Foundation repair
Expert repair of cracked, settling, or damaged foundations to protect your home's structural integrity.
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SKA Spokane Masonry is a masonry contractor serving Pullman, WA, with chimney repair, foundation work, and retaining wall construction on homes across Pullman - from older properties near the WSU campus to newer neighborhoods on the south side of town.
We have been serving the Palouse region since 2024, providing written estimates and permitted structural work built for 40-plus inches of annual snowfall.

Pullman averages 40 to 50 inches of snow per year, and that sustained moisture sits on chimney caps and exposed brick for weeks at a time - then the hard freeze begins. Many homes near the WSU campus were built in the 1940s through 1960s and have chimneys that have never been professionally inspected. Our chimney repair work covers mortar replacement, cap and crown repair, and liner inspection for the kinds of problems that Palouse winters create over decades.
Pullman is built on the Palouse hills, and many residential lots sit on sloped terrain where water drains unevenly around foundations. When snowmelt in late winter saturates the soil, hydrostatic pressure against basement walls increases, and older homes on the north and campus-adjacent sides of town are most at risk. Sticking doors, sloping floors, or cracks wider than a pencil near windows are signs worth having a contractor look at before another winter.
Hilly Pullman lots frequently need retaining walls to create usable yard space or route drainage away from foundations. Palouse soils are silty and can erode under snowmelt runoff, undermining wall footings that were not built with drainage behind them. We build retaining walls with footings below frost depth - at 2,500 feet elevation, that matters more here than in lower-elevation towns.
Pullman driveways take a pounding from 40-plus inches of annual snowfall, repeated freeze-thaw cycles, and the steep grades common on Palouse lots. Concrete driveways on older properties near campus and in the established in-town neighborhoods show heavy cracking from decades of this stress. Paver installation provides a more resilient surface that can handle frost movement without cracking as a single rigid slab.
Brick exteriors and chimney stacks on Pullman's older homes - particularly those built in the 1920s through 1950s near the WSU campus - have mortar joints that have been through generations of Palouse winters. Repointing deteriorated mortar before the next snow season stops water from working deeper into the masonry and is one of the most cost-effective repairs available on a home this age.
Pullman sits at about 2,500 feet elevation in the Palouse hills - one of the higher elevations for an eastern Washington city - and that altitude means winters are consistently colder and snowier than most of the region. The city averages 40 to 50 inches of snowfall per year, and that snow sits on chimneys, exposed brickwork, and concrete surfaces for weeks before melting. When snowmelt soaks into any open mortar joint or concrete crack and then refreezes overnight, it expands the gap a little more. This cycle repeats dozens of times over a Pullman winter, and by the time a homeowner notices visible damage, the underlying deterioration is usually several seasons old.
The Palouse terrain adds a second layer of complexity. Pullman is built across ridges and valleys, and many residential lots are sloped enough that drainage and grading affect masonry performance over time. Water from snowmelt does not always go where it should - it collects against foundations, undermines retaining wall footings, and saturates soil that then shifts as it dries in summer. Older homes near the WSU campus were often built with minimal foundation depth by today's standards, and those properties are most at risk from cumulative freeze-thaw stress. The City of Pullman Building Division handles residential permit applications for structural masonry work.
Our crew works on properties throughout the Pullman area and has seen the full range of housing stock the city contains - the older wood-frame homes on streets close to the WSU campus that have been through decades of Palouse winters, the mid-century properties in the established in-town neighborhoods, and the newer owner-occupied houses in the subdivisions that have grown up on the south and west sides of town. We pull permits through the City of Pullman Building Division for structural work and schedule jobs around the city's snow season, prioritizing late spring and late summer when exterior masonry cures properly.
Pullman is a city of about 34,000 people - small enough that most residents know the main landmarks but large enough to have a real range of property types and ages. Washington State University sits in the middle of the city, and the neighborhoods closest to campus have the oldest and often the most maintenance-deferred housing. We also regularly serve homeowners in Moscow, ID, which is just 8 miles away and faces identical climate and soil conditions.
The Palouse is one of the most distinctive landscapes in the Pacific Northwest - rolling wheat fields and dramatic hills that make every property a little different depending on which ridge or valley it sits on. We account for that terrain variability when planning masonry work, particularly for retaining walls and drainage-sensitive foundation repairs.
Reach out by phone or through our contact form. We respond within 1 business day and schedule an on-site visit at a time that works for you. You do not need to know what is wrong before you call - describe what you have noticed and we take it from there.
We visit your Pullman property, inspect the masonry in person, and evaluate the slope and drainage conditions around it. You get a written estimate and a plain-language explanation of what we found before we leave - no cost, no obligation.
For work requiring a permit from the City of Pullman Building Division - structural foundation repair, chimney rebuilds, or retaining walls - we handle the application. Permitting typically adds one to two weeks to the start date, and we account for that upfront so there are no surprises on your timeline.
We time exterior masonry work around Pullman's moderate seasonal windows - late spring and late summer are ideal before the heavy snow season arrives. When the job is done, we walk you through the finished work and leave the site clean.
We serve Pullman and the Palouse region. Written estimates, licensed and insured, no obligation.
(509) 418-9962Pullman is a city of about 34,000 people in Whitman County, tucked into the Palouse hills right on the Idaho border. Washington State University sits at the heart of the city, enrolling around 20,000 students and shaping the character of every neighborhood within walking distance of campus. Homes near the university tend to be older - many built in the 1920s through 1960s - and a large share have been converted to rentals over the decades. The south and west sides of Pullman, by contrast, have seen residential growth since the 1980s and contain the city's most consistent stock of owner-occupied single-family homes. Pullman sits in the heart of the Palouse, a region known across the Pacific Northwest for its dramatic rolling wheat fields.
The terrain in Pullman is unusually varied for a city its size - streets and lots follow the contours of the Palouse ridges and valleys, which means properties on different sides of the city face very different drainage, grading, and foundation conditions. Cougar football games at Martin Stadium draw tens of thousands of fans each fall and are the biggest recurring event in the city calendar. We serve homeowners throughout Pullman and in the nearby communities of Moscow, ID and Spokane.
Expert repair of cracked, settling, or damaged foundations to protect your home's structural integrity.
Learn moreProfessional chimney inspection and repair to keep your flue safe, sealed, and weatherproof.
Learn morePrecision removal and replacement of deteriorating mortar joints to restore masonry strength.
Learn moreReplacement of spalled, cracked, or missing bricks to restore appearance and durability.
Learn moreCustom paver driveways designed for lasting curb appeal and low-maintenance performance.
Learn moreSolid retaining walls built to hold back soil, prevent erosion, and define your landscape.
Learn moreFull restoration of weathered or damaged masonry surfaces back to their original condition.
Learn moreNew masonry fireplace builds and surround installations crafted for safety and style.
Learn moreNatural and manufactured stone veneer applied to interior and exterior surfaces for a premium look.
Learn moreDurable concrete block wall construction for fences, enclosures, and structural applications.
Learn morePrecision block wall foundation installation designed for long-term load-bearing performance.
Learn moreCustom masonry outdoor kitchens and entertainment areas built to withstand the elements.
Learn moreAttractive and durable stone or brick walkways designed to complement your landscaping.
Learn moreStructural and decorative brick wall installation for residential and commercial properties.
Learn moreSkilled natural stone masonry for walls, pillars, accents, and full structural builds.
Learn moreCareful repointing of brick joints to stop water infiltration and extend masonry lifespan.
Learn moreCall us today or submit a free estimate request - we respond within 1 business day and serve Pullman and the surrounding Palouse region.