Masonry Contractor in Alameda, CA - Repairs That Fix the Cause
Anchorstone Oakland Concrete and Masonry is a masonry contractor working in Alameda, CA. We repair mortar joints, brick, chimneys and leaning walls on the city's older homes, and build new walls, walkways, pavers and stone work.
- Foundation repair
- Chimney repair
- Tuckpointing
- Brick repair
- Driveway pavers
- Retaining wall construction
- Masonry restoration
- Fireplace installation
- Stone veneer installation
- Concrete block walls
- Foundation block wall installation
- Outdoor kitchen masonry
- Walkway construction
- Brick wall installation
- Stone masonry
- Brick pointing
- Licensed and fully insured.
- Free estimates at your property.
- We reply within 1 business day.
Alameda homes and the masonry calls we get
We're a masonry contractor based in Oakland, CA, and Alameda is right next door, so it's some of the closest work we do. Most calls here come from owners of older houses with brick chimneys, brick or block foundations, front steps and garden walls whose mortar has gone soft.
The work looks a lot like what we see in Berkeley and San Leandro, from tired joints to loose steps to walls that have started to lean. What moves the price is how much brick and mortar has to come out and how hard the old brick is to match, and what moves the schedule is mostly whether the city's permit steps apply. The estimate puts a figure on your own job. On older houses sitting low near the bay, the reason a wall failed is usually water, so that's where we start.
What Alameda's older houses need from a mason
- Many houses here still have soft, older mortar, so we match the repair to the brick instead of patching with hard cement that cracks the brick beside it.
- More than 1,000 Alameda properties sit in federal flood hazard areas, where owners may need flood insurance, so we check how water reaches a wall before we repair it.
- Chimneys on houses this age often lose brick at the top first, because that's where they take the most weather, and a loose top lets rain into the attic.
Masonry services we offer in Alameda
Foundation repair
When a brick or block foundation under an older Alameda house has cracked or shifted, we find what moved it before we rebuild the section.
Chimney repair
When a chimney leans, leaks or sheds brick, we rebuild the damaged section from sound brick up and seal the top so rain stays out.
Tuckpointing
When joints on a brick wall or chimney have gone sandy and soft, we grind out the old mortar and pack in new mortar matched to the brick.
Brick repair
We cut out cracked, flaking or loose bricks on front steps, walls and planters and replace them with brick close to the size and color already there.
Driveway pavers
Where an old concrete driveway has cracked or settled, pavers on a well-packed base let water drain, and one sunken section can be lifted and reset later.
Retaining wall construction
Where soil is held back along a raised yard or driveway, we build retaining walls with drainage behind them, because trapped water pushes most walls over.
Masonry restoration
For older brick fronts, porches and garden walls that have worn down over decades, we repair joints, brick and stone together so the house keeps its original look.
Fireplace installation
We build new brick and stone fireplaces and rebuild worn ones in older living rooms, laying the firebox and surround so they're sound before anyone lights a fire.
Stone veneer installation
Stone veneer, a thin layer of stone, can face a plain chimney, entry or foundation, and we detail it so water drains out from behind.
Concrete block walls
Block walls work well for side-yard privacy, garden beds and garage backs, and we fill and reinforce the hollow centers so the wall stays straight and solid.
Foundation block wall installation
When an old foundation is past repair or an addition needs a new one, we lay reinforced block on a proper footing that carries the house evenly.
Outdoor kitchen masonry
We build the brick, block and stone base for outdoor kitchens, from grill surrounds to counters and seating walls, sized to your backyard and how you cook.
Walkway construction
We build brick, stone and concrete walkways from the sidewalk to the front steps on a packed base with a slight pitch, so rain runs off instead of pooling.
Brick wall installation
We lay new brick garden and front-yard walls to match an older house's brick and joint style, so the wall looks like it belongs.
Stone masonry
We set natural stone in steps, garden walls and porch bases, picking and fitting each piece so the joints stay tight and the work suits the house.
Brick pointing
When a few joints have cracked or washed out, we point them with fresh mortar, a smaller fix that can hold off a full tuckpointing job.
- Request an estimate
Get a free on-site masonry estimate in Alameda
Call (510) 216-0213 or send the form, and we'll reply within one business day to set a time. I come out to your Alameda property myself, look over the brick and the reason it's failing, and write your estimate, free and with no obligation.
(510) 216-0213Alameda masonry questions homeowners ask
How do I find out if my masonry project in Alameda needs a permit?
Building, altering or repairing a building in Alameda needs a city permit before work starts, filed with the Community Development Department by the owner or an authorized agent. The city's published exemptions include fences no more than 7 feet high and one-story detached sheds up to 120 square feet, so whether your wall or repair needs one is a question for the City of Alameda Permit Center. When a job does need a permit, we handle the application and the inspections with the city.
Does adding stone veneer to the front of my Alameda house need design review?
Yes, if it changes how the outside of the house looks, because the city requires both a permit and a Planning Design Review approval for work that changes a building's exterior. That review is an extra step before work can start, so we raise it at the estimate and plan the schedule around it.
Does a masonry contractor in Alameda need a California license?
Yes, when the job needs a building permit, uses any additional workers, or costs $1,000 or more in labor and materials, because the state licensing board licenses anyone who builds or alters a structure in California under those conditions. The city also requires contractors working in Alameda to hold a current City of Alameda business license. We're licensed and fully insured, and it's fair to ask any contractor about both.
What hours can construction crews work in Alameda?
Work under a city permit can run Monday through Friday from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM and Saturday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Those hours don't cover work that needs no permit, emergency work, or owners working on their own home or rental. We keep the grinding and mixing on permitted jobs inside those hours.
How much does masonry repair cost in Alameda?
There's no set price, because the cost turns on how much brick and mortar has to come out, how hard the old brick is to match and how easy the work is to reach. A chimney top takes ladders or staging and more time than a front step, and once old mortar is out we sometimes find water damage that widens the job. I look at all of that on site and put your figure in the estimate.
What causes mortar to crumble on older Alameda houses?
Water is usually what breaks down old mortar, getting in through cracked caps, overflowing gutters or soil piled against a wall and washing the joints out over years. Once the joints go, bricks work loose and a wall can start to lean. We trace and fix where the water gets in before we repoint, because new mortar over the same leak fails the same way.
Tell us about your Alameda masonry job
Call (510) 216-0213, any day until 11 PM, or send our estimate form, because an open joint or loose brick usually lets in more water every time it rains.