Masonry Contractor in Alameda, CA - Right-Sized Repairs for Older Homes
Stonework Richmond Concrete and Masonry repoints old brick, fixes chimneys and foundations, and builds walls, walkways and outdoor kitchens for homeowners in Alameda, CA. I walk every job myself, and our own crew does the work.
- Fully licensed and insured.
- Free quotes on site.
- We reply within 1 business day.
Alameda homes as we see them on the job
Most of what we're called to in Alameda is an older house on a small, flat lot. It's usually wood framed, sitting on a brick or early concrete foundation, with a brick chimney up top and brick or stone steps out front. I spent years framing houses before I ever picked up a trowel, so I still look at the framing first, because some of what shows up as cracked brick started with how the house moved above it. The work here runs a lot like what we do in Oakland and Berkeley, where many houses are of a similar age.
Lots sit close together, so side yards are narrow and the neighbor's fence is often a few feet from the wall we're working on. We carry material in by hand and haul debris out in small loads, and that tight access shapes how we stage every job here.
Masonry services we bring to Alameda homes
Foundation repair
Older Alameda houses often sit on brick or early concrete foundations, and we fix cracked, crumbling or settled sections before the trouble reaches the framing above.
Chimney repair
A chimney on an older Alameda house usually loses mortar near the top first, so we repair or rebuild only the rows of brick that are actually loose.
Tuckpointing
When the joints on an old Alameda brick wall have gone sandy, we grind out the worn mortar and pack in fresh mortar matched to the color there.
Brick repair
Flaking, cracked or loose bricks show up on steps, porches and walls of older Alameda homes, and we swap them for matched brick so the repair blends in.
Driveway pavers
On the narrow driveways common to Alameda lots, pavers lift out one at a time, so a sunken spot can be reset later without breaking up concrete.
Retaining wall construction
Alameda's lots are mostly flat, so our retaining walls are usually low ones that hold a raised bed, a sunken patio or the soil at a property line.
Masonry restoration
For a historic Alameda house, restoration means repairing the original brick and stone and matching its mortar, not covering it up or replacing more than it needs.
Fireplace installation
When you want a working fireplace or a new masonry surround in an older Alameda living room, we build it to suit the house and its chimney.
Stone veneer installation
A thin layer of stone over a block wall, porch base or fireplace gives the look of solid stone with far less weight on an older house.
Concrete block walls
Block walls make sturdy, low-upkeep property-line and garden walls on Alameda's closely spaced lots, and we can finish them with stucco, stone or a plain cap.
Foundation block wall installation
When an old Alameda foundation is past repair, we build a new block foundation wall under the house in sections, so the framing stays supported the whole time.
Outdoor kitchen masonry
Alameda backyards are usually compact, so we plan an outdoor kitchen's brick or stone base around the space you have, with room to cook and sit.
Walkway construction
A brick or stone walk to an older Alameda porch should look like it belongs, so we match the house and set it on a firm base.
Brick wall installation
A new brick wall in front of an older Alameda house looks right when the brick, the way it's laid and the mortar color fit the street.
Stone masonry
We build and repair stone steps, garden walls and planters for Alameda yards, laying each stone so the joints shed water instead of holding it.
Brick pointing
Old brick on Alameda houses is softer than modern brick, so when we repoint it we use a mortar that gives first, which protects the bricks themselves.
Get a free written estimate for masonry work in Alameda
Send the form and we'll get back to you within one business day to set up a visit. I'll look the job over with you and write up an estimate, free, with no pressure and no obligation.
(510) 369-4799- Based in
- Richmond, CA 94804
- Hours
- Mon–Fri: 8 AM–10 PM, Sat–Sun: 7 AM–9 PM
Working in Alameda: the permit, the licenses and the price
In Alameda, the permit is the city's call. The city asks for a permit before anyone builds, alters, repairs or tears down a building, and you or a contractor acting for you apply through the City of Alameda Permit Center, so a chimney or foundation repair waits on that paperwork and the city's inspections, not just on our crew's calendar. Before you hire anyone, check that they hold a California contractor license and a current City of Alameda business license, which the city requires of every contractor working here. We pull the permit as the licensed contractor and set up the inspections, and if I'm not sure what the city wants for a particular job, we ask the city before we start instead of guessing.
