Masonry Contractor in Piedmont, CA - Sound Chimneys, Walls and Mortar Joints
Anchorstone Oakland Concrete and Masonry is a masonry contractor based in Oakland that repairs and builds brick and stone in Piedmont: worn mortar joints, old chimneys, leaning retaining walls, walkways and new garden walls.
- 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.
Piedmont homes as we see them on the job
Piedmont is a small, mostly residential city surrounded by Oakland, a short drive from where we're based. Most calls here are about older houses with brick chimneys, garden walls, front steps and retaining walls that hold up sloped yards, much like what we see in Oakland. We do the same work across the East Bay, in cities like Emeryville, Berkeley and Orinda.
Price usually follows the size of the job and how hard it is to reach, and the schedule usually turns on the city's permit more than on the masonry. I come out and write your estimate myself, so the figure is for your house and not a guess. On a sloped lot with a long run of steps, a lot of the work is carrying brick, stone and mortar in by hand, and that shapes how we set up the job.
What Piedmont houses and yards need from masonry
- Many Piedmont houses are older, and their brick chimneys and walls usually show their age at the mortar first, with sandy joints that let water work in behind the brick.
- Many yards here slope, so retaining walls and steps carry real load, and a wall that starts to lean usually has water trapped behind it.
- Older brick is softer than modern brick, so patching it with hard modern mortar makes the brick crack and flake, which is why we match the mortar to the wall.
Masonry services we offer in Piedmont
Foundation repair
When a brick or block foundation under an older Piedmont house cracks or lets water into the crawlspace, we find what's moving it before we patch anything.
Chimney repair
Old brick chimneys usually wear out at the top first, where water hits hardest, so we reset loose brick and rebuild the crown, the concrete cap on top.
Tuckpointing
When the mortar joints on your brick have gone sandy, we grind out the worn mortar and refill it in a color and strength that suits older brick.
Brick repair
We cut out cracked or flaking brick on steps, walls and chimneys, set matching brick in its place and stop the water that broke it down.
Driveway pavers
On a sloped Piedmont driveway, we set pavers on a packed, well-drained base, and a cracked paver can be lifted and replaced without breaking out a slab.
Retaining wall construction
Sloped lots here depend on retaining walls. We build new ones with drainage behind them, because water trapped behind a wall is what usually pushes it over.
Masonry restoration
For brick or stone that's been patched again and again, we take off the failed repairs, rebuild what's loose and bring the wall back so old and new match.
Fireplace installation
We build brick or stone fireplaces sized to the room and the chimney above it, whether you're adding one or replacing an old firebox that's falling apart.
Stone veneer installation
Stone veneer puts a stone face on walls, columns and fireplaces, and we install it over a proper backing so water can't get trapped behind it.
Concrete block walls
For garden walls, side-yard walls and walls that hold back soil, we build in concrete block with steel and grout inside, then finish it to suit the house.
Foundation block wall installation
When an old foundation wall has to be replaced or a crawlspace needs a new wall, we build it in reinforced block on a proper footing.
Outdoor kitchen masonry
We build the masonry for outdoor kitchens, from counters and grill surrounds to pizza oven bases, in brick, block or stone that fits your yard.
Walkway construction
Front walks and side paths on sloped lots need steps and a solid base, so we build them in brick, stone or pavers that stay even underfoot.
Brick wall installation
We build new brick garden and property walls on a proper footing, with brick and joints chosen to match the house they sit beside.
Stone masonry
Stone walls, steps and planters in older yards often just need loose stones reset and joints refilled. We rebuild them or lay new stone that suits the property.
Brick pointing
If only a few areas of mortar are failing, we point just those joints, and I'll tell you straight if the rest of the wall can wait.
- Request an estimate
Get a free on-site masonry estimate for your Piedmont home
Send the form and we'll reply within one business day to set a time to come out. I visit your Piedmont property myself, look at the brick or stone and what's behind the problem, and write the estimate, free and with no obligation to go ahead.
(510) 216-0213Piedmont masonry questions about permits and timing
Do I need a permit for brick or masonry repair in Piedmont?
Most likely yes, because the City of Piedmont issues building permits for most construction projects and repairs, and its list of work that doesn't need a permit covers painting, papering, carpeting and some tiling, not brick or stone. Even exempt work still has to meet the building codes and may still get an inspection, and work done without a needed permit can mean a fine and having to undo it. When your job needs one, we handle the application and the inspections with the city.
Who can get a building permit for masonry work in Piedmont?
Only a properly licensed California contractor, or a property owner acting legally as an owner-builder, can get a building permit in Piedmont. The state licenses contractors through the Contractors State License Board, and the city takes applications online only, not on paper or by email. We're licensed and fully insured, so we can apply for your job.
How do I know if my retaining wall in Piedmont needs a permit?
In Piedmont, a retaining wall needs a building permit once it's over 30 inches tall, measured from the top of the grade to the top of the wall, or at a lower height if it's holding back extra load above it, like a driveway or a slope. Retaining walls, patios, outside stairs and site drainage fall under the city's site improvement permit, and most above-ground exterior changes need design review first, which brings a building permit even for work that wouldn't usually need one. Work in the public right of way, or work that sends more stormwater to the street, can also need an encroachment permit from Public Works.
How long does it take to get a masonry permit in Piedmont?
Permits that need plans and review can take several weeks or months in Piedmont, so the paperwork often sets the start date more than the masonry does. A large or complicated project may need planning approval before the building permit, which can involve the Planning Commission and City Council. We file as soon as you give the go-ahead, so the review time runs while you settle the details.
What hours can contractors work in Piedmont?
The city's building page allows construction Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. We keep our work at your house inside those hours.
How much does masonry repair cost in Piedmont?
The cost comes down to how much brick or stone needs work, how easy it is to reach, and whether we're fixing the cause, like drainage behind a wall, along with the damage you can see. Matching old brick and mortar takes more time than laying new, and on permitted jobs the city's fees vary by permit type and the job's valuation. I'll give you a written figure after I've looked at it in person.
Call us about your Piedmont masonry job
Call (510) 216-0213 or send the form, and since we answer until 11 PM every day, you can reach us after work or on the weekend.