Masonry that keeps your property sound and good-looking in Sparks, NV

There's no single price for masonry, because repointing a few joints and building a new retaining wall are very different jobs. What usually adds cost is height that needs scaffolding, old brick that's hard to match, soft soil that needs a deeper base and tight access for equipment. I'll go over those on site and put them in your written estimate.

Usually, yes, as long as the brick itself is sound and only the joints or a few bricks have failed. Repointing and replacing damaged pieces keeps the original wall in place, and I'd rather tell you a repair will do than sell you a rebuild you don't need. When a wall is leaning or the footing has moved, though, a repair only covers up the problem.

It depends on the size of the work, whether a permit and inspections are needed, and the weather, since fresh mortar and concrete need the right conditions to cure. A small repointing job and a new block wall are on very different schedules, and inspections have to fit the city's calendar too. I'll talk through the timing for your job when I come out to look at it.

In most cases a contractor needs both, because Nevada requires a state license before bidding or pricing a job, and the City of Sparks requires its own business license for contractors working inside city limits. Sparks also asks for proof of workers' compensation coverage. The state's exemption for repairs under $1,000 in labor and materials ends when the work needs a permit or is part of a larger project of $500 or more. We're licensed and fully insured.

It depends on the job and on which office covers your address, so we check before any work starts. The City of Sparks building permits page lists permits for work such as fences, demolitions and patio covers, but it doesn't settle every masonry job. If you're outside city limits, Washoe County may be the office to ask, and when a permit is needed we handle the application and inspections.

Our work is backed by our satisfaction guarantee. Before we pack up, we look over the finished job together so you can check the lines and joints up close and ask about anything.

For most driveways here I lean toward pavers on a well-packed base, because a cracked paver can be lifted and replaced while a cracked slab usually stays cracked. Poured concrete can cost less up front and suits some jobs well. With our cold winter nights and hot summers, being able to fix one piece instead of the whole drive is worth a lot.

The City of Sparks lists a frost depth of 24 inches, so footings for garden, block and retaining walls usually need to go at least that deep to keep frost from heaving them. The city's design rules also put Sparks in a higher earthquake category, which makes reinforcement important on block walls. We'll check what your wall needs when I look at the site.