Masonry · Gloucester, MA
Masonry contractor in Gloucester, MA, serving the North Shore since 2005
George Hardscaping is a masonry contractor based at 74 Essex Ave in Gloucester. We build brick, stone and concrete block work on Cape Ann and along the North Shore, from new construction to repairing and restoring stonework that is already in place.
4.9 on Google from 36 reviews
Based on Cape Ann
Masonry on Cape Ann ground
We have served the North Shore since 2005, and our address is 74 Essex Ave in Gloucester. Google lists George Hardscaping under "Masonry contractor" and shows a 4.9 average from 36 ratings.
Cape Ann is a hard place to build on. The City of Gloucester's geology page describes bedrock of granite, with glacial boulders still scattered across the land. Sloping hills are also one of the main challenges in this area, which is why stairs and retaining walls come up so often on Gloucester properties.
For everything we build, see Hardscaping & Masonry. For the how-to detail on a single project type, use the service pages below, or request an estimate for your address.
- Brick, stone and concrete block masonry
- New construction, repair and restoration
- Steps and stairs for sloped yards
- Patios, walkways, fire pits and retaining walls
- Serving the North Shore since 2005
Recent Gloucester Work
Two Gloucester jobs, both about getting people across a slope
Curved stairs with curved walls. A Gloucester homeowner already had a curved staircase. We improved the design by adding matching curved stone retaining walls along the sides, so the walls echo the curve of the stairs.
Steps down to the beach. A waterfront client in Gloucester had a particularly challenging slope to their beach, a difficult scramble every time. We turned it into an inviting descent with granite steps.
Meghan L. wrote about her fireplace and tile job: "George and his team are amazing!! Truly a pleasure to work with. They are so talented and really helped fix issues even outside of what we had originally planned. He and his team made our fireplace a show stopper! The tile work that was done is immaculate. Thank you George!"
Other Gloucester jobs have their own pages. Read about the 8-foot block wall on a 35-degree slope, the first travertine pool deck we laid in Gloucester, and the custom fire pit built for Joe F.
74 Essex Ave, Gloucester, MA 01930Gloucester Conditions
What Gloucester ground asks of a masonry job
Gloucester sites come with their own rules. If any of these describe your yard, say so when you call.
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01
Ledge and boulders
Gloucester sits on granite bedrock with glacial boulders left behind. Rock near the surface can change how a wall, step or footing is set, so tell any installer where you know ledge shows.
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02
Slopes
A steep bank can be handled with stairs to walk it or a wall to hold it. Our steps and brick stairs and retaining walls pages explain each.
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03
Marsh, shoreline and streams
Land near a wetland can fall under the Conservation Commission, even if the work is on your own lot. The next section covers how Gloucester handles it.
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04
Repair or rebuild
A leaning wall or a worn set of steps is not always a rebuild. Our experience ranges from new construction to repairing and restoring existing structures, and the repair guides below show what repair work involves.
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05
Permits and digging
Taller retaining walls can need a building permit; the retaining walls page covers the code. Call 811 before any digging. The services hub explains the notice rule.
Materials
Brick, stone or concrete block for a Gloucester yard
Brick, stone and concrete block are all laid in a pattern and held with mortar. The choice comes down to the look you want and where it goes.
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Brick
Good for walks, patios and stairs where you want a pattern. A soldier border gives a herringbone walk a clean edge at the lawn or bed.
Steps & brick stairs -
Stone
Granite is the bedrock under Gloucester, so stone ties a wall, step or edge to the land.
Retaining walls -
Concrete
Concrete work for walls, driveways and sidewalks. It suits a plainer look.
Walkways & stairs
Wetlands Rules
Near a marsh or the shore? Start with the Conservation Commission
Gloucester has its own wetlands ordinance. Chapter 12, Article II says no person shall "remove, fill, dredge, alter or build upon or within any resource areas or the buffer zone" except as the Conservation Commission permits. The buffer zone is generally 100 feet from most resource areas, and where the ordinance and state law differ, the more protective measure applies.
State law works the same way. The Wetlands Protection Act requires notice and an order of conditions before work on a bank, marsh, beach or other listed area. A patio, wall or set of steps inside a buffer zone can trigger a filing.
Gloucester's Conservation Division has a conservation agent who can tell you whether a filing applies. If your lot is near water or marsh, ask before you pick a design, and mention it when you request an estimate.
74 Essex Ave, Gloucester, MA 01930From the Blog
Repair and slope guides
- StepsRepairing stone steps
- Retaining WallsRepairing a stone retaining wall
- SlopesInstalling a retaining wall on a slope
Questions
Gloucester masonry questions
Does masonry near a marsh or the shore in Gloucester need conservation approval?
It can. Gloucester's wetlands ordinance bars anyone from removing, filling, altering or building on a resource area or its buffer zone unless the Conservation Commission permits it, and the buffer is generally 100 feet. Ask the city's Conservation Division before you settle on a design.
Does Cape Ann's granite bedrock affect a wall, step or patio?
It can. The City of Gloucester's geology page describes granite bedrock with glacial boulders left behind, and rock near the surface can change how a footing or wall is set. Point out any ledge or boulders you know about when you request an estimate.
Can George Hardscaping repair an old stone wall or worn steps?
Yes. Our experience ranges from new construction to repairing and restoring existing structures. The repair guides on this page show what a wall or step repair involves, and an estimate covers your own case.
What masonry have you built on Gloucester slopes?
We have built a curved staircase with matching curved stone retaining walls for one Gloucester homeowner, and granite steps down a steep slope to the beach for a waterfront client. A third Gloucester job was an 8-foot block wall on a 35-degree slope, described on our retaining walls page.
How long has George Hardscaping worked in Gloucester?
We have served the North Shore since 2005, from our address at 74 Essex Ave, Gloucester, MA 01930. You can reach us at (781) 222-0805.
What should I tell you when I ask for a Gloucester masonry estimate?
Tell us where the work goes and what the ground is like. Mention any ledge or boulders, how steep the slope is, whether the lot is near water or marsh, and whether you want something new built or an existing wall or steps repaired.
Request a Gloucester Estimate