Stone masonry in Palm Beach Gardens FL - stone picked for the coast, set on solid block
Tired of plain stucco, or old stone that's cracking and stained? We help you choose the right stone and set it on solid backing.
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- Stone masonry
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- (561) 268-0530
How can you tell your stone work needs attention?
Cracks running through stones
You see a crack that runs across several stones or follows the mortar in a line. That usually means the wall behind the stone is moving or flexing, and every rain pushes water into the crack and loosens more of the bond.
Stones loose or missing
A stone rocks when you press on it, or one has already dropped into the planting bed. Usually the mortar behind it has let go, often because water got back there, and the stones around it tend to follow.
Stains or damp that won't dry
Dark patches stay wet long after the rain, or a white powder keeps coming back on the face. Both point to water soaking into the wall, and the longer it sits, the more it works on the mortar and whatever's behind it.
What does stone masonry on a Palm Beach Gardens house involve?
The stone masonry we do in Palm Beach Gardens is mostly adhered stone veneer, a face of natural stone set in mortar over a backup wall of concrete block or poured concrete. Most natural stone is durable by nature, so a well-chosen stone gives your house a wall finish that lasts.
Most stone calls I get are one of two kinds, a plain block wall, column or front entry someone wants dressed up, or older stone that's cracking, staining or coming loose. The price moves with the wall's size, the stone you pick, how many corners and cuts there are, and whether the wall behind needs work before any stone goes on. The schedule mostly turns on when the stone arrives, the weather and any permit, and a tall or multi-story wall adds a step because one stone maker's guidelines call for a registered design professional to design those first. Your written estimate puts your own numbers on all of that.
Details to note before an estimate
- Rough size of the wall in square feet
- What's behind it, block, concrete or framing
- Cracks, loose stones or white staining now
- The stone color and look you want
How we handle stone masonry on your house
Before anybody picks a stone, I look at what your wall is up against here, the salt in the air, the summer heat and hurricane wind, because naming those first is how you end up with stone that holds up for the long haul. Years behind a building supply counter taught me that not every natural stone is meant to live outside, so we ask your supplier to confirm the stone you like is right for outdoor work in our weather. Then we look hard at the wall behind it, and I'd rather set stone on concrete block or poured concrete than on a framed wall, because natural stone is stiff and so is block, while wood and steel framing flex, and that flexing is what cracks a veneer down the road. Once the backup wall is sound, our crew sets the stone in mortar, works the joints and cuts around windows and corners, and we clean up before we call it done.
Stone often sits next to other masonry that needs its own attention. If the brick on the rest of the house has joints going sandy or hollow, brick pointing puts fresh mortar in them so the whole front holds up together. And if the block wall we'd be covering has cracks that keep growing, we look at foundation repair first, because stone set over a moving wall just cracks right along with it.
Other masonry work that often goes with stone
Brick pointing
When the brick beside your new stone has crumbling or recessed joints, repointing them keeps water out and lets both finishes age at the same pace.
Foundation repair
If the wall behind your stone keeps cracking, the house may be settling, and fixing that movement first is what keeps new stone from splitting.
What happens when you call about stone masonry in Palm Beach Gardens?
Call or send a message
Call (561) 268-0530 or use the form, and we'll set up a time that works for you. A few photos and a rough size help me come prepared.
I look the wall over
I come out, look at the wall and the stone you have in mind with you, and send a written estimate. It spells out the square footage, the stone, any work on the wall behind it and the price, so nothing comes as a surprise later.
We handle any permit
If the job needs a permit, we take care of it and set up the inspections. That wait goes into the schedule we give you, so you know what's holding things up.
We build, clean up, walk it
Our lead mason, the crew and I set the stone, clean up the site and walk the finished wall with you. I'll show you how water is meant to leave the wall so you know what to keep an eye on.
Questions before you book stone masonry
How much does stone veneer cost in Palm Beach Gardens?
Installing stone veneer across the US usually costs about $25 to $40 per square foot. That's the market's range, not our price, and where your job lands depends on the stone you choose, the wall's size and shape, and any work the backup wall needs first. You get your own number in the written estimate after I've seen the wall.
Is natural or manufactured stone better for a house in Florida?
For an outside wall here, I usually lean toward natural stone. Manufactured stone is made with cement and is very absorbent, so it often shows efflorescence, a white powdery deposit, while natural stone rarely does. The deposit normally isn't harmful, but it's a sign of too much moisture in the wall, and with manufactured stone you can expect to see it more often.
Do I need a permit for stone work in Palm Beach Gardens?
If your stone job needs a permit, we pull it with the city or county office that covers your address and set up the inspections for you. In Palm Beach Gardens, the city's Building Department handles all building and permitting, so that's the place to ask if you'd like to check before we meet.
What license should a mason have in Palm Beach County?
Your mason should hold a license that covers your address, and in Palm Beach County the county's licensing board sets and enforces contractor qualifications, gives the certification exams and can suspend or revoke county licenses. In Florida, a certified license lets a contractor work anywhere in the state, while a registered license covers only the cities or counties where they hold a certificate of competency. We're licensed and insured, and I'm glad to go over that when I come out.
What causes stone veneer to fail?
Water getting into the wall is the most common cause of failure in adhered veneer, according to one stone maker's installation guide. That's why you should ask any installer, us included, how the wall will keep water out before work starts, and I'll walk you through ours. Once it's built, turning sprinklers and downspouts so they aren't soaking the wall day after day keeps it from staying saturated, and our work comes with satisfaction guaranteed on every job.
What is the best way to get a dry stack stone look outside in Florida?
Our weather allows it, because one stone guide says dry stack, with open joints between the stones, can be used indoors or in warm climates where it doesn't freeze. The stone itself still decides it, so we check the maker's instructions for the stone you pick before we commit to that look.
Get a written estimate for your stone wall
Send the form and we'll get back to you within one business day to set up a time. I'll come out, look at the wall with you and send a free written estimate, and there's no obligation to go ahead.
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Get your stone wall looked at
We're based in Palm Beach Gardens and work in the cities around it in Palm Beach County and up into Martin County, so call (561) 268-0530 with a few photos and the wall's size.