Seasoned Masonry Contractor in Santa Fe NM - Walls Fixed at the Cause, Not Patched Over
Sterling Santa Fe Concrete & Masonry repairs older brick and stone, chimneys and foundations in Santa Fe and the cities around it, from Eldorado to Los Alamos. We also repoint worn mortar on homes in the historic districts.
- Fully licensed and insured.
- Free quotes on site.
- Expect a reply within 1 business day.
Why Santa Fe homeowners call us
I look at every job myself
I come out in person, look at what you've got and tell you straight what it needs, what it doesn't and why.
We fix what's causing the damage
Bad drainage or a mortar that's too hard ruins more masonry than age does, so we sort that out first instead of patching over it.
A crew I trained, with me there
My own crew does the work, people I trained myself, and I'm on site with them, so your job never gets handed to strangers.
Tell me what you're seeing through the contact form, or call (505) 303-0434.
Working in Santa Fe
Santa Fe is home for us, and most of our calls come from right here. The historic Plaza is still the center of downtown, with the Palace of the Governors on its north side, where buyers purchase art straight from Native American artisans under the portal, and the New Mexico Museum of Art just off the square. Along the Santa Fe River, Alto Park has a pool, mature shade trees and trail connections.
The Santa Fe Fire Department offers city residents free Wildfire Home Hazard Assessments and guidance on reducing risk around the house. Many of our calls come from owners of older homes in the historic districts who want to keep the brick and stone they have in good shape, and we also build new walls, walkways and outdoor kitchens across the city and the cities around it.
Tell us about the masonry job you have in mind
We reply within one business day, and there's no obligation. After you send this, I'll set a time to come out, look at the job and measure it, and then you get a written estimate.
A Santa Fe mason since 2013
Sterling Santa Fe Concrete & Masonry is a masonry contractor based in Santa Fe, and I started it in 2013. I learned the trade from my father, mixing mortar and hauling brick on his jobs long before I could drive. We're fully licensed and insured, and our 16 services cover both repairs to older brick and stone and new building work. You can read more about us and how we work.
Masonry contractor services in Santa Fe, NM
Sterling Santa Fe Concrete & Masonry is a masonry contractor in Santa Fe with 16 services, from saving old brick and stone to building new walls, walkways and fireplaces. The price turns on the size of the job, the material and what's causing the damage, and the schedule mostly on whether permits or historic review are needed. I give you a written estimate once I've seen the job in person.
Foundation repair
When a foundation wall cracks, bows or settles, we find out whether water or a weak base is behind it and fix that along with the wall.
Chimney repair
We rebuild loose or crumbling chimney brick, reset the cap and repoint the joints so the chimney stays solid and keeps water out of the house.
Tuckpointing
Tuckpointing means grinding out worn mortar joints and filling them with fresh mortar matched to your brick, for older walls where the joints have gone soft.
Brick repair
Cracked, flaking or loose bricks get cut out and replaced with brick that matches yours, so the patch blends in, and we look for what broke them.
Driveway pavers
We lay paver driveways on a dug-out, packed gravel base, because a solid base is what keeps pavers from sinking and shifting under your car.
Retaining wall construction
We build retaining walls in block or stone with drainage behind them, for yards that need to hold back a slope or level out a space.
Masonry restoration
For older brick and stone homes, restoration brings worn walls back with matching mortar, careful cleaning and repairs that respect how the house was built.
Fireplace installation
We build masonry fireplaces indoors and out, in brick or stone, laid to fit the space and the way you plan to use it.
Stone veneer installation
Stone veneer is a thin layer of real or manufactured stone set over an existing wall, giving you the look of stone without building a solid stone wall.
Concrete block walls
We build concrete block walls for property lines, privacy and garden borders, with a solid footing underneath and a finish that suits your house.
Foundation block wall installation
For additions, garages and new homes, we lay the block foundation walls the rest of the building sits on, set square and level on the footing.
