Masonry Contractor in Castro Valley - Brick, Block and Stone Built for the Hills

Anchorstone Oakland Concrete and Masonry is a masonry contractor based in Oakland, CA that repairs and builds brick, block and stone in Castro Valley, from crumbling mortar joints and old chimneys to retaining walls on hillside lots.

Request an estimate (510) 216-0213

Stone veneer patio beside a home, with tan stone walls, square pavers, a small fountain and outdoor dining furniture.

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Castro Valley homes and the masonry calls we get

Castro Valley is mostly homes, and a lot of them sit on sloped lots that climb into the hills on the east side. The calls we get here look a lot like the ones from San Leandro and Hayward: mortar joints gone soft and sandy, a chimney missing bricks near the top, a front walk that's heaved, or a back yard retaining wall that's started to lean toward the house. We're based in Oakland and work across the East Bay, so these are problems we see every week.

On a slope, the ground decides most of the job. A wall holding back a hillside yard needs a footing dug down to firm soil and a way for water to get out behind it, because trapped water is what pushes most of these walls over. That's also what moves your price: how tall the wall runs, how far we carry block and stone from the street, and how much old work has to come out first. The schedule turns mostly on whether a county permit and its inspections are part of the job. You'll get your own number when I come out and write the estimate.

Hillside ground and older brick in Castro Valley

Castro Valley's eastern hills are the headwaters of several creeks, so water moving downhill through the soil is something we plan every retaining wall and footing around.
Brick chimneys and garden walls on older homes here usually fail at the mortar first, and once joints go sandy, water gets into the brick and the damage speeds up.
Sloped driveways and front walks take a lot of runoff, so pavers and steps here need a well-packed base and a place for water to go, or they shift.

Masonry services for Castro Valley homes

Foundation repair
When a crack runs through a block or brick foundation, or a corner has dropped on a sloped lot, we find what moved it before we patch anything.
Chimney repair
For loose bricks up top, a cracked crown or a chimney pulling away from the wall, we rebuild what's failed and stop the water that started it.
Tuckpointing
On older brick fronts where the joints have worn and the wall looks tired, we repoint and finish each joint with a fine line so it reads crisp.
Brick repair
We cut out bricks that have cracked, come loose or lost their faces on steps, planters and walls, and set in brick that matches yours.
Driveway pavers
On a sloped driveway, pavers only stay put over a deep, packed base with edging that holds them, so that's where most of our work goes.
Retaining wall construction
For hillside yards that need flat ground or a cut held back, we build block and stone walls on a real footing with drainage behind them.
Masonry restoration
When an older home's brick or stone has years of wear, patches and bad repairs, we bring the whole thing back instead of fixing one spot.
Fireplace installation
If you want a masonry fireplace in a remodel or a family room addition, we build the firebox, hearth and surround in brick or stone.
Stone veneer installation
We set stone veneer, a thin layer of real or cast stone, over plain foundations, entries and chimneys, with flashing so water can't get trapped behind it.
Concrete block walls
Block walls work well for side-yard privacy and property lines on sloped lots, and we reinforce and grout the hollow cores so the wall holds its line.
Foundation block wall installation
For an addition, a new garage or a rebuilt crawlspace wall, we lay block foundation walls on footings dug down to firm soil.
Outdoor kitchen masonry
If your back yard has a level patio or room for one, we build the counters, grill surround and pizza oven base in block, brick or stone.
Walkway construction
Front walks on sloped lots often need steps and landings, so we lay brick, stone or pavers with a slight pitch that carries water off the path.
Brick wall installation
We build new brick garden walls, planters and front-yard walls on a proper footing, with joints tooled to shed water from day one.
Stone masonry
For natural stone walls, steps and columns that suit a hillside yard, we fit and set each stone by hand so the work looks like it belongs.
Brick pointing
When mortar has gone soft and sandy, we rake out the bad joints and pack in new mortar matched to your brick, so water stays out.
Request an estimate

Get a free on-site estimate for your Castro Valley masonry job

Send the form and we'll reply within one business day to set a time. I come out to your Castro Valley property myself, look at the brick, block or stone, and write the estimate. It's free, and there's no obligation to go ahead.

(510) 216-0213

Other areas we serve

Castro Valley masonry questions we hear most

How do I get a building permit for masonry work in Castro Valley?

You apply to Alameda County through the county permit portal, because Castro Valley is an unincorporated community and the county serves it in place of a city government. The portal is where you apply, submit plans, schedule inspections and check where a permit stands. When your job needs a permit, we handle the application and the inspections with the county.

How do I find out if my retaining wall or walkway in Castro Valley needs a permit?

Start with the county's permit resources page, because that's where Alameda County keeps its guidance on work that's exempt from a permit. Whether your project fits depends on its details, so I'll go over it with you at the estimate. Work that reaches into a county road, sidewalk or public right-of-way has its own encroachment permit category with the county.

What affects the cost of masonry work on a Castro Valley hillside lot?

Access, ground and material move the price most. A wall or walk on a steep lot means more digging, deeper footings, drainage and more time hauling block and stone up from the street, and natural stone costs more to buy and set than block or pavers. On repairs, the cost turns on how much damaged brick and mortar has to come out before new work goes in.

Does a contractor need an Alameda County business license to work in Castro Valley?

Yes, the county requires a business license for any business activity in its unincorporated areas, Castro Valley included, even when the business is based somewhere else or already holds another city's license. The county treats it as an annual tax, paid each calendar year.

Who licenses masonry contractors in California?

The Contractors State License Board does, since it licenses and regulates construction contractors across the state, including the ones who work in Castro Valley. We're licensed and fully insured, and you're welcome to ask me about it at the estimate.

How much can a contractor ask for as a down payment in California?

In its guidance on rebuilding after a declared disaster, the state licensing board says a down payment is capped at $1,000 or 10 percent of the total contract price, whichever is less. The board states that cap for disaster rebuilding, so that's the work it speaks to.

Call about your Castro Valley masonry job

We answer until 11 PM every day, so call (510) 216-0213 or use the estimate form tonight to ask about your project and whether it needs a county permit.

Request an estimate (510) 216-0213