What moves the price here is mostly the condition of what's already standing, and what moves the schedule is mostly the city's review, so I'll put your own figure in a written estimate once I've seen the job. We come down from Richmond for Alameda work the same way we head up to Hercules, and if your city isn't one of the ones on our site, just ask.
What Alameda's older houses and flat yards need
More than 4,000 buildings in Alameda are on its historic building study list, which tells you how much old brick is still standing here. On houses that age we usually find original chimneys, brick foundations and front steps that have had a few rounds of patching over the years, some of it with the wrong materials. We take out the bad patches, keep as much of the original brick as we can and repair only what's failing, and if a wall is sound, I'll tell you so.
The other calls we get here are for new work, a walkway, a garden wall or an outdoor kitchen on a flat, compact lot. Flat ground doesn't move water off on its own, so we set the base and the slope so rain drains away from the house and the new work.
How a masonry job runs when you call us in Alameda
Here's how a job goes once you get in touch, from the first call to the cleanup, and where the city's permit fits in.
Call us or send the form
Tell us what you're seeing or what you'd like built, and we get back to you to set a time for me to come out. It helps if you're home for the visit so we can walk the job together.
Walk the job with me
I look the job over with you, show you what needs work now and what can wait, and then send you a written estimate. It lays out the work and the price, so you know what you're paying for before anything starts.
We handle the permit
If the job needs a permit, we apply as the licensed contractor and set up the city's inspections. The start date then waits on the city's review of the application.
Build and clean up
Our own crew does the work with me on site, and on a permitted job the city allows construction from 7 AM to 7 PM on weekdays and 8 AM to 5 PM on Saturdays. We stay until the work is done and the site is cleaned up.
Questions about masonry work in Alameda
Does a new fence or garden wall need a permit in Alameda?
A fence no taller than 7 feet is on the city's published list of work that doesn't need a permit, along with one-story detached sheds up to 120 square feet. That list still cites an older edition of the state's residential code, and the city has since adopted a newer building code with its own local changes. So for a masonry garden wall, we confirm with the city before we start instead of guessing.
Does changing the outside of my house need design review in Alameda?
Yes, the city says work that changes a building's exterior, windows included, needs both a building permit and a Planning Design Review approval. For masonry, that can mean adding stone veneer to the front of the house or changing how a chimney or porch looks. When your job changes what the house looks like from outside, we plan for that review in the schedule.
How do I know if my masonry contractor needs a California license?
The California Contractors State License Board requires a license when the project needs a building permit, uses any additional workers, or when the contracts on the project add up to $1,000 or more, labor and materials together. That takes in most masonry work on a house, so ask any contractor for their license before you sign. We're fully licensed and insured.
How much does masonry work cost in Alameda?
Masonry here is priced job by job after I've seen it, so I won't guess at a number over the phone. The biggest factors are how much hidden damage turns up once old mortar or brick comes out, whether old brick has to be matched, how tight the lot is for getting material in and out, and whether the job needs a permit or design review. Your written estimate spells out the work and the price for your house.
What causes mortar to crumble on an old brick house in Alameda?
Mortar crumbles mainly because it's meant to be the weak part of the wall, so decades of water and weather wear the joints down before they wear the bricks. It gets worse once the joints open far enough to let water into the wall, and worse again where an earlier repair used hard cement mortar that won't give with the old brick. We grind out only the worn joints and repoint them with the softer mix old brick needs.
What does being in a flood zone mean for my Alameda house?
FEMA has identified over 1,000 Alameda properties in Special Flood Hazard Areas, the 100-year floodplains, and the city's Permit Center says owners there may be required to carry flood insurance and take steps to reduce flood risk. If your house is one of them, tell me when I come out. It's worth knowing before we plan work on a foundation, a low wall or the drainage around the house.
Richmond, CA
Ask about your Alameda masonry project
Call (510) 369-4799 or send the form and tell me what you're looking at, and I'll tell you honestly whether it needs work now or can wait.