Masonry contractor in North Palm Beach - repairs that blend into older homes
Excel Jupiter Concrete and Masonry is a masonry contractor based in Jupiter that repairs and builds brick, block and stone work across North Palm Beach, from crumbling mortar joints and cracked walls to new pavers and outdoor kitchens.
- Fully licensed and insured.
- Free quotes on site.
- Expect a reply within 1 business day.
Block homes and canal-side yards in North Palm Beach
North Palm Beach is mostly single-family homes along quiet streets and canals, with condo buildings closer to the water, and a lot of the houses are older single-story concrete block with stucco over it. Over the years many of them have picked up a brick planter, a paver driveway, a pool deck or an addition, so when we open up a wall we often find more than one generation of block and mortar side by side. We see a lot of the same construction just south in Lake Park.
The ground under all of it is mostly sand, and near the canals it tends to stay damp, so a new wall or driveway here is only as good as the base we pack under it.
Permits, paperwork and pricing in North Palm Beach
Building permits here come from the Village of North Palm Beach, and the village wants the permit issued before any work starts, with penalties for starting early, so on a permitted job your start date waits on that approval. Submittals all go through the village's online portal now, and every contractor has to register there with their license and insurance information. Contractors based outside the village, like us in Jupiter, don't pay its business tax receipt but still have to register with the village each year, so it's fair to ask anyone you're thinking of hiring whether they're on file. We're fully licensed and insured, and when your job needs a permit we pull it and handle the paperwork.
What moves the price here is usually how much wall, driveway or patio is involved, what we find once the old mortar or base is opened up, and how easy it is to get block and equipment to the spot, since plenty of these lots back onto canals with tight side yards. The schedule turns mostly on the permit and on how much of the old work has to come out before new work goes in. My written estimate spells out what's included for your job, so you're not guessing. We do the same kind of work just west in Palm Beach Gardens, where the homes are often newer but the sandy ground is the same.
Get a free on-site estimate in North Palm Beach
Call (561) 532-0289 or send the form, and we'll reply within one business day to set a time for me to come out to your place in North Palm Beach. The estimate is free and done on site, and there's no pressure to book.
Call (561) 532-0289Services in North Palm Beach, FL
Tuckpointing
Older homes here often show sandy, crumbling joints along the base and around windows. We grind out the worn mortar and repack it to match.
Concrete block walls
Many lots here want a privacy or garden wall along the property line. We set block walls on a proper footing so they stay straight and plumb.
Driveway pavers
Older driveways here tend to crack or sink where the sandy base has washed out. We dig it out, pack a firm base and set new pavers.
Retaining wall construction
Yards that drop toward a canal or a neighbor's lot slowly lose soil. We build retaining walls with drainage behind them so water doesn't build up.
Outdoor kitchen masonry
Plenty of patios here have room for an outdoor kitchen. We build the block base, set the counters and finish it in stone or stucco.
Brick repair
Brick steps, planters and accents on older homes here crack and loosen over time. We swap the bad bricks for ones that match, so the repair blends in.
How it goes when you call us in North Palm Beach
Call us or send the form
Call (561) 532-0289 or send the form and tell us what you're seeing. We'll set a time for me to come out, and it helps if you're home so we can walk it together.
Walk the job with me
I walk it with you, ask a lot of questions and find what's causing the problem, not just the crack you can see. Then I put together a written estimate that spells out what's included, so you know what you're paying for before anything starts.
Permit first, then the work
Once you say go and any permit the job needs has been issued, our own crew does the work with me on site. If the job has inspections, the village offers virtual options for those.
Walk the finished job
Before we pack up, I walk the finished job with you and show you what we did and why. It's backed by our satisfaction guarantee.
Common questions
Do I need a permit for masonry work in North Palm Beach?
Usually, yes, since the village generally requires a building permit for any repair, replacement or improvement project worth more than $1,000. Its permit questions page also lists driveways and fences among the work that needs one. The village's permit submittal checklists show what goes in with each kind of application, and we put that together when we pull the permit.
Does the $7,500 permit exemption in North Palm Beach cover masonry work?
Not if the work is structural, because the village says structural projects still need a permit no matter what the job costs. Apart from its $1,000 guideline, the village says a newer state law allows certain permit exemptions for small home improvement projects under $7,500, and the homeowner or a licensed contractor acting for them can request one. Whether your job fits is something to settle with the village before work starts, and we can make that request for you.
Can I use an owner-builder permit for my condo in North Palm Beach?
No, the village doesn't allow owner-builder permits for condos or multi-family buildings, and all work in them has to be done by a licensed contractor. If your condo needs block, brick or paver work, we pull the permit and our own crew does the job.
How do I find out if my North Palm Beach house is in a flood zone?
Ask the village's building division, which gives flood zone determinations and copies of Elevation Certificates on request. It matters for masonry because properties in the Special Flood Hazard Area, the higher-risk zone on the flood maps, may need an Elevation Certificate to get a building permit, so it's worth checking before we plan a new wall or addition.
How much does masonry work cost in North Palm Beach?
Your price comes down to the size of the job, what's under the surface and how much matching the old work takes, and the written estimate from my visit gives you your own figure. Matching older brick or mortar color takes extra time, and digging out a washed-out base costs more than building on a good one. On jobs valued over $5,000 here, the permit also needs a copy of a recorded Notice of Commencement, a county form saying work is about to start, so that step goes into the paperwork we handle.
What causes mortar to crumble on older North Palm Beach homes?
Water is usually behind it, getting into the joints from a bad cap, a gutter or sprinkler spray, or wicking up from damp ground at the base of the wall. Old patches done with mortar harder than the brick can also crack the brick edges around them. That's why I look for where the water's coming from before we repoint anything, because new mortar over a water problem just fails again.
Tell us about your North Palm Beach project
Call (561) 532-0289 or send us a message, because a crumbling joint or a loose brick is usually a smaller fix now than after water has worked behind it for another season.