Masonry Contractor in Downey, CA - Brick and Block Work Built to Last
Caliber Lakewood Concrete and Masonry is a masonry contractor based in Lakewood that builds and repairs brick, block and stone for Downey homes, from cracked yard walls and tired chimneys to new walkways and pavers.
- I look at it myself I come out and look at your job before any price.
- Small crew does the work The small crew I work alongside lays the brick and block.
- Straight answers on repairs If your wall is fine, I'll tell you and leave it.
- Work that isn't rushed Careful brick and block work meant to hold up for years.
- Licensed and fully insured.
- Free quotes on site.
- Replies within 1 business day.
Brick, block and stone work in Downey
Caliber Lakewood Concrete and Masonry builds and repairs brick, block and stone for homeowners in Downey, from our base in nearby Lakewood. Most calls here start with a cracked yard wall, a tired chimney, a backyard project that's waited long enough, or a block wall between neighbors that leans a little more each year.
What working in Downey means for your masonry job
Permits for masonry work in Downey come from the city's Building and Safety Division, which issues them, checks plans and inspects the work. They're issued at the Building counter in Downey City Hall, and because plan check and inspections sit between the permit and the finished job, they set part of the schedule. If something about your project doesn't fit the usual rules, the division is the place to ask.
Before you hire anyone, ask whether they have a current City of Downey business license. The city requires one for any business working here, contractors with offices outside Downey included, and a contractor needs it to pull a permit. On our end, I find out whether your job needs a permit, and if it does, we get it before any work starts.
Price on a Downey job mostly comes down to size, material and how easy your back yard is to reach with a load of block, and the schedule mostly turns on whether the job needs a permit or the city's planning approval. I'll give you the figure for your own job at the estimate. We do the same work next door in Norwalk and Bellflower, so the houses and yards here are the kind we see every week.
Masonry jobs we take on in Downey
- Block walls, with planning approval sorted first
- Fireplace and chimney work under city permits
- Walkway and paver hardscapes on house lots
- Brick repair and repointing on worn mortar
- Permit pickup at the Downey City Hall counter
What we build and fix in Downey
The services below cover what Downey homes ask of a mason over the years, from worn mortar and cracked walls to the yard project you've been putting off.
Foundation repair
When a crack runs up a stucco wall from the slab, we check the footing before patching anything on the surface.
Chimney repair
Brick chimneys on Downey houses usually lose mortar at the crown first, so that's where we start looking.
Tuckpointing
Worn joints on a brick planter or front wall get raked out and refilled so water stops working its way in.
Brick repair
A few cracked or flaking bricks on a porch step or garden wall can usually be cut out and replaced to match.
Driveway pavers
Pavers suit the wide front driveways here, and one cracked piece lifts out without breaking up the rest.
Retaining wall construction
Raised beds and grade changes along a side yard need a wall built to hold soil and let water through.
Masonry restoration
For brick and stone that have gone tired over the decades, we clean, repair and repoint instead of tearing out sound work.
Fireplace installation
A new fireplace gets laid up firebrick by firebrick, with the flue sized so it draws the way it should.
Stone veneer installation
Stone veneer dresses up a plain stucco front or a block wall without the weight of full stone.
Concrete block walls
Block walls between neighboring backyards are everywhere in Downey, and a new one starts with a proper footing.
Foundation block wall installation
For a garage or an addition, a block stem wall gives the framing a solid, level base to sit on.
Outdoor kitchen masonry
Backyards here often have room for a masonry grill island, laid out around how you actually cook.
Walkway construction
A brick or stone walkway to the front door replaces cracked concrete that's been catching toes for years.
Brick wall installation
A low brick wall along the front yard gives a house a clean edge that holds up.
Stone masonry
Natural stone for steps, planters and wall caps, set so each piece sits solid instead of rocking loose.
Brick pointing
When mortar on a brick house or chimney turns sandy, fresh pointing seals the joints before the bricks start to move.
How a job runs when you call us in Downey
Here's how a Downey job goes, from your first call or form to walking the finished work together.
Call or send the form
Call (562) 249-2437 or send the form with what's going on, and we'll set a time for me to come look.
I look and give an estimate
I look at the wall, chimney or yard myself, ask what you want and give you an estimate before anything gets built.
Permit first, then the work
If you go ahead and the job needs a permit, we get it first. Then our crew does the work, with any city inspection along the way.
Clean up and walk it
When we're done, we clean up and I walk the finished work with you, so you can point out anything you want a second look at.
Why Downey homeowners call our crew
Brick and block since 2017
We've done careful brick and block work since 2017, and I judge it by how it holds up years later.
Built around Downey house lots
City records have long counted most Downey homes as single-family houses, and their walls, chimneys and walkways are our everyday work.
Backed by our satisfaction guarantee
Our work is backed by our satisfaction guarantee, and I'm the one you talk to if something isn't right.
Fully insured while we work
We're licensed and fully insured, so your house isn't carrying the risk while our crew works in your yard.
Get your Downey masonry job priced on site
Tell us what's going on at your Downey house and how to reach you, and we'll reply within one business day. Then I come out, look at the job and give you a free estimate on site with no obligation.
Brick, block and stone examples
Look through these examples of brick, block and stone work to get a feel for what might suit your house.
Downey masonry questions, answered
Here are straight answers about permits, walls and costs for masonry work in Downey. If your job doesn't fit any of them, call or send the form and ask.
Do I need a permit to build a block wall in Downey?
The city requires a building permit only for block walls and fences taller than 42 inches, but lower walls still need approval from the city's planning staff and possibly Engineering. Taller walls need both that approval and a permit from the Building Division, and we work out which applies to your wall before we dig a footing.
Does a new fireplace need a permit in Downey?
Yes, fireplaces are on the city's list of work that generally needs a permit, and "generally" is the city's own word. That rule covers new construction, additions, alterations and repairs to an existing building, hardscapes included, so a lot of masonry on a house falls under it. When your job does, we get the permit before we start.
Can a homeowner pull their own permit for masonry work in Downey?
Yes, if you live in the single-family house the permit covers, because the city issues building permits to owner-builders living there as well as to California licensed contractors. For condos, townhomes, duplexes and apartments, the city issues permits only to licensed contractors. If you'd rather not deal with it, we take care of the permit when we take the job.
How long does a building permit stay valid in Downey?
A Downey permit stays valid as long as work starts within 12 months of the day it's issued and isn't abandoned for 180 days once it's begun. Miss either one and the permit becomes invalid, so it pays to get it once you're ready to build.
What affects the cost of masonry work in Downey?
Masonry cost in Downey mostly comes down to whether we're repairing or rebuilding, because a sound footing under a cracked wall usually means a repair instead of a new wall. After that it's matching old brick, how much has to come out first, and the city's steps, since a block wall over 42 inches adds a building permit to its planning approval. I'll price your job on site so you're not guessing.
What building code does masonry work in Downey follow?
Downey follows the current California Building Code along with its own local amendments, which are the city's changes to the state code. A wall, fireplace or foundation built here has to meet both, and on permitted work the city's plan check and inspections are how that gets checked.
Other cities we work in
Pick your city below to see what we know about working there, or call us if yours isn't listed, since we work across the cities around Lakewood.
Tell us about your Downey masonry job
We answer seven days a week, so call (562) 249-2437 or send the form whenever that wall is on your mind.