Masonry Contractor in Palm River-Clair Mel - Block, Brick and Paver Work
Cornerstone Tampa Concrete and Masonry is a masonry contractor based in Tampa. In Palm River-Clair Mel we repair brick and mortar, build block walls, and lay pavers and walkways for homes and small properties.
Masonry repair and building in Palm River-Clair Mel
Palm River-Clair Mel takes in the communities of Palm River and Clair-Mel City, with the Palm River along its north side. It's unincorporated, so on a job here Hillsborough County is the government you deal with, not a city hall. On our jobs we see single-family block homes, some with brick or stone fronts, sitting near apartments, shops and industrial lots, often on the same few streets.
We're based in Tampa and do the same work in Brandon and up in Lake Magdalene. Here the calls are usually cracked mortar on older brick, settled concrete drives and block walls along a property line, so most jobs start with sorting out how much is really wrong before I price it.
Masonry work we do in Palm River-Clair Mel
Foundation repair
When a block home here shows a stair-step crack or a door that starts sticking, we find out what's moving underneath before we patch anything.
Chimney repair
Not many homes here have chimneys, so when one does need work it's usually loose brick at the top or a cracked crown letting water in.
Tuckpointing
We grind out worn mortar joints and pack in new mortar matched to the old color, on brick fronts where the joints have started washing out.
Brick repair
Cracked or flaking brick on a step, planter or front wall usually comes out one piece at a time, and we set new brick that matches.
Driveway pavers
Plenty of drives here are plain concrete that's cracked and settled. Pavers over a packed base give you a drive you can fix piece by piece.
Retaining wall construction
On the flat lots here, a short retaining wall usually holds a raised bed or levels a yard edge, and we build drainage in behind it.
Masonry restoration
Older brick and block that's been patched over the years gets taken back to sound mortar and brick, instead of getting another layer on top.
Fireplace installation
Most fireplaces people ask us for here go outside on a patio, though we build indoor ones too, in brick, block or stone to your plan.
Stone veneer installation
Stone veneer, thin real or manufactured stone set on the face of a wall, dresses up a block house's front or columns without a full stone wall.
Concrete block walls
Block is what most houses here are built from, and we lay new block walls for privacy, property lines and additions, reinforced and filled where they need it.
Foundation block wall installation
For an addition or a new slab edge, we lay the block foundation wall to the plans, level and square, so the framing goes on right.
Outdoor kitchen masonry
We build the block base, counters and grill surround for a backyard kitchen, then finish it in stucco, stone or brick to match the house.
Walkway construction
A paver or brick walkway from the drive to the front door replaces cracked concrete steps and gives a small front yard a clean edge.
Brick wall installation
Low brick walls along a front yard or patio are common on these streets, and we set them on a proper footing so they start straight and level.
Stone masonry
Natural stone steps, borders and wall caps are fitted by hand, piece by piece, for homeowners who want their place to look different from the house next door.
Brick pointing
When only a few joints have cracked or dropped out, pointing fills just those, so you aren't paying to redo a whole wall.
Talk to us about your masonry
Call (813) 471-5857 or ask for an estimate at your property, and tell us about the crack, leak or wall you've got in mind.
Why Palm River-Clair Mel homeowners call us
I come out to look at your job myself and tell you what I see before I leave the driveway, so the person who priced it is the one building it.
I write the estimate
I look at the job in person, write the estimate, then work on site with our crew to build it.
The fix fits the problem
If a wall only needs a few joints, that's the job, and if it's bigger I'll tell you on the spot.
County permits pulled for you
When a job here needs a Hillsborough County permit, we pull it, handle the paperwork and line up the inspections.
Licensed, insured and guaranteed
We're licensed and insured, and every job we do is backed by our satisfaction guarantee.
A trade learned at home
I learned masonry working next to my father and opened Cornerstone in Tampa in 2013.
Questions from Palm River-Clair Mel homeowners
Do I need a permit for masonry work in Palm River-Clair Mel?
Hillsborough County decides that, since its Building Services issues permits for most construction in unincorporated areas like Palm River-Clair Mel, and masonry isn't on the county's list of work exempt from permits. That list covers things like painting, floors, cabinets, gutters and sheds under 150 square feet, and the county does say concrete fences and any porch need a permit. Non-structural work on a single-family home valued under $7,500 can be exempt, but structural work isn't, and code requirements still apply either way.
How do I check that a masonry contractor is licensed in Hillsborough County?
Ask for their contractor license and their business tax receipt, because both apply to work here. Certified contractors pass a state exam, the county also licenses contractors for work in unincorporated Hillsborough County, and anyone who contracts to build or repair buildings needs a business tax receipt as a contractor. Receipts go by jurisdiction, with the county's listed apart from the City of Tampa's, so ask which one they hold.
Can I pull my own permit for a masonry project in Hillsborough County?
Generally yes, as an owner-builder, if the home is in your name and it's your primary residence. You'll sign an Owner Builder Disclosure Statement, and you can't sell the property for one year after the work is done. Read the county's permit rules for homeowners before you decide.
What happens if masonry work started without a permit?
The county says to stop the work right away if it's still under construction, then email permitting@hcfl.gov about an After-The-Fact permit. Keeping on with the work can bring a citation of up to $500 per violation. If you're left with a half-built wall or patio, I can come look at where it stands.
How much does masonry repair cost in Palm River-Clair Mel?
The price comes from the size of the job, the material and how much has to come out before we build, so a few pointed joints cost far less than a rebuilt wall or a new paver drive. Matching old brick, a permit and how easy your yard is to get into can add to it, and the schedule turns on the same things plus permit review when there is one. I write the estimate after I've seen the job, so the figure is for your house.
What is the best way to plan a paver driveway around the Palm River septic-to-sewer project?
Find out first whether your property is in the county's Palm River septic-to-sewer conversion, because hooking a house up to sewer usually means a trench from the house toward the street, and that can run right under a drive or walkway. The project will include hundreds of homes and businesses, and Phase 1 covers properties between the Palm River and Causeway Boulevard, west of 78th Street to the Railroad Grade. If you're in it, we can plan the paver work around that dig so you aren't paying to lift new pavers.
Somewhere else around the bay?
Pick another city below, or call (813) 471-5857 if yours isn't listed, since we work in the cities around Tampa on both sides of the bay.
Get a masonry estimate in Palm River-Clair Mel
We pick up the phone every day until 11 PM, so call (813) 471-5857 after work or on a weekend, or send the form.