Masonry Contractor in San Leandro, CA - Repairs That Fix Why the Brick Failed
Anchorstone Oakland Concrete and Masonry is a masonry contractor based in Oakland that works in San Leandro. We repair brick, mortar joints, chimneys and leaning walls, and build new walls, walkways and pavers.
- 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.
San Leandro homes and the masonry we see
San Leandro borders Oakland, where we're based, and the houses here look a lot like the ones we work on at home. I see older homes with brick chimneys, brick front steps and planters, and block walls running along side yards and driveways.
We do the same work next door in Castro Valley and out in Walnut Creek, but most calls from San Leandro are about repair, like soft mortar, a chimney loosening at the top or a garden wall that's started to lean. On older brick the part you can see is rarely the whole problem, so I look for the cause first, whether that's water getting behind the wall, a footing that has settled or an old patch done with the wrong mortar. The price mostly moves with how much has to come apart to reach that cause and whether the old brick has to be matched, and the schedule turns on permits and weather. You get your own figure in the estimate I write on site.
Older San Leandro houses and the wear they show
- The city teaches a course aimed at older raised-floor homes not built to modern earthquake standards, and on those a brick chimney or cracked foundation wall needs a close look.
- Winter rain soaks into tired mortar joints, so the brick behind them breaks down faster than it looks from the street, and that's where most leaks start.
- Older garden walls and block walls along driveways often lean because water builds up behind them with nowhere to drain, so we fix the drainage along with the wall.
Masonry services for San Leandro homes
Foundation repair
When an older house shows cracked or crumbling foundation walls, we find out whether water or settling caused it before we patch, so the foundation repair holds.
Chimney repair
Loose brick near the top of an old chimney lets water in, so our chimney repair rebuilds the damaged rows and redoes the cap before the next winter rain.
Tuckpointing
If the mortar between your bricks is sandy or sunk back, our tuckpointing grinds out the worn joints and packs in new mortar matched to the old color.
Brick repair
With brick repair, cracked, flaking or loose bricks on steps, planters and walls get cut out and replaced with brick matched to what's there, so the fix doesn't stand out.
Driveway pavers
If your old concrete driveway is cracked through, driveway pavers on a well-packed base are a good swap, because a sunken patch can be lifted and reset later.
Retaining wall construction
Sloped backyards need walls with a real footing and drainage behind them, and that's how we handle retaining wall construction so the soil doesn't push the wall over.
Masonry restoration
Brick fronts and walls with years of patching get cleaned, repointed and repaired as one masonry restoration job, so the whole wall works and looks right again.
Fireplace installation
If you want a fireplace where there isn't one, or the old firebox is too cracked to use, our fireplace installation builds a new masonry one sized for the room.
Stone veneer installation
Stone veneer installation dresses up a plain foundation, column or front wall, and we set it over a drainage layer so water runs out instead of sitting behind it.
Concrete block walls
Concrete block walls along driveways and side yards give you privacy and a solid edge, and we fill their hollow centers with steel and concrete so they hold up.
Foundation block wall installation
When an old foundation wall is too far gone to repair, foundation block wall installation puts a new wall on a proper footing, with steel tied in for earthquakes.
Outdoor kitchen masonry
A grill counter built in block and faced in brick or stone outlasts wood in sun and rain, and our outdoor kitchen masonry is laid out around how you cook.
Walkway construction
A front walk with heaved or broken slabs is a trip hazard, so our walkway construction rebuilds it in brick, stone or pavers on a packed base that sheds water.
Brick wall installation
With brick wall installation, a new garden or front-yard wall can match the older brick on your house, and we set it on a footing deep enough to carry it.
Stone masonry
Stone steps, garden walls and planter beds suit older yards here, and our stone masonry sets each stone so the weight sits on the stone below, not the mortar.
Brick pointing
When only a few joints have cracked or washed out, brick pointing on just those spots keeps water out, and it's often all you need until a full repoint is due.
- Request an estimate
Get a free on-site estimate for your San Leandro home
Tell us what you're seeing at your San Leandro house and we'll reply within one business day to set a time. I come out myself, look at the damage and what's causing it, and write the estimate on site, free and with no obligation. If you go ahead, I'm on site working alongside the crew, so you always know where the job stands.
(510) 216-0213San Leandro masonry permits, codes and costs
Do I need a permit to build a retaining wall in San Leandro?
Not always. The city's permit FAQ lists retaining walls no more than 4 feet tall, measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall, as needing no building permit, as long as there's no extra weight like a slope or driveway bearing on the soil behind them and they aren't holding back flammable liquids. That FAQ isn't dated, so I confirm with the city before we dig, and when a wall does need a permit, we handle the application and the inspections.
Who can get a building permit for masonry work in San Leandro?
The city issues building permits only to a California-licensed contractor or to the property owner. We're licensed and fully insured, and when your job needs a permit, we handle it with the city from application to final inspection. Anyone doing business inside the city also needs a San Leandro business license before starting, so it's fair to ask any contractor you're comparing about theirs.
How do I know if my San Leandro project needs a grading permit?
You need a grading permit when the job moves 50 cubic yards of soil or more, about six dump truck loads, or digs a hole or trench 5 feet deep or more, along with other conditions the city's Do I Need a Permit? page points to. Most repair work stays well under that, but a long retaining wall cut into a slope or a new foundation wall can reach it. I check for it at the estimate, so it doesn't surprise you halfway through.
Which building codes apply to masonry work in San Leandro now?
San Leandro's current building codes took effect January 1, 2026, and they're the state code with local changes the city added. Both the state and the city changed the structural rules for earthquake design, which bears on chimneys, foundation walls and anything tall built in brick or block. On a permitted job, we build to those rules and the city's inspector checks the work.
How do I check if my address is inside San Leandro city limits?
Use the address lookup linked on the city's Building & Safety page, because San Leandro's permit and business license rules apply only to work inside the city. If your house sits outside the city line, the permit comes from whichever city or county covers your address, and we handle it there the same way.
What affects the cost of masonry repair in San Leandro?
Cost here mostly follows how much of the wall, chimney or foundation has to come apart, and a few local things add to it. A chimney that needs scaffolding takes more to reach than a front step, and any work on the street, like tying a new driveway into the road, needs an encroachment permit from the city's Public Works Department. I'll walk it with you and put your number in the estimate.
Call about your San Leandro masonry job
Call (510) 216-0213 or use the form, and if your brick can wait another year or two, I'll tell you that straight, so you only pay for what needs fixing now.