Brick wall installation in Lakewood CA - a solid boundary that stays straight
Open yard line or a fence that's seen better days? We set the footing first and build a brick wall that stays straight.
- Footing planned first We work out the footing and the wall's shape before any brick.
- Brick checked before ordering Want an old brick look? We check the brick first.
- The owner comes out I look at your ground and the wall's line myself.
- A top that sheds rain We finish the wall with a coping that keeps water out.
- Licensed and fully insured.
- Free quotes on site.
- Replies within 1 business day.
How do you know it's time for a new brick wall?
A new brick wall usually starts with something that's stopped working, and catching it early means you plan the wall instead of reacting to a fence on the ground.
Wood fence leaning or rotting
Posts are soft at the ground and the panels lean more every year. That usually means the fence is near the end, and patching it just buys another season.
Cracks running through an old wall
A crack that runs through the brick or block, not just the mortar, often means the footing moved. Waiting lets water in and the crack keeps opening.
Wall leaning or bowing out
If the wall leans or bows when you sight down it, it was often built too thin or on a poor footing. Walls don't straighten themselves.
Loose bricks along the top
Caps that rock or have fallen off leave the top of the wall open to rain. Water from above works down through the joints and loosens more brick.
An open yard line
The yard sits open to the street or the neighbors, and the last fence didn't hold up. A brick wall gives the property a solid boundary, and brick doesn't rot.
A wall that's been patched again
Each repair holds a shorter time than the last. When the footing or brick is the problem, another patch is money spent on a wall on its way out.
How we handle brick wall installation
Brick wall installation in Lakewood starts before anything gets dug. I work out the footing and the shape of the wall first, because a brick wall is only as good as what's under it and how it's built to stand. The usual trade practice is a footing in undisturbed ground, made of brick or concrete, with reinforcement where the soil swells and shrinks, so we look at your ground before deciding how much steel goes in. Brick guidance from the UK says a thinner wall has a limit on how slender it can be and still stand up to sideways forces, and a thicker base, piers that step out from the face, or a zigzag or staggered layout gets past that limit, so we settle the shape with you early since each one changes how the wall looks and how much yard it takes. If you want an old brick look, we check the brick before it's ordered. Then we dig and build the footing, lay the wall course by course, cap it with a coping of brick, natural stone, cast stone, slate or whatever suits the house, and clean up. The price mostly comes down to the wall's length and height, the footing, the brick you pick and any piers or coping, and the schedule turns on any permit and on getting the brick in. Your own number comes from the estimate once I've seen the spot.
Sometimes the right job isn't a new wall at all. If your old wall is sound and only the mortar joints are worn, we can rake them out and refill them with brick pointing, and I'd rather tell you that than sell you a wall you don't need. If you'd like stone caps, a stone base or a stone wall instead, our stone masonry work covers that too.
What happens when you call about a brick wall in Lakewood?
From your first call to the last swept-up brick chip, here's how a wall job runs with us.
Call or send the form
Tell us where the wall goes and what it's for. I come out to look at the ground and the line it'll follow.
Go over the estimate
We talk through the footing, the shape and the brick you want, and I give you an estimate for the job. You decide from there.
Permit, then the build
If you go ahead, we sort out any permit with the office for your address first. Then the crew digs the footing and lays the wall.
Clean up and walk it
When the last course and coping are on, we clean up the site and walk the finished wall with you so you can look it over.
Why Lakewood homeowners call Caliber Lakewood Concrete and Masonry
I work beside the crew
I work alongside the small crew that builds your wall, so the person who planned the footing is there when it goes in.
Building brick and block since 2017
We've run this business since 2017 and we're known for brick work that isn't rushed, because a hurried wall shows it later.
Covered while we're in your yard
We're licensed and fully insured, so you aren't carrying the risk while our crew digs and lays brick at your house.
Close to home in Lakewood
Based in Lakewood, we work from Long Beach up to Fullerton and out to Costa Mesa. Call (562) 249-2437 to book a visit.
Get an estimate for your brick wall
Send your street address, how long you want the wall and the brick look you're after, and we'll get back to you within one business day. I'll come out for a free estimate on site, with no obligation.
Brick walls worth a look
Look through these examples of brick garden walls, piers and coping to get a feel for the style you'd want at your house.
Questions about building a brick wall
Here are the questions we hear before a wall goes up. If yours isn't here, call and ask about your own yard.
How much does a brick wall cost in Lakewood, CA?
Across the US, a brick wall with 220 square feet of finished area usually costs about $13,000 to $18,500 per job, before sales tax, fees and dump charges. That's a national figure for one size, roughly a 44-foot wall standing 5 feet tall, so a short garden wall comes in lower and a long one with piers comes in higher. I'll give you a figure for your own wall after I've seen the spot.
Who issues building permits for my address in Lakewood?
The county's online Service Locator tells you which office issues permits for your Lakewood address. LA County Public Works issues permits for unincorporated parts of the county, and a property outside its jurisdiction may go to another office, so start with the Service Locator and type in your street address or parcel number. We look that up for your address too, and if your wall needs a permit, we get it before work starts.
What license should a contractor have to build a brick wall in California?
Look for the C-29 Masonry license from the Contractors State License Board, which covers masonry walls and fences, with or without mortar. A C-13 Fencing license covers fences and gates but leaves out masonry walls, so it isn't the right one for a brick wall. In California a license is needed when the project requires a building permit or uses employees, or when labor and materials together come to $1,000 or more.
Can I use salvaged brick for a garden wall?
Only if it meets the SW grade, the rating for brick made to stand up to severe weathering. Used brick generally falls short because it's often unevenly fired, so a pile of old brick can look right and still not be fit for a wall. If you want that old look, we check the brick against the grade before it's ordered.
How do I check if my property is in an earthquake hazard zone?
Type your address into the state's EQ Zapp tool, and it shows whether your property lies within any of the mapped earthquake hazard zones. It's a quick check worth doing before you plan a wall, and you can send along what it shows when you ask for an estimate.
What causes white powder on a new brick wall?
Usually it's new building bloom, which tends to show up shortly after construction from the normal water loss as a fresh wall dries out. If the white powder keeps coming back after that first drying period, water is likely getting into the wall and staying there, and that's worth having us look at.
Brick walls in cities near you
Pick your city to see how we work there, like Long Beach or Bellflower, or get in touch if yours isn't listed, since we work beyond these too.
Ready to plan your new brick wall?
Every wall we build is backed by our satisfaction guarantee, so call (562) 249-2437 or send the form to get yours planned.