Masonry Contractor in Richmond, CA - Brick, Block and Stone Work Done Right
Anchorstone Oakland Concrete and Masonry is a masonry contractor working in Richmond, CA. We repoint worn mortar, repair brick, chimneys and foundations, and build retaining walls, walkways and paver driveways for homes across the city.
- 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.
Richmond masonry work, from chimneys to garden walls
Richmond is one of the East Bay cities I drive up to from Oakland, just like Berkeley to the south or Hayward farther down the bay. The calls here sound like the ones I get all around Oakland. Owners of older homes notice crumbling joints, a loose brick on the chimney or water showing up where it shouldn't. Other homeowners want a new wall, walkway or paver driveway built right the first time.
The price depends on how much has failed, why it failed and how hard it is to reach. The schedule mostly depends on whether a permit is needed and how much has to come apart, and the estimate gives you the number for your house. With older brick, I look past the bad joint to whatever caused it. If you fix the face and leave the cause, you'll be calling someone again.
What wears out first on Richmond brick homes
- On older brick houses the mortar usually wears out before the brick does, and once a joint opens up, water gets into the wall behind it.
- Chimneys often show it first because they stand above the roofline with nothing over them, so crumbling joints and loose brick near the top are a common call.
- Not every worn joint is urgent, and I'll tell you straight when one can wait and when it's already letting water into the wall.
Masonry work we do for Richmond homes
Foundation repair
When a brick or block foundation has cracked or started to shift, I find out what's pushing on it first, then repair the masonry so the fix lasts.
Chimney repair
Older chimneys often have crumbling joints, a cracked crown on top or loose brick near the roofline. We rebuild what's failed before water works further in.
Tuckpointing
Tuckpointing fills worn joints with mortar matched to the brick, then adds a thin line of contrasting mortar, so an older front wall looks sharp again.
Brick repair
We cut out bricks that are cracked, flaking or loose and replace them with brick close to the original in size and color, so the repair doesn't stand out.
Driveway pavers
If a cracked concrete driveway needs replacing, pavers set on a packed base give you a surface where one broken piece can be lifted out and swapped.
Retaining wall construction
A leaning retaining wall usually has water or soil pressure behind it, so we build new walls with drainage behind them and footings sized for the load.
Masonry restoration
On an older house where the brick, mortar and trim have all worn together, we work through the whole face, repairing what's failed and keeping what still holds.
Fireplace installation
If you're adding a masonry fireplace or rebuilding a tired one, we lay the firebox, surround and hearth to the plans the job calls for.
Stone veneer installation
Stone veneer is thin stone set over an existing wall. It gives a plain foundation, chimney or entry the look of solid stone without the weight.
Concrete block walls
For a side-yard wall, a planter or a privacy wall, concrete block gives you a solid, straight wall that can be capped or stuccoed to suit the house.
Foundation block wall installation
When a foundation wall under a garage or addition has to be replaced, we lay new block on a proper footing, reinforced and filled to plan.
Outdoor kitchen masonry
We build the block or brick base, counters and grill surround for an outdoor kitchen, and we leave room for the gas, water and power lines it needs.
Walkway construction
We dig out a heaved or cracked walkway and rebuild it in brick, stone or pavers on a packed base, so the path to your door sits flat again.
Brick wall installation
We lay a new brick garden wall or front wall on a footing, with brick and mortar chosen to look right beside the house it belongs to.
Stone masonry
For stone steps, garden walls and old stone foundations, we set and repair natural stone by hand, fitting each piece instead of forcing a pattern.
Brick pointing
When the brick is sound but the joints are sandy and sunk back, we cut out the worn mortar and pack in new mortar matched to the old.
- Request an estimate
Get a free on-site masonry estimate in Richmond
Send the form and we'll reply within one business day to set a time. I come out to your Richmond property myself, look at the work and write the estimate. It's free and there's no obligation.
(510) 216-0213Richmond masonry and permit questions we hear
How do I know if my masonry project needs a permit in Richmond?
Check it against the city's list of exempt work. Richmond requires a building permit before you build, alter, repair or demolish any building or structure, and the city's handout says a permit is likely required for any project it doesn't list. The Building Division issues the permits, and the list of work exempt from permits is where you check the exceptions. When your job needs a permit, we handle the application and the inspections.
Do I need a permit to build a brick or block fence wall in Richmond?
Yes. The city's handout says a Planning Division permit is required for any fence, even though fences up to 7 feet high are on its list of work that doesn't need a building permit. So a brick or block wall built as a fence still goes through the city before we start digging the footing.
Who can get a building permit in Richmond, CA?
The city issues building permits only to property owners, their authorized agents and licensed contractors. When a contractor registers for a permit, they have to show a Contractor's State License Card, a Worker's Compensation Insurance Certificate and a current City of Richmond Business License. We're licensed and fully insured, and on jobs that need a permit, we take care of the application for you.
How long does a building permit take in Richmond?
Smaller jobs can move fast. The city says most single-trade permits, and residential remodels that need no drawings, are issued once the required application documents are received and verified. For bigger jobs that need drawings, the timing depends on the scope. Applications go in electronically, or in person by appointment if you can't file online. When we're handling the permit, we keep you posted on where it stands.
How much does masonry repair cost in Richmond, CA?
The cost comes down to how much brick or mortar has failed and what caused it, so I only put a number on it after I've seen the work. Matching old brick and mortar, scaffolding to reach a chimney and any permit the job needs all add to the price. Fixing a cause underneath, like water behind a wall, adds more. Catching worn joints before water gets in is usually the cheapest version of the job.
What causes mortar to crumble on older brick houses in Richmond?
Age is the usual cause. Mortar is meant to be the softer part of the wall, so it wears away before the brick does. Leaks, cracks from movement and old patches done in mortar harder than the brick all speed that up, and hard mortar can crack the brick around it. If your joints feel sandy but the wall stays dry, that can usually wait. Open joints that are letting water in shouldn't.
Talk to us about your Richmond masonry
Call (510) 216-0213 or send the contact form. We answer seven days a week until 11 PM, so you can reach us after work or on a weekend.