Home › Masonry Waterproofing and Coatings
Reliable, professional masonry waterproofing in Raleigh, NC from Legendary Masonry Raleigh. Contact us today for a free on-site estimate.
Legendary Masonry Raleigh provides professional masonry waterproofing throughout Raleigh, NC, North Carolina and the surrounding area. Our licensed, insured crew delivers safe, clean, on-time work with a free estimate before anything begins. Call 984-259-3609 or request your free quote.
Protecting Raleigh Masonry From Water, Inside and Out
In Raleigh, masonry does not just fail from age. It fails from water. Our mix of summer thunderstorms, hurricanes that track up from the coast, and winter freeze-thaw cycles puts constant pressure on brick, block, stone, and mortar. Legendary Masonry Raleigh focuses our masonry waterproofing work on how buildings here actually get wet, from wind-driven rain on chimneys in Five Points to rising damp in older crawl-space foundations in North Hills.
When you call us for masonry waterproofing, we start with a site-specific inspection. We look for cracks, soft or sandy mortar, white powdery efflorescence, spalling brick faces, dark damp patches inside basements, and failing sealants around windows and control joints. We track where the water is really entering, not just where you see the stain. That might be a hairline crack in a chimney crown, an unsealed brick ledge, or a porous block wall behind a shrub bed that stays wet for days after every storm.
From there, we build a waterproofing plan that matches your particular structure, not a one-size spray-and-go service. A 1920s solid brick home near Oakwood needs different products and prep than a modern brick veneer in Brier Creek. Our goal is always to stop water without trapping moisture inside the wall, which can be more damaging than the leaks you started with.
How Our Masonry Waterproofing Process Works
Every project begins with cleaning and preparation, because no coating or sealer will perform well over dirty or deteriorated masonry. We typically start with a low-pressure detergent wash or a masonry-safe cleaner to remove mildew, dirt, and efflorescence. On delicate historic brick we avoid aggressive power washing and instead use controlled rinsing so we do not erode the brick face or mortar joints.
Next we repair defects that would let water in behind any waterproofing membrane. This can include grinding and repointing loose or cracked mortar joints with a compatible mortar mix, filling visible cracks with flexible masonry sealants, patching spalled brick faces, and repairing chimney crowns or caps. If the mortar is harder than the original brick, which we often see in older Raleigh homes that were patched over the years, we adjust the mix so it breathes correctly and does not force moisture into the brick units.
Once the surface is sound and clean, we apply the selected waterproofing system. For vertical exterior brick and block, this is usually a penetrating, breathable water repellent that soaks into the masonry and chemically bonds within the pores, rather than forming a surface film. For below-grade or retaining walls, we may use a cementitious or elastomeric coating that creates a continuous barrier. We apply these products by low-pressure spray, brush, or roller, depending on the texture of the masonry and proximity to windows, plants, and neighboring properties.
Before we finish, we always test our work. On many projects we perform a controlled water test with a hose to verify that previously damp areas stay dry. We also walk you through exactly what was done, where it was applied, and what to expect as everything cures over the next few days.
Types of Masonry Waterproofing and Coatings We Offer
Different masonry surfaces in Raleigh need different protection. Legendary Masonry Raleigh works with several categories of products so we can match the coating to the situation instead of forcing one product to do everything.
For most above-grade brick and stone, we rely on penetrating sealers based on silane, siloxane, or a blend. These products soak into the brick or mortar joint, then react inside the pores to repel liquid water while allowing water vapor to escape. That means your walls can still dry out after a storm, which is important in our humid summers. We use clear, non-shiny formulations that do not change the appearance of your brick, an important point for homeowners who want the house to look original.
Time and weather can also stain and discolor masonry. Where we need a visual reset along with waterproofing, we may recommend a breathable masonry coating system with color. These are not simple exterior paints. They are formulated specifically for mineral surfaces, so they bond into the masonry rather than forming a thick, peel-prone skin. We use them on older block foundations, previously painted brick, and commercial parapet walls where a clean, uniform finish is part of the building’s curb appeal.
