Masonry Contractor in Martinez, CA - Repairs That Match Older Homes
J&R Vallejo Concrete and Masonry builds and repairs brick, block and stone in Martinez, from chimneys and crumbling mortar joints to retaining walls, block walls and walkways on sloped lots, with the owner on site.
- Fully licensed and insured.
- Free estimates at your property.
- Expect a reply within 1 business day.
Older homes and hillside yards in Martinez
Martinez sits just across the Carquinez Strait from Vallejo, where we're based, and the work we see there splits two ways. Near downtown, a lot of the houses are older, with brick chimneys, brick steps and low front walls whose mortar has been patched more than once, often with whatever mix was handy. Up in the hills, the newer neighborhoods have yards cut into the slope, so the calls there run to retaining walls, block walls along the lot line and walks that have to step down a grade.
We do the same kind of work in Pleasant Hill, Benicia and out west in San Pablo, so we know how these older Bay Area houses tend to be put together. In Martinez that mostly means matching old brick and softer mortar on repairs, and building walls on a slope with a footing and drainage that can hold the ground behind them.
Our services in Martinez, CA
- Chimney repair
Many older Martinez houses have brick chimneys with cracked joints and a loose crown, the cement cap on top. I show you what's failing, then we rebuild only that.
- Tuckpointing
Mortar that crumbles under your thumb is common on older brick here. We rake out the worn joints and refill them with a mortar soft enough to suit your brick.
- Retaining wall construction
Sloped Martinez yards often need a wall to hold a cut bank. We set it on a solid footing with drainage behind it, so water doesn't pile up against it.
- Concrete block walls
On Martinez lot lines, many homeowners want a wall that outlasts a wood fence. We build concrete block walls on a poured footing, with steel and grout where they're needed.
- Brick repair
Front steps and porch walls on older Martinez houses tend to lose bricks at the corners and treads. We find salvaged or close-match brick so the repair doesn't stand out.
- Walkway construction
Walks on hillside Martinez lots often crack and settle where they meet the steps. We dig out, pack a firm base and add steps where the grade calls for them.
What Martinez homes and slopes ask of masonry
On older Martinez houses, most of the brick trouble we see starts in the mortar, not the brick. Old mortar was usually softer than what's sold today, so when someone patches it with a hard modern mix, the patch holds and the brick around it cracks and flakes instead. That's why I walk you around the wall first and point out which joints are worn, which are old patches and which bricks are actually damaged, and then we match the new mortar to the old so the wall keeps wearing the way it was built to.
Up the hills, it's walls and steps holding back ground, and the footing and drainage you never see are what keep a wall standing straight. The price mostly follows the wall's height and length, the material and how hard the spot is to reach, while the schedule turns on whether the city wants a permit and when inspections land. When I walk your job, I'll give you your own figure and tell you what's driving it.
Get a masonry estimate at your Martinez property
Send the form or call (707) 310-8446, and we'll get back to you within one business day. I come out to your Martinez property myself, walk the job with you and explain what I'd do and why, and the estimate is free with no obligation.
Brick, block and stone work
Martinez masonry questions answered
Do I need a permit to build a block or retaining wall in Martinez?
It can need one, and the Martinez Building Department decides that for your wall, since it issues building permits to homeowners and licensed contractors for work inside the city limits. The city also lists grading and encroachment permits, so ask about those if your wall cuts into a slope or sits near the street. We check with the city's Permit Center for your address before work starts, and when a permit is needed, we handle the filing and line up the inspections.
How do I apply for a building permit in Martinez?
New building permit applications in Martinez go through the city's online portal, for homes and businesses alike, and a paper application needs an exception from the city's building official. Permitted work there has to meet the current California building codes. You can apply yourself as the homeowner, or we can take care of it as part of your job.
When does a masonry contractor in Martinez need a California license?
The California Contractors State License Board requires a license whenever the job needs a building permit, uses employee labor, or totals $1,000 or more in labor and materials. The under-$1,000 exception covers only small jobs with no permit and no hired help, and a bigger job can't be split into pieces to slip under it. We're fully licensed and insured, and it's worth asking anyone who bids your job to show you theirs.
How much does masonry work cost in Martinez?
It comes down to the size of the job, the material, how easy the spot is to reach and how much old work has to come out first, so the real number comes from seeing it. On older Martinez houses, tracking down brick that matches and cutting out failed patches add time, and on hillside lots, the digging, footing and drainage are a big share of a wall's cost. A permit, when the city wants one, adds fees and inspection stops, and I'll lay all of that out when I walk the job.
How do I handle demolition debris from a masonry job in Martinez?
On projects the city's rule covers, Martinez requires construction and demolition waste to be tracked through its online Green Halo system. Within 30 days after construction ends, the applicant has to submit proof that the city's diversion requirement, its rule for keeping debris out of the landfill, was met, and missing that deadline forfeits the whole diversion deposit. If tearing out an old wall or chimney puts your job under that rule, we'll go over it with you before work starts so you know what's needed.
Does Martinez have a rebate for sidewalk repair?
Yes, the city's permit list includes a Sidewalk Repair Rebate Application, so it's worth checking if the sidewalk in front of your house is cracked or lifted. The Permit Center can tell you how it works for your address before you book the repair. If you're also redoing the walk up to your door, I can look at both when I'm out.