Masonry Contractor in Berkeley, CA - Worn Brick, Chimneys and Walls Put Right
Anchorstone Oakland Concrete and Masonry is a masonry contractor working in Berkeley, CA. We repair worn mortar joints, loose brick and old chimneys, and we build retaining walls, walkways and stone work for Berkeley homes.
- 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.
Berkeley homes, from the hills to the flats
Berkeley is right next door to Oakland, where I'm based, and the calls we get here sound a lot like the ones at home. Most come from owners of older houses who've spotted crumbling joints, a chimney with loose brick up top or damp coming through a brick wall. Down in the flats, houses sit close together, so we plan around narrow side yards and street parking before the first brick comes out. It's the same work we do a few minutes north in Albany and Richmond.
Up in the Berkeley Hills, lots are steep. Access, how much soil a wall has to hold back and whether the job needs a permit move both the price and the schedule there, and your estimate tells you where your job lands.
Why Berkeley brick and stone need regular care
- Berkeley sits close to major earthquake faults, so a chimney or brick wall that's already loose should be fixed before the next shake, not after it.
- Mortar is supposed to wear out before the brick does, and once the joints go soft, rain gets in behind them and starts working on the brick itself.
- On older houses the front steps, planters and garden walls are often original, so a good repair keeps that brick and replaces only what has actually failed.
Masonry work we do for Berkeley homes
Foundation repair
When a crack runs through the foundation or a corner has dropped, we find out why first, whether it's water, soil or age, then repair the cause.
Chimney repair
Older Berkeley chimneys often have loose top bricks and a cracked crown, the cap that sheds rain, so we rebuild what's failing before water gets in.
Tuckpointing
When the joints on an old brick house turn sandy or sit back from the face, we rake out the worn mortar and pack in fresh mortar matched to yours.
Brick repair
Cracked, flaking or loose bricks on Berkeley front steps, planters and walls get cut out and replaced with brick close to the original, so the repair blends in.
Driveway pavers
Steep driveways in the hills and narrow ones in the flats both suit pavers, because a damaged section lifts out and resets without tearing up the rest.
Retaining wall construction
On sloped Berkeley lots we build retaining walls with drainage behind them, because water trapped behind a wall is what usually pushes it over.
Masonry restoration
For older brick and stone that's worn all over, we clean, repoint and repair it in one pass, keeping the house's original look rather than covering it up.
Fireplace installation
In older Berkeley homes with a fireplace long out of use, we can rebuild the firebox and hearth, or build a new masonry fireplace from the footing up.
Stone veneer installation
Thin stone veneer dresses up a plain foundation, column or wall, and we set it over a backing that lets water drain out instead of sitting behind it.
Concrete block walls
Block walls work well along property lines and driveways on Berkeley lots, and we fill and reinforce the hollow cores wherever the wall has to carry load.
Foundation block wall installation
When a garage, addition or tired crawlspace needs a new foundation wall, we pour the footing and lay reinforced block on it, so the house sits solid.
Outdoor kitchen masonry
Backyards here tend to be small, so we build outdoor kitchens in brick, block or stone that fit the space and hold up to years of weather.
Walkway construction
A walkway from the sidewalk up a sloped front yard needs steady steps and good drainage, so we lay brick, stone or pavers on a packed base.
Brick wall installation
We build new brick garden and front walls on a solid footing, using brick that matches your house where we can, so the wall looks like it belongs.
Stone masonry
Hillside lots here often have old stone walls and steps, and we reset loose stones and rebuild failing sections so the work matches what's already there.
Brick pointing
If only a few joints have cracked or washed out, pointing just those spots is often enough, and I'll tell you straight when the rest can wait.
- Request an estimate
Get a free on-site masonry estimate in Berkeley
Send us a few lines about your Berkeley project and we'll reply within one business day. I come out to the property myself to look at the brick, wall or chimney and write the estimate, which is free and comes with no obligation. If you go ahead, I work on site alongside the crew, so you'll know where things stand at every step.
(510) 216-0213Masonry questions from Berkeley homeowners
Do I need a building permit for masonry work in Berkeley?
Usually, yes, because Berkeley's Permit Service Center issues building permits for all construction work and most repairs unless the city specifically exempts them. Exempt work still has to meet state building code and city law, and some of it needs a zoning permit instead, which is the city's land use approval. When your job needs a permit, we handle the application and the inspections with the city.
How do I know if my Berkeley retaining wall needs a permit?
A retaining wall no more than 4 feet tall, measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall, is exempt from a building permit in Berkeley unless it holds back a surcharge, meaning extra weight like a driveway, a building or a slope above it. Because the measurement starts at the buried footing, a wall that looks short from the yard can still be over the limit. A wall in a required setback, the strip along your lot lines that zoning keeps open, needs a zoning permit either way, and I check all of this at the estimate.
Does a new fence or garden wall in Berkeley need a permit?
A fence under 7 feet tall is exempt from a building permit in Berkeley, but a fence over 6 feet needs a zoning permit. Exempt work still has to meet state building code and city law. For a brick or block garden wall, I confirm which of the city's rules your wall falls under before we build, and if it needs a permit, we take care of it.
How do I check that a masonry contractor can legally work in Berkeley?
Ask for their California contractor license, because the Contractors State License Board requires one when a job needs a building permit, uses any additional workers or costs $1,000 or more in labor and materials. The contractor has to hold that license before they bid, not after they win the job. The city also requires a business license of every business working in Berkeley, contractors applying for building permits included, and we're licensed and fully insured.
How much down payment can a contractor ask for in California?
On a home improvement contract in California, a contractor can't ask for or take a down payment of more than $1,000 or 10 percent of the total contract price, whichever is less. That's the state licensing board's rule. If someone wants a big check before any work starts, that's your sign to walk away.
How much does masonry repair cost in Berkeley?
The price comes down to how much brick or mortar has to come out, how hard the site is to reach, whether old brick has to be matched and whether the job needs a permit and inspections. Pointing a few joints by the front door costs far less than rebuilding a chimney top or a hillside wall that holds back soil. I come out, look at it with you and give you a free estimate for your job.
Call about your Berkeley masonry project
Call (510) 216-0213 any day until 11 PM or send us the form, so you can describe the job and ask about permits after work instead of on your lunch break.