On basements, foundation walls, and retaining walls that sit below grade, we often specify cementitious or elastomeric waterproofing coatings on the soil side of the wall when accessible. For interiors that are already poured and backfilled, we can sometimes use negative-side waterproofing products that resist water pressure pushing from the outside. In some cases, especially with chronic groundwater issues in low-lying Raleigh neighborhoods, we pair these coatings with drainage improvements so the system has a way to relieve pressure instead of fighting it forever.
Local Problems We Solve in Raleigh Masonry
Raleigh homes and commercial buildings share several recurring water issues that benefit from targeted masonry waterproofing. One common call we get is for white chalky deposits on brick, known as efflorescence, particularly on newer construction in rapidly built neighborhoods. This often signals moisture moving through the wall and bringing salts to the surface. Our approach is to remove the deposits, locate the moisture path, and then seal the masonry with an appropriate breathable sealer so the problem does not simply return in a few months.
Another frequent problem here is chimney leakage. With our mix of wind and driving rain, water often enters not just through the brick sides, but through cracked crowns, deteriorated flashing, or porous mortar near the top courses. Legendary Masonry Raleigh inspects the entire chimney structure from cap to roofline. Typical fixes include rebuilding or resurfacing the crown with a waterproof cementitious cap, repairing flashing where the chimney meets the roof, repointing compromised joints, and then applying a multi-coat masonry water repellent to the full exposed height.
Basement and crawl space moisture is also a major concern in parts of Raleigh with higher water tables or poor surface drainage. Block foundation walls can wick groundwater into interior spaces, leading to musty odors, mold risk, and damage to stored belongings. In these cases we evaluate grading, downspout discharge, and landscaping that holds water against the wall. When coatings are appropriate, we often apply a waterproofing system to the exterior side of accessible walls, and a compatible sealer or negative-side coating inside if needed, so you are not relying on a single product to do more than it was designed to do.
What Affects the Cost of Masonry Waterproofing
Homeowners often ask why one masonry waterproofing quote can be very different from another. In Raleigh, costs are driven by several real conditions that are worth understanding before you choose a contractor.
The first factor is access. A short garden wall or a ground-level brick facade is simple to reach, while a three-story chimney or a steeply sloped lot might require scaffolding or lift equipment. Additional safety and setup time adds to the project price. The second major factor is preparation. If your masonry is relatively sound and only needs cleaning and sealing, your cost per square foot will be lower. If there are widespread cracks, failing mortar joints, or previous coatings that must be carefully removed, the time and material for repair work can exceed the cost of the coating itself.
Product choice also matters. High quality penetrating sealers and professional-grade coatings that we trust in Raleigh’s climate cost more than consumer products from a big-box store, but they last longer and perform better under wind-driven rain and UV exposure. For some projects, especially commercial buildings or high-value historic homes, we may recommend premium systems that include multiple coats or specialized primers. We always explain the options, expected lifespan, and maintenance needs so you can make an informed decision, not just react to the lowest initial price.
Finally, project size plays a role. Smaller jobs like a single chimney have certain fixed costs for setup and cleanup that are similar to larger jobs, which is why the price per square foot may be higher. Larger continuous surfaces, such as full house facades or extended retaining walls, often benefit from economies of scale once we are mobilized on site.
Why Raleigh Homeowners Choose Legendary Masonry Raleigh
Waterproofing is one of those services where shortcuts are tempting and hard for a homeowner to spot from the ground. Legendary Masonry Raleigh takes the opposite approach. We document the existing conditions with photos, explain which areas will be treated and why, and walk you through the products we are using by name, not just generic descriptions. If you ever need to look up a product’s data sheet or warranty, you will be able to.
Our crews work only with masonry, so they understand how brick, block, stone, and mortar behave in this part of North Carolina’s climate. We pay close attention to details that many general contractors overlook, such as sealing the tops of exposed brick walls, specialty joints around window and door openings in brick veneer, and transitions where different materials meet. These are often the first places to leak during a Raleigh thunderstorm.
We also respect that appearance matters. Our aim is to preserve or improve how your masonry looks, not leave visible drips, runs, or shiny patches. On colored or painted systems, we create test patches so you can see how the finish will appear in actual daylight on your building before committing to a full application. When the work is complete, we review care instructions with you, including how often reapplication is recommended for your specific system and exposure so the protection you pay for keeps working year after year.
