Masonry Contractor in Orinda, CA - Sound Brick, Stone and Retaining Walls
Anchorstone Oakland Concrete and Masonry is a masonry contractor based in Oakland that works in Orinda, repairing worn brick, chimneys and mortar joints and building retaining walls, walkways, stone veneer and outdoor kitchens for Orinda 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.
Orinda homes and the masonry calls we get
Orinda is a city of houses more than storefronts, with a small downtown of restaurants, shops and offices and neighborhoods spreading out from it. Most calls we get from Orinda come from owners of older homes who've noticed mortar falling out of a chimney, a front step that rocks, or a garden wall that's started to lean. We're based in Oakland and do the same work in Walnut Creek and Castro Valley, so Orinda is a short drive and familiar work for our crew.
Older houses mean old mortar, odd brick sizes and patches someone made decades ago, and a wall holding back a yard carries the weight of the dirt and water behind it. So I start every Orinda job by finding why the masonry failed, and the fix follows from that.
Why brick and stone wear out on Orinda homes
- Chimneys on older Orinda houses usually lose mortar near the top first, and loose brick up there is the repair I'd put ahead of anything cosmetic.
- Older brick usually sits in softer mortar, so we match that mix instead of using a hard modern one that would make the brick crack before the joint does.
- Older Orinda developments usually drained through corrugated metal storm pipes, which corrode over time, so we check where your yard's water goes before building a wall that depends on it.
- A retaining wall that leans has usually failed from the back, from water with nowhere to drain, so we fix the drainage instead of just straightening the face.
Masonry services for Orinda homes
Foundation repair
When an older Orinda house shows cracked brick or block at the foundation, we find what moved it first, then repair the masonry so the crack doesn't return.
Chimney repair
Chimneys on older homes here lose mortar near the top first, so we rebuild loose courses and redo the concrete cap on top before water gets inside.
Tuckpointing
When the mortar joints on your brick turn sandy or sink back, we grind out the worn mortar and refill each joint in a color that matches.
Brick repair
Cracked, flaking or loose brick on steps, planters and garden walls gets cut out and replaced with a close match, once we know what broke it.
Driveway pavers
A paver driveway suits an Orinda lot where poured concrete keeps cracking, because single pavers can be lifted and reset instead of breaking out a whole slab.
Retaining wall construction
When part of your yard needs holding back, we build the wall with drainage behind it, so water drains away instead of pushing on the wall.
Masonry restoration
Older brick and stone that's stained, cracked and patched over the years gets cleaned, repointed and repaired so the house looks right again and keeps water out.
Fireplace installation
For a new brick or stone fireplace or a rebuilt surround, we plan the layout with you, then build the firebox, hearth and face as one job.
Stone veneer installation
Stone veneer, a thin layer of real or cast stone, gives a block wall or chimney a stone face, set over a backing that lets water drain out.
Concrete block walls
Concrete block walls suit garden walls, planter beds and walls along a drive, built on a solid footing, with steel and grout where the wall needs it.
Foundation block wall installation
When an addition, a garage or a crawlspace needs a new block foundation wall, we lay it on a proper footing so it carries the house above evenly.
Outdoor kitchen masonry
For a grill station or outdoor kitchen on the patio, we build the block base, stone or brick face and counter support so it holds up outside.
Walkway construction
A new brick, stone or paver walkway from the street or drive to your door gets a packed base under it, so it stays flat longer.
Brick wall installation
We build new brick walls along yards and entries on a footing sized for them, with a cap on top that sheds water off the brick.
Stone masonry
Natural stone suits steps, garden walls and house bases on Orinda properties, and we lay each stone to carry weight, not just to look right from the street.
Brick pointing
If only some joints are failing, pointing fixes those spots with fresh mortar, which costs less than redoing the whole wall and stops water at the weak points.
- Request an estimate
Get a free on-site masonry estimate in Orinda
Send the form and we'll reply within one business day, with no obligation to go ahead. I come out to your Orinda property myself, look at the brick or stone, and write the estimate there. If you hire us, I'm on the job with the crew, so you'll know where things stand at each step.
(510) 216-0213Orinda masonry questions on permits and cost
How do I get a building permit for masonry work in Orinda?
You get it from the Contra Costa County Building Department, because Orinda contracts with the county for permits and inspections. The county processes a permit only after the other agencies approve it, which in Orinda means city Planning approval for zoning and a waste management plan, except for projects the city exempts. Work in the public right-of-way, the street area the city controls, also needs an encroachment permit from city Public Works & Engineering, and the city's building permits page lays out those steps. When your job needs a permit, we handle the application and the inspections.
Do I need a permit to build a retaining wall or repair a chimney in Orinda?
A retaining wall taller than 3 feet needs a building permit, and the city limits it to 4 feet within 10 feet of a property line, or inside the required yard setback if that's wider, and 8 feet elsewhere. Chimney and brick repair is less clear, because the county's permit rules cover repairing or altering any structure, but its list of common permit work names things like re-roofs and kitchen remodels, not masonry. Ask the county building department about your job, and I'll measure heights and distances to the property line at the estimate so we know where a wall stands.
What drives the cost of masonry work in Orinda?
The price comes down to how much brick or stone needs work, how high and hard to reach it is, how closely new material has to match the old, and what's causing the damage, so I give you a figure after seeing it at your property. Larger projects add a step here, because residential additions or alterations that affect 1,000 square feet, are valued at $50,000 or more, or add size must send at least 65% of their construction and demolition debris to an approved recycling facility. The schedule turns mostly on whether the job needs Planning approval and a county permit before we can start.
How do Orinda's fire hazard zone rules affect brick and stone work?
City guidance says those rules mainly affect new construction, which includes new buildings built from the ground up. Many parts of Orinda are considered high fire hazard severity zones, and the requirements there include class A roofing at minimum, ignition-resistant wall finishes and deck surfaces, and multi-pane tempered exterior glass. If you're planning new construction, the city's fire area guide is where to check whether your property is in one.
How do I know if a masonry contractor needs a California license?
A contractor needs a Contractors State License Board license for any job that needs a building permit, uses any additional workers, or totals $1,000 or more in labor and materials. That covers most masonry work past a small patch. We're licensed and fully insured.
Does a contractor have to register with the City of Orinda before working there?
Yes, every business operating in Orinda needs a city business registration certificate before it starts work there. The exception is a business taking in less than $10,000 a year from work in the city, which is exempt but may still register. It's a fair question to ask any contractor before the job starts.
Book your Orinda masonry estimate today
Call (510) 216-0213 any day until 11 PM or send the estimate form, since a few loose joints caught now are a smaller job than the wall or chimney they'd take with them later.