Masonry contractor in Wake Forest, NC - repairs that fix the cause
Premier Wake Forest Concrete & Masonry is a masonry contractor based in Wake Forest, NC. We repair brick, mortar, chimneys and foundations, and build retaining walls, walkways and outdoor masonry for homes across the city.
- Licensed and fully insured.
- Free estimates at your property.
- Replies within 1 business day.
Older brick and newer homes across Wake Forest
I started this business in Wake Forest in 2020, and the houses here are the ones I know best. Near downtown and in the historic district, you'll find older brick homes with soft mortar and chimneys that have taken decades of weather. Farther out, the newer subdivisions keep stretching toward Rolesville and down toward Raleigh, with brick fronts, stone veneer and yards cut into slopes.
Those two kinds of houses ask for different work. The older homes need repairs that match what's already there, and the newer ones usually need walls, walks and drainage planned around ground that was graded quickly.
Our services in Wake Forest, NC
- Foundation repair
Stair-step cracks in brick usually mean the ground under part of the house has moved. Our foundation repair finds the cause, often water, before we touch the wall.
- Tuckpointing
Mortar on older Wake Forest brick wears back and lets water in. We rake out worn joints and refill them with a mix that wears before the brick does.
- Masonry restoration
Historic district homes in Wake Forest need repairs that match the original brick and mortar. We plan around the city's approval before anything starts, so nothing gets redone.
- Retaining wall construction
Sloped lots in newer subdivisions often need a wall to level the yard. We build with drainage behind it, because trapped water is what pushes most walls over.
- Chimney repair
Older chimneys here lose mortar at the top first, where weather hits hardest. We rebuild the cap and loose brick above the roofline so water stops getting into the house.
- Walkway construction
Front walks heave and crack where tree roots and soft ground move them. We dig out and pack a solid base before laying brick or stone, so it stays flat.
What Wake Forest clay and rain ask of masonry
Most of the cracks I'm called out to look at here start in the ground, not the brick. Clay swells when it's wet and shrinks when it dries, so a footing or a wall can shift a little every season until the mortar gives way along its weakest line. Before we repair anything, I look at where your downspouts empty and which way the yard slopes, because fixing the crack without fixing the water just means seeing it again in a few years.
The city says its most common flooding comes from creeks and streams spilling over after heavy rain, and that it can build slowly or hit all at once. If your yard runs down to a creek, we plan where that water goes before we plan any wall, walk or patio near it.
Get a free on-site masonry estimate in Wake Forest
Call (984) 237-6028 or send your Wake Forest address and a few words about the job, and we'll reply within one business day. I'll come out myself, walk the job with you and put in writing what we'd do and why, with no obligation to go ahead. Photos sent ahead help me come prepared.
Brick, stone and block work
Wake Forest masonry questions answered
How do I know which office handles permits for my Wake Forest address?
It comes down to whether your home sits inside the city limits or the ETJ, the area just outside the limits that the city also covers. The Town of Wake Forest Inspections Department only works inside that area, and some homes with a Wake Forest address sit outside it, where Wake County Permits and Inspections serves the unincorporated parts of the county. Making sure the right permits are pulled falls on you as the homeowner, so when a job needs one, we work out with you which office covers your address and handle the paperwork together.
Do I need a permit to widen my driveway in Wake Forest?
Usually yes, because the city typically requires a development permit, also called a zoning compliance permit, before a driveway expansion starts inside the city limits or ETJ. If your driveway meets an NCDOT road, you'll also need an NCDOT driveway permit on top of the city's.
Do I need a special permit to build a wall or patio near a creek in Wake Forest?
If the work is in the floodplain, yes, because the city requires a Floodplain Development Permit before any change there, even something as small as a fence, pool or shed. Improvements to an existing home in the city's regulated flood zone need one too, and depending on what the renovation costs, the whole house may then have to meet current floodplain rules. That's why I bring it up early when a project sits near a stream.
When does a contractor in Wake Forest need a state license?
The NC Licensing Board for General Contractors says a general contractor must be licensed by law when the total project cost is $40,000 or more. The city no longer requires a local business license, so you won't find one to check. We're licensed and fully insured, and you're welcome to ask about it when I come out.
What does masonry repair cost in Wake Forest?
Your price comes down to how much brick, block or stone is involved, how easy it is to reach and what's causing the damage in the first place. Matching old brick and mortar on a historic home, working high on a chimney or fixing drainage before a wall goes back up all add to it, while a small repair caught early costs much less. I put your figure in writing at the estimate, along with what we'd do and why.
How long does a masonry project take in Wake Forest?
The schedule turns mostly on the size of the job, the weather and whether a permit or historic approval has to come first. Mortar and concrete need dry, mild days to set properly, so a stretch of rain can push the start back, and a job waiting on the city's sign-off waits before we begin. I'll tell you where your job falls when I write the estimate.