Masonry Contractor in Emeryville, CA - Brick and Stone Work That Holds Up
Stonework Richmond Concrete and Masonry is a masonry contractor working in Emeryville, CA. We repoint old brick, fix chimneys and build walls, walkways and outdoor kitchens for Emeryville houses and yards, with the owner on site.
- Fully licensed and insured.
- Free quotes on site.
- We reply within 1 business day.
Emeryville houses, lots and streets we work on
Emeryville is a small city packed between Oakland and Berkeley along the bay, and on our masonry jobs there it can feel like two places on one map. There are blocks of older houses and cottages with brick chimneys, front steps and low garden walls, and newer apartments, lofts and shops all around them. Most of our calls come from the older houses, where the brick has been doing its job for a long time and the mortar is starting to show it.
Lots here run small and close together, so a side yard is often the only way in for a wheelbarrow, and we plan deliveries and where the brick sits before any work starts. The ground near the bay is mostly flat, which makes walkways and patios easy to lay out but means rainwater has to be sent somewhere on purpose.
Masonry services for Emeryville homes and yards
Foundation repair
When an older Emeryville house shows cracked foundation walls or doors that start sticking, we look at the cause first and repair what's actually failing.
Chimney repair
Old brick chimneys here usually lose mortar near the top first, so we check the concrete cap and the flashing and fix them before bricks start to loosen.
Tuckpointing
For older brick fronts here where looks matter, we fill worn joints with mortar matched to the brick and run a contrasting line so the joints read crisp.
Brick repair
A few crumbling bricks on an older Emeryville step, wall or chimney don't mean a rebuild, so we cut out the bad ones and set matching brick.
Driveway pavers
Short driveways on tight Emeryville lots get a lot of tire twisting, so we dig out, pack a firm base and lock the pavers in with edging that holds.
Retaining wall construction
Where a yard steps down or a neighbor's ground sits higher, we build retaining walls with drainage behind them, because trapped water is what usually pushes walls over.
Masonry restoration
For older brick and stone that's been patched over the years, we sort out what needs fixing from what just needs cleaning, and bring the face back together.
Fireplace installation
When you want a masonry fireplace in an Emeryville remodel or backyard, we build the firebox, hearth and surround, and plan the chimney with it from the start.
Stone veneer installation
Thin stone facing dresses up stucco fronts, steps and garden walls on Emeryville houses, and we flash and drain behind it so water doesn't sit trapped.
Concrete block walls
On narrow lots where you want privacy along the property line, we build block walls with steel and grout inside, set on a footing sized for the wall.
Foundation block wall installation
When an older Emeryville house or addition needs a new foundation wall, we lay reinforced block on a proper footing so the house sits on something solid.
Outdoor kitchen masonry
Small Emeryville yards can still fit a grill counter, so we lay out a compact block or brick base that leaves room to walk and open the grill.
Walkway construction
From the sidewalk to the door or along a narrow side yard, we build brick, stone or paver walks on a packed base so they stay flat.
Brick wall installation
A new brick garden or front wall can match the older brick on your street, and we choose brick and mortar color with you before laying.
Stone masonry
For steps, wall caps and garden walls in natural stone, we fit each piece by hand, which suits the older houses here better than a uniform manufactured look.
Brick pointing
When mortar joints on Emeryville walls or chimneys turn sandy, we rake them out and repoint with mortar softer than the brick, so the joints wear, not the brick.
Get a free written estimate for your Emeryville masonry job
Send the form and we'll get back to you within one business day to set up a visit. I'll come out, look the job over with you and send a written estimate, free and with no obligation.
(510) 369-4799- Based in
- Richmond, CA 94804
- Hours
- Mon–Fri: 8 AM–10 PM, Sat–Sun: 7 AM–9 PM
What working in Emeryville means for permits and price
Building permits in Emeryville come from the city's Permit Counter, and the city says most construction and repair work needs one, so on a permit job the start date waits on the city, not just on us. When a job needs one, we pull it as the licensed contractor and set up the inspections. Before you hire anyone, ask for two things: a California contractor's license from the state licensing board, and an Emeryville business license, which the city requires of any business working here. We're fully licensed and insured.
