Masonry Contractor in Richmond, CA - Older Brick Repaired and New Walls Built
Stonework Richmond Concrete and Masonry is a masonry contractor in Richmond, CA. We repoint and repair old brick, fix chimneys and build retaining walls, walkways, paver driveways and outdoor kitchens for homes across the city.
- Fully licensed and insured.
- Free quotes on site.
- We reply within 1 business day.
Richmond homes we work on, old and new
I started this business in Richmond in 2013, after my carpenter days, and the city keeps us busy with every kind of masonry job. Richmond has older houses with their original brick chimneys, steps and foundations, newer homes with block walls and paver driveways, and plenty of yards that slope enough to need a wall before they're much use. It looks a lot like what we see next door in Berkeley, with old work and new work often on the same block.
On the older houses, the job usually starts with figuring out what the original brick and mortar are, so a repair blends in and wears the same way. On sloped lots it starts with the slope itself, meaning how much ground a wall has to hold and how we'll get material up to it.
Masonry services for Richmond homes and yards
Foundation repair
When an older Richmond house shows cracks in its brick or block foundation, we find out what's moving first, then repair only what needs it.
Chimney repair
Chimneys on older Richmond homes usually lose mortar at the top first. We rebuild the cracked concrete cap and loose brick there so rain stops getting in.
Tuckpointing
When the mortar between your bricks has gone sandy or sunk back, tuckpointing replaces it with fresh mortar shaped to match the original lines of the house.
Brick repair
Bricks with cracked or flaking faces turn up on older steps and porch walls here. We replace just the bad ones and match the old color.
Driveway pavers
Pavers suit Richmond driveways where you might need to get underneath later, because we can lift and relay a patch instead of breaking out a slab.
Retaining wall construction
Sloped Richmond yards often need a wall to gain flat space. We build drainage in behind it, since trapped water is what usually tips walls over.
Masonry restoration
For older brick and stone that's been patched over the years, we take out the bad repairs and redo them with materials that suit the original work.
Fireplace installation
When you want a masonry fireplace in a remodel or addition, we build the firebox and surround in brick or stone that suits the house's age and style.
Stone veneer installation
Thin stone facing, or veneer, can dress up a plain foundation, block wall or entry on newer homes. We set it over the right backing so it holds.
Concrete block walls
Block makes sturdy property-line walls on Richmond lots. We set steel in the hollow cores and fill them with grout so the wall works as one piece.
Foundation block wall installation
When an addition, garage or crawlspace needs a new foundation wall, we lay and reinforce the block to the plans and keep it square for the framers.
Outdoor kitchen masonry
Plenty of Richmond yards have room for a grill island. We build the block base and finish it in brick, stone or veneer to match the house.
Walkway construction
Front walks on older homes here are often cracked or lifted by tree roots. We rebuild them in brick, stone or pavers over a packed base that drains.
Brick wall installation
A new brick garden wall can look like it belongs to an older Richmond house when we match the brick, mortar color and joint shape already there.
Stone masonry
Natural stone works for steps and low walls on sloped lots because each piece gets fitted to the ground. We lay it in mortar or stack it dry.
Brick pointing
When only a few patches of mortar joints are worn, repointing just those is often all an old brick wall needs, and I'll tell you so before suggesting more.
Get a free written estimate for your Richmond masonry job
Send the form and we'll get back to you within one business day to set up a visit. I'll come look at the job with you, then send a written estimate that's free, with no obligation.
(510) 369-4799- Based in
- Richmond, CA 94804
- Hours
- Mon–Fri: 8 AM–10 PM, Sat–Sun: 7 AM–9 PM
Permits, licenses and pricing for masonry work in Richmond
In Richmond, the city's Building Division issues building permits, and the city wants one before anyone builds, alters, repairs or tears down a building or structure, apart from the work on its exempt list, so on a lot of jobs the permit sets the start date. When a contractor registers for a permit, the city asks for a Contractor's State License Card, a workers' comp insurance certificate and a current City of Richmond Business License, so those are fair things to ask anyone you're thinking of hiring to show you. We're fully licensed and insured.