Outdoor kitchen masonry
An outdoor kitchen starts with a solid masonry base, and we build it in block, brick or stone with room for your grill, counters and storage.
Walkway construction
Our walkways in brick, stone or pavers go down on a packed base, pitched slightly so water runs off instead of sitting on the path.
Brick wall installation
If you want a new brick garden wall, courtyard wall or screen, we build it on a proper footing with mortar suited to the brick.
Stone masonry
Stone masonry covers walls, steps, columns and fireplace fronts built from natural stone, with each piece shaped and fitted by hand on site.
Brick pointing
When mortar joints look sandy, recessed or cracked, brick pointing fills them with new mortar that's softer than the brick, so the joints wear instead of the brick.
Brick and stone work up close
Use the arrows to see every photograph.
How a job goes with us
Call or send a message
Call (505) 303-0434 or send a message through the form and tell me what you're seeing, whether it's a crack, crumbling mortar or a wall you'd like built. We reply within one business day to set up a time for me to come out and look.
I come out and write it up
I come out myself to look at the job and measure it, and I tell you plainly what I'd do and why, including what it doesn't need. You get the estimate in writing. It's free, and there's no obligation to go ahead.
Permits first, then the work
Once you say go, we file for the permits and any historic review the job needs with the office that covers your address, and the work waits until they're in hand. Then my crew and I do the job, with me there, not someone you've never met.
We walk it together
When we're done, I walk the finished work with you before we pack up, so you can see what we did and ask about anything that catches your eye. We clean up the site as we go, so you're left with the wall, not our mess.
Your masonry questions answered
How much does masonry repair cost in Santa Fe?
It depends on the size of the job, the material and what's causing the damage, so I don't give a number until I've seen it. Matching old brick or stone, reaching a tall chimney and fixing drainage behind a wall all add to the price. The estimate is free and in writing.
Is it cheaper to patch a masonry crack or fix what caused it?
Patching is cheaper today, but if water, the wrong mortar or a weak base caused the crack, a patch usually cracks again and you end up paying twice. That's why I look for the cause first, and I'll tell you straight when a simple repair is all it needs.
How long does a masonry project take in Santa Fe?
It depends mostly on the size of the job and whether it needs a permit or historic review, because we don't start until approvals are in hand. Once work is underway, the City says building inspections may run two to three business days behind because of staffing, so I plan the schedule around that.
Who licenses masonry contractors in New Mexico?
The state Construction Industries Division licenses contractors across New Mexico, including in Santa Fe, and a license only covers the kind of work listed on it. Anyone doing business inside Santa Fe city limits also needs a City business license. We're fully licensed and insured.
Does a masonry job in Santa Fe need a permit?
Some do, and inside city limits the City of Santa Fe Land Use Department issues building permits for most construction, including driveway construction. Before we start any job, I check what the office for your address asks for, and we file the paperwork for the permits and approvals the job needs. The work waits until they're in hand, so it doesn't stall halfway.
Do I need approval for masonry work in a Santa Fe historic district?
Yes, exterior work on structures in the City's Historic Districts has to be approved ahead of time by the Historic Preservation Division. Most simple maintenance and repair there won't need a construction permit, but that's separate from the division's approval, so I check both before we touch an older home.
What mortar should be used to repoint old brick?
Old brick should be repointed with mortar that's softer than the brick and matched to the original, so the joints take the wear instead of the brick faces. Mortar that's too hard ruins old brick faster than age does, which is why I check what's in the wall before we mix anything for brick pointing.
Do you guarantee your masonry work?
Yes, satisfaction guaranteed on every job. I'm on site while my crew does the work, so I see each step before it's covered up, and you deal with me from the estimate to the finish.
Cities we serve around Santa Fe
Sterling Santa Fe Concrete & Masonry is based in Santa Fe, NM, and works across the city and the cities around it, including Los Alamos and Española. Five cities have their own page here, and we take jobs in nearby places as well. We reply within one business day of your call or message.