Patios
We build brick paver and flagstone patios on a compacted stone base with firm edging. Each one is pitched so rain runs away from the house.
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Brick repair starts with finding the cause. A cracked or spalling brick is a symptom, and the right fix depends on what is behind it. Most brick damage traces back to water, frost, settling ground or rusted steel over a window. We track down the source first, then repair the masonry to match what is already there.
Steven Rigg Masonry is a masonry contractor in Mechanicsburg, and repairs are a core part of our work. We handle masonry repair for homes and small commercial buildings across the Harrisburg area. We replace spalled brick, repair cracks, reset loose steps, swap out rusted lintels and fix block and stone walls. When worn mortar joints are the whole problem, tuckpointing is the better fix.
Tell us about the chimney, wall, steps or patio and where it is. We look at the job and put the quote in writing.
Water does most of the damage. Brick soaks up rain, and in winter that water freezes inside it. NOAA's 30-year averages for the Harrisburg area show about 100 nights a year at or below freezing. On most of those days, the afternoon warms back above freezing, so the cycle repeats.
Each freeze pushes from inside the brick until the face flakes or pops off. Masons call that spalling, and a federal housing guide says a spalled brick cannot be repaired, only replaced. White salt on the face, called efflorescence, shows water moving through the wall as well.
Cracks have other causes. Ground can settle under a footing, and brick walls swell and shrink a little with the seasons. Chimneys take more weather than most of a house, so they get their own chimney repair page.
We start with where the water or movement comes from. National Park Service guidance says to fix the root cause first, such as a leaking gutter or settling ground. Without that step, the damage keeps going after the repair.
Damaged brick comes out one piece at a time, and new brick goes in its place. The fresh mortar stays softer than the brick around it. Harder mortar would push the stress into the brick, and that can crack or spall it.
Over windows and doors, a steel lintel holds up the brick. As it rusts, the steel swells and pushes the brick up and out of line. Rust stains near the opening usually point to this. The usual fix is a new lintel, with the brick above it taken down and relaid.
Most damage can be repaired in place. A few spalled bricks or a loose step tread is a repair job. Federal standards for historic buildings say worn features should be repaired rather than replaced. Repair keeps the original brick, and it is usually the smaller job.
A rebuild makes sense when the problem runs deeper than the face of the wall. A wall that has bulged or leaned out of line rarely goes fully back. A porch pier split by movement often has to be rebuilt as a whole. Those sections come down and go back up on a sound base, the same way we handle new brick work.
Census estimates put about a third of Mechanicsburg homes at 1939 or earlier. Older towns here also have historic districts, which add a review step. Carlisle's historic district guide says spalling stone steps should be repaired rather than replaced with wood or concrete. If your house sits in one, the borough or city can tell you what the work needs.
Call or text for a written quote. We work about 40 miles around Mechanicsburg across South Central Pennsylvania.
(717) 608-2175From the first call or text to the finished work, here is how it goes.
Call or text (717) 608-2175 and tell us about the job and the town it is in. Text photos if you have them.
We come out to see the masonry and what caused the damage, like water getting in or ground that settled. For new work, we go over the plan and the materials with you.
You get a written quote that spells out the work. Once you say yes, we set a start date with you.
Repairs start with grinding out failed mortar or taking down loose brick. New work starts at the footing or the base, and then we lay the masonry on it. Mortar work follows the weather.
We clean the new masonry and the work area. Then we go over the finished job with you.
Common questions about brick repair around Mechanicsburg and the Harrisburg area. If yours is not here, call or text and ask.
We build brick paver and flagstone patios on a compacted stone base with firm edging. Each one is pitched so rain runs away from the house.
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We build brick and stone walkways, front steps, porch steps, stoops and landings around Mechanicsburg. Old steps that have sunk or pulled away from the house get rebuilt on a new footing.
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We build and repair retaining walls in block and natural stone, plus segmental walls, around Mechanicsburg and the Harrisburg area. Each wall sits on a footing or a compacted gravel pad, with drainage behind it.
Learn MoreWe work in brick, block and stone. A job that mixes them, like a block wall with a stone face, takes one call.
We fix loose brick and failed mortar joints, and we rebuild worn chimneys. New work covers brick porches and columns, block foundation walls and stone veneer.
We look at the job before we put a price on it. Then you get the quote in writing, with the work spelled out.
Mechanicsburg sits at the center of our service area. Harrisburg, Carlisle, Hershey, York, Lebanon and Gettysburg are part of it too.
Real reviews of our masonry work, 3 reviews on Google.
Fastest company to get back to me, as well as educate me on the process behind building up a brick step up to the front door. I found that very beneficial, and added a sense of security and i always stand behind anyone who is that confident in their work, as well as going above and beyond!!!
Efficient, quick, and on time, rain played a factor but these guys didn’t let that affect them, stayed on the timeline they gave me and crushed it, the work speaks for itself
Steven got us scheduled very quickly and gave us a quote! He was very honest about the work we needed done and pointed us in the right direction for how it should be done. The finished project looked great! We would definitely recommend Steven and are very happy with his work. Thank you Steven!
Chimney repair cost in Pennsylvania: published market ranges for chimney repointing and crown repair, plus what a rebuild from the roofline runs.
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Tuckpointing vs repointing on Pennsylvania brick. What each word means, how masons judge failed joints, why old brick needs soft mortar and when to call.
Read more →Tell us what needs building or fixing and the town it is in, and text us photos if you like. Call or text (717) 608-2175 or use the form, and we will get back to you.
Tell us about the chimney, wall, steps or patio and where it is. We look at the job and put the quote in writing.