When a job needs a permit, we pull it as the licensed contractor and set up the inspections, and when I'm not sure what the city wants, I ask before we start instead of guessing. We work the same way in El Cerrito and San Pablo. Your price moves with the size of the job, how much old mortar or brick has to come out, the material you pick and how hard it is to get it to the spot, and the schedule turns on whether there's a permit and how long any matching brick or stone takes to arrive. Your written estimate puts your own number on it.
Why older Richmond houses need masonry work
A lot of the older houses here still have their original brick, and mortar wears out long before good brick does. Once the joints go soft, water gets into the wall and starts on the brick itself, so the right time to repoint is before that happens. The problem I run into most is an old patch done in hard modern mortar, which is stiffer than the soft old brick and cracks it as the wall moves, so we cut those patches out and redo them in a mortar that suits the brick.
Chimneys get the least attention of anything on a house, because nobody looks up there until a brick lands in the yard or a stain shows up on the ceiling by the fireplace. When I'm up there, I'll tell you whether it needs a repoint, a rebuild at the top or nothing yet.
How a masonry job runs when you call us in Richmond
From your first call to the last sweep of the driveway, here's how a job goes with us and where the city's permit fits in.
Call us or send the form
Tell us what you're seeing, whether it's a crumbling joint, a leaning wall or a project you're planning. We'll set up a visit at a time that works for you.
Walk the job with me
I come out and look it over with you, since most of what decides the right repair only shows up in person. You get a written estimate that says what we'd do and what we'd leave alone, so you know what the price covers before you decide.
We handle the permit
If the job needs a permit, we apply for it and set up the inspections, and the city says most single-trade permits and residential remodels that need no drawings are issued once it receives and checks the application documents. Anything bigger depends on its scope, and we keep you posted on where it stands.
Our crew builds and cleans up
I'm on site with our own crew from the first day until the work is done and cleaned up. You don't need to be home while we work, as long as we can get to the job.
Questions about masonry work in Richmond
How do I know if my masonry project in Richmond needs a building permit?
Start with the city's list of work exempt from permits, because the city says a permit is likely required for any project that isn't on it. When I walk your job, I check it against that list, and if it still isn't clear, we ask the city before we start.
Does a brick or block fence need a permit in Richmond?
Yes, the city requires a Planning Division permit for any fence, even though fences no taller than 7 feet are on its list of work exempt from a building permit. If your new wall works as a fence, along a property line for instance, plan on that planning permit, and we'll sort out which permits apply before we lay any block.
Who can pull a building permit in Richmond, me or my contractor?
Either you or a licensed contractor can, since the city issues permits only to property owners, their authorized agents and licensed contractors. The city's permit page spells this out. On our jobs, we pull the permit as the licensed contractor and set up the inspections.
How much does masonry work cost in Richmond?
It comes down to the size of the job, how much old material has to come out, the brick or stone you choose and how easy the spot is to reach. Repointing only the worn joints instead of the whole wall keeps the price down, while matching old brick, building drainage behind a retaining wall or choosing natural stone over block push it up. I put your number in the written estimate after I've seen the job.
Does an outdoor kitchen need a permit in Richmond?
Most likely, yes, once it has a sink, a gas line or outlets. The city's exempt list says separate plumbing, electrical and mechanical permits are still required unless the work is otherwise exempted, and it asks owners to check finish work like counters with its Permit Center when that work is in a kitchen. We make that call before we build.
How do I apply for a building permit in Richmond?
You apply online, because the city takes permit applications electronically and only takes them in person, by appointment, from people who can't submit online. When we're your contractor, we handle the application and the paperwork the city asks contractors for, so you don't have to.
Richmond, CA
Tell us about your Richmond masonry project
Brick caught while only the mortar is going is usually a repointing job instead of a rebuild, so it's worth having me look before it gets worse.