Masonry Contractors in Middletown, KY

Middletown was established in 1797, and the common belief is that its name reflects its place between Louisville and Shelbyville. As a prime stagecoach stop it had two busy inns, and its oldest buildings line Main Street and Old Shelbyville Road. Homeowners who call masonry contractors in Middletown today live in a city of 9,706 people at the 2020 census, up from 5,744 in 2000, with housing units rising from 3,547 in 2010 to 4,772 in 2020. We repair brick and stone, rebuild chimneys, build retaining walls and garden walls and rebuild steps and porches.

A local historic district with its own review

The City of Middletown has a Historic Preservation Commission made up of appointed residents. Its Historic District mainly covers the area along Main Street and Old Shelbyville Road plus some nearby streets, and properties in the district need a Certificate of Appropriateness for qualifying work. The city suggests checking your address on LOJIC to see whether you are inside the district, and notes that owners may qualify for rehabilitation tax credits through the Kentucky Heritage Council.

If your house is in the district, we write up the masonry scope, materials and mortar so it can go to review, and we plan the work to match the original as closely as we can.

Old stone and brick need soft mortar

Buildings from Middletown's stagecoach era used soft brick, local limestone and lime mortar. Repointing those walls with a hard modern mix is one of the most common mistakes we see. The mortar should always be the weaker part of the wall, so it can be replaced every few decades without damaging the brick or stone. We rake joints by hand, mix to match and tool the joints the way they were done originally.

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Newer homes, common fixes

Much of Middletown's housing was built in the last few decades, and newer homes bring their own masonry needs. We often repair:

• Brick veneer cracks near windows, garage corners and over sagging lintels
• Chimney crowns and chase tops that let water in
• Segmental retaining walls that lean or bulge
• Front steps and stoops that have settled
• Mailbox columns and entry piers cracked by frost

Permits on top of the district

Outside the historic district, Louisville Metro still requires a building permit for retaining walls over 4 feet tall, and Metro advises owners in its smaller cities to check with the city early. Middletown is one of those cities. We sort out who needs to approve what before we start, so there are no surprises midway through a project.

Planning work on Main Street

Buildings on Main Street and Old Shelbyville Road face busy traffic, and many are businesses as well as homes. When we work there, we plan staging, sidewalk protection and work hours so the building stays open and the public walk stays safe. For storefront masonry, we pay close attention to parapets, sills and the joints above display windows, where water tends to get in first. As with any building in the district, we confirm the Certificate of Appropriateness is in place before we start.

Our Middletown services

• Brick repair and tuckpointing, historic and modern
• Natural stone repair and new stone walls
• Chimney repair and rebuilding
• Retaining walls
• Brick and block construction
• Masonry steps and porches

Call (502) 443-8557 to set up a visit in Middletown.