We're a masonry contractor in Richmond, CA, and Emeryville is a short drive down I-80, so getting the crew there is easy and the real work is parking a truck and staging brick on narrow streets. On the local side, your price moves most with how far we carry materials from the curb, how much old mortar or brick has to come out, and how hard the old brick is to match, and I'll spell all of that out in your estimate.
Earthquakes, rain and old mortar on Emeryville houses
The city says Emeryville sits close to the Hayward Fault and that projects here will be significantly affected by earthquakes, and old masonry is usually what suffers first, especially chimneys and loose brick up high. When we work on a chimney or wall here, we check how it's tied to the house and how sound the mortar is, and on new walls we set steel and a proper footing so the wall moves as one piece.
Winter rain does the slower damage, getting behind garden walls, steps and veneer that weren't built to drain. That's why I look at where the water goes before I talk about new brick, because plenty of walls here only need their drainage put right.
What to expect when you hire us for masonry in Emeryville
Here's how a job runs from your first call to the cleanup, and who you'll be dealing with along the way.
Call or send the form
Tell us what you're seeing at your Emeryville house, by phone at (510) 369-4799 or through the form, and we'll set a time for me to come out. Photos help, but you don't need them to get started.
Walk the job with me
I come out myself and look the job over with you, so you hear what needs doing now and what can wait. You get a written estimate that lays out the work and the price, and nothing is owed for it.
Permit first, then the work
If the job needs a permit, we take care of it, and the start waits on the city's review of the application and its fee invoice, with city inspections set up as the work goes. Our own crew does the work with me on site running it, so you don't need to be home every day.
Clean up and walk through
When the work's done, the crew cleans up and I walk it with you so you can see every joint and stone we touched. Your satisfaction, guaranteed.
Questions about masonry work in Emeryville
Does my masonry repair in Emeryville need a building permit?
Often it does, because the city says building permits are required for most construction and repair work. That word "most" means the city is the place to ask about your specific job, and when we take one on and aren't sure, we ask the city before we start instead of guessing.
Does a masonry contractor in Emeryville need a California license?
Yes, if the job needs a building permit, uses any workers beyond the contractor, or costs $1,000 or more in labor and materials across all its contracts. That small-job cutoff used to be $500 and is now $1,000, so older advice you find may be out of date. Below it, with no permit and no employees, someone can do the work without a license but can't advertise as a licensed contractor.
How do I apply and pay for a building permit in Emeryville?
You apply at the city's permit counter in person during its counter hours, or by emailing the building permit application form as a PDF. Once the city has a completed application, it sends an invoice for the plan review or permit fees along with instructions for paying it. When we're your contractor, that part is ours to handle.
How much does masonry work cost in Emeryville?
Your cost comes down mostly to how much work the wall or chimney really needs, and the cheapest job is often a repair instead of a rebuild. Natural stone usually runs more than veneer or block, hunting down brick to match an old house takes time, and a permit, a new footing or drainage behind a wall all add to it. I'll put your number in writing after I've seen the job.
What causes mortar to crumble on older brick houses in Emeryville?
Mostly water and time, because rain soaks into the joints year after year until the old, soft mortar washes out and turns sandy. Patches done with mortar harder than the brick make it worse, since the brick then takes the wear and starts losing its face. We repoint with mortar softer than the brick so the joints wear first and can be redone later.
Should I repair or rebuild an old brick chimney in Emeryville?
Repair it when the brick is sound and only the mortar and the top are worn, which is what we find on a lot of chimneys here. A rebuild of the top makes sense when bricks are loose or the chimney leans, and this close to the fault I'd rather fix a loose top than leave it. I'll tell you which one yours needs, and I'll tell you when it's fine as it is.
Richmond, CA
Tell us about your Emeryville masonry job
Mention any permit questions when you call or write, so we can check with the city before the visit and your estimate covers the whole job.