.