Masonry Contractor in Portland, TX - Tight Joints, Solid Brick and Block
H&K Corpus Christi Concrete & Masonry repairs brick, mortar and chimneys on Portland homes and builds the block walls, paver driveways and walkways homeowners here have been putting off.
Our masonry work in Portland
Portland sits on the water just north of Corpus Christi, close enough to our base that coming out to look at your job is a short drive. Many of the houses we work on here are brick fronts on slabs. They have block fences along the back of the lot, and walks, patios and driveways that have cracked or settled with age. The calls are much the same as the ones we get in Corpus Christi and Robstown: crumbling joints, a chimney that worries someone, or a yard project that's been put off.
The price depends on how much brick or mortar has to come out, how hard older brick is to match, and how easy the wall is to reach. The schedule depends mostly on two things. One is permits, because Portland's permit list includes fences, driveways, patios and any retaining wall more than four feet tall, counting the part below ground. The other is what we find once the old joints are open. I come out and put your estimate in writing, so you see your own number before anything starts. Brick fronts, block fences and paver drives each fail in their own way, so we find out why before we fix anything.
What we do for Portland homes
Foundation repair
When a brick wall starts cracking in steps or a door stops closing right, we look at the slab and footing first, because that's usually where it starts.
Chimney repair
The chimneys we see here often have loose brick near the top and a cracked crown, the concrete cap. We rebuild what's failing and leave sound brick alone.
Tuckpointing
On older brick fronts here, the mortar wears out long before the brick does. We grind out the soft joints across the wall and pack in new mortar that matches.
Brick repair
A cracked or spalling brick, one whose face is flaking off, can be cut out and replaced with a close match instead of redoing the whole wall.
Driveway pavers
Plenty of driveways here are plain concrete cracked with age. Pavers on a packed base let us lift and reset one bad piece instead of patching slab.
Retaining wall construction
Where a yard steps down toward the street, a block or stone retaining wall holds the soil, and the footing and drainage behind it decide how it lasts.
Masonry restoration
For a house that's had years of patch jobs, we sort out what's sound, take out the bad repairs and bring the brick and joints back together.
Fireplace installation
If you're adding a fireplace to a living room or a back porch, we build the firebox and surround in brick or stone to suit the house.
Stone veneer installation
Thin stone set over an existing wall dresses up entryways and column bases here, and we take our time on the backing and flashing behind it.
Concrete block walls
Block fences along the back of a lot are common in Portland. We build new ones on a proper footing and repair the ones that lean or crack.
Foundation block wall installation
For an addition, a garage or a raised floor, we lay the block foundation walls the rest of the building sits on, square and level from the start.
Outdoor kitchen masonry
Lots of backyards here have a plain concrete patio. A brick or stone grill island turns it into a place to cook, built level and solid.
Walkway construction
A walk from the driveway to the front door takes traffic every day, so we dig out, pack a firm base and set brick, pavers or stone on it.
Brick wall installation
New garden walls, mailbox posts and entry walls go up in brick picked to sit well with your house, on a footing poured for the job.
Stone masonry
Natural stone walls, steps and planters take more fitting than brick. We cut and set each piece so the joints stay tight and the weight sits right.
Brick pointing
When only a few joints along a wall or step are cracked or missing, pointing fills them with fresh mortar before water gets behind the brick.
What signs mean your Portland masonry needs a look?
Many Portland houses we work on are brick on a slab with block or brick walls in the yard, so trouble usually shows up in the joints, the corners and the ground first.
- Mortar crumbling out of joints
- Stair-step cracks in brick walls
- Loose brick near the chimney top
- A block fence starting to lean
- Pavers sinking or rocking underfoot
- White, chalky stains on brick
If you're looking at one of these, call or send the form, and I'll come out, look it over and tell you straight whether it needs work.
Should you repair it or rebuild it?
On the homes we see in Portland, the answer usually comes down to what's under the problem, so I look at the footing, the base and the brick itself before suggesting anything.
When a repair is enough
If the brick is sound and only the mortar or a few pieces have failed, we repair it. Cutting out bad joints or swapping a handful of bricks keeps the wall you have, and it's usually the smaller job.
When rebuilding makes sense
When a wall leans, the footing under it has failed, or the brick itself is breaking apart, patching only buys time. Taking it down and rebuilding on a sound footing is usually the better choice, and I'll show you why before we start.
What brick and block need in Portland
We've been doing brick and mortar work since 2023, and here's what you can count on when we take a job in Portland.
Permits filed with the city
Portland wants contractors registered with the city before a permit, and when you need one we file it with Development Services.
I'm on site with the crew
I come out to look at your job myself, and I stay on site with our crew while the work gets done.
Footings and bases done first
We spend our time on the footing, the base and joint depth, because that hidden part decides how the work holds up.
Licensed and fully insured
Ask to see proof before we start, since anyone working on your house should be able to show you both.
A straight answer, even no
If your brick or mortar doesn't need work yet, I'll tell you so rather than sell you a job.
Call about your Portland masonry job
Our line is open every day from 7 AM to 11 PM, so you can call after work or on a weekend.
Nearby cities, or call about yours
If your city has a page, you'll find it here. If it doesn't, call (361) 232-9674 and ask, because we work across the cities around Corpus Christi.