Masonry Contractor in Lakewood, CA - Brick and Block Work Done Without Rushing
Caliber Lakewood Concrete and Masonry is a masonry contractor based in Lakewood, CA. We repair and build brick, block and stone work around Lakewood homes, from cracked yard walls and tired chimneys to new walkways and pavers.
- I see it myself I come out and look at every job before quoting.
- Small, steady crew The same small crew I work alongside does the work.
- Honest about need If your wall is fine, I'll tell you so.
- Work at its pace Brick and block laid at the pace the work needs.
- Licensed and fully insured.
- Free quotes on site.
- Replies within 1 business day.
Masonry contractor for Lakewood homes
Caliber Lakewood Concrete and Masonry is a masonry contractor based right here in Lakewood, CA, doing brick, block and stone work on the houses around us. Most calls here are a cracked block wall between yards, a tired brick chimney or a yard project that's been put off long enough.
What a masonry job in Lakewood involves before we start
In Lakewood, permits come from the city's Building and Safety Division. Whether your job needs one depends on the type and size of the work, so we check with that office before anything starts, and if it does, we get it first. Some projects need planning approval or a plan check, where the city reviews the drawings, before a permit is issued, and that wait usually sets the start date more than we do.
California contractors are licensed by the Contractors State License Board, and getting that license means passing exams on law and business and, for most trades, on the trade itself. It's fair to ask any mason who bids your job for their state license before you sign anything. We're licensed and fully insured, and I don't mind the question.
What moves the price is mostly how much is broken and why. A block wall leaning because its footing, the concrete base underneath, gave out is a different job from one that just needs fresh mortar, and I won't know which until I've looked, so your own figure comes from the estimate. The yards here look a lot like the ones we work in over in Bellflower and Long Beach, so the problems are usually familiar ones.
Common Lakewood masonry calls
- Cracked and leaning block walls between yards
- Brick chimneys with loose or missing mortar
- Mortar worn down where sprinklers hit walls
- Checking permits with Building and Safety first
- New walkways and paver driveways out front
Masonry services for Lakewood houses
Plenty of Lakewood houses have some mix of block yard walls, brick planters and an older chimney, so these services cover repairs to what's there and new work out back.
Foundation repair
When a crack shows in the low wall your house sits on, our foundation repair starts with finding out why it moved.
Chimney repair
Many Lakewood houses keep an older brick chimney, and our chimney repair fixes the cracked caps and loose bricks up top.
Tuckpointing
Tuckpointing replaces mortar that sprinklers and years of sun have worn back from the brick on walls and planters.
Brick repair
A few chipped or cracked bricks in a front planter or porch step usually call for brick repair, not a rebuild.
Driveway pavers
Swapping a cracked concrete driveway for driveway pavers means a bad spot can be lifted and reset later.
Retaining wall construction
Lakewood is mostly flat, so retaining wall construction here is usually about raised planters and small level changes in a yard.
Masonry restoration
For older brick that's stained, patched and tired all over, masonry restoration brings the whole wall back at once.
Fireplace installation
We do fireplace installation in living rooms and back patios, built in brick or stone to suit the house.
Stone veneer installation
Stone veneer installation puts a thin layer of real or manufactured stone over a plain stucco or block wall out front.
Concrete block walls
Block walls line a lot of Lakewood yards, and we build new concrete block walls when an old one is past fixing.
Foundation block wall installation
Room additions and garage conversions often need foundation block wall installation to give the new walls something solid underneath.
Outdoor kitchen masonry
Backyards here have room for a grill counter, and outdoor kitchen masonry builds it in brick, block or stone.
Walkway construction
Walkway construction replaces a front path lifted by tree roots with brick, pavers or stone set on a packed base.
Brick wall installation
Our brick wall installation covers low front walls and garden borders that need more character than plain block.
Stone masonry
Stone masonry suits steps, seat walls and planter edges where you want natural stone laid by hand.
Brick pointing
Small patches of cracked or missing mortar between bricks are a job for brick pointing, which is easier caught early.
How a masonry job runs when you call us in Lakewood
From your first call to the final walk-through, the job runs in four plain steps, and I'm involved in every one of them.
Call or send the form
Tell us what's going on with the wall, chimney or yard, and I set a time to come out and see it myself.
I look and write it up
I look at the job, ask what you want and give you an estimate in writing. It says what I'd fix, and what I'd leave alone.
Permit first, then the work
If a permit is needed we get it first, and in Lakewood a plan check can come before that. Then our crew does the work.
We walk it with you
When we're done, we clean up and walk the finished work with you so you can see every part before we leave.
Why Lakewood homeowners call our crew
Repairs that match the old brick
On older Lakewood walls we match the mortar color and joint style, so a repair doesn't stand out like a patch.
No work you don't need
If a wall only needs fresh mortar in a few joints, that's what I'll quote, not a rebuild.
We know these yard walls
Lakewood's block walls and brick planters tend to fail in the same few ways, so we know where to look first.
Trained under older masons
I started this business in 2017, after learning the trade under older masons, and I still work alongside the crew.
Get a free on-site estimate for your Lakewood masonry job
Put in your address and a few lines about the wall, chimney or project you have in mind. We reply within one business day, and I come out for 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 finishes and styles before we talk about your project.
Lakewood masonry questions, answered
Below are answers to common questions about masonry work in Lakewood, from permits to paying a contractor. If yours isn't here, call (562) 249-2437 and ask about your own job.
Do I need a permit for a block wall or other masonry work in Lakewood?
Whether your masonry job needs a permit depends on its type and size, and the city's Building and Safety Division is the office that decides. The city's list of projects that often begin with permitting names kitchen and bathroom upgrades, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, re-roofing and sewer work, and it doesn't spell out masonry, so a wall or chimney job is a question for that office, not a guess. Construction or demolition work also needs a debris recovery plan, which says where the torn-out material goes, approved before a permit is issued, and we sort out what your job needs before work starts.
What building codes apply to masonry work in Lakewood, CA?
Lakewood follows the Los Angeles County building, residential and related construction codes, which are the California codes with county amendments added. The city's Building and Safety Division applies them by issuing permits and doing inspections, so permitted work gets inspected against them.
How much does masonry work cost in Lakewood?
A Lakewood masonry job is priced by its size, the material, how easy the spot is to reach and whether the fix is fresh mortar or something deeper. Block usually costs less to lay than brick or natural stone, matching old brick on a patch takes more hunting, and hauling out a torn-down wall adds to it. If a permit is needed, the city's fees go on top, and I'll show all of that in your estimate after I've seen the job.
How much can a contractor ask for up front on a home improvement job in California?
Under California's contractor rules, a down payment on a home improvement job can't be more than $1,000, and it's less than that on smaller contracts. Every payment after that has to be listed in the contract and tied to work already done or materials delivered to your house. The state licensing board applies this to every home improvement project, so it's worth reading the payment schedule before you sign.
How do I find out what permits were pulled on my Lakewood house?
Permits issued in Lakewood since 2008 can be looked up in the L.A. County Building Permit Viewer, which you can reach from the city's permits, forms and reference page. It's a quick check before a wall or chimney job if you want to know what was done to the house on permit.
What causes white powder on brick and block walls in Lakewood?
That white powder is usually efflorescence, salt left on the face when water soaks into brick or block and then dries out. On Lakewood walls the water usually comes from sprinklers hitting the same spot day after day, so turning the heads away is the first fix. The powder brushes off, and if the mortar behind it has gone soft, we repoint those joints with fresh mortar.
Other cities we work in
Pick your city if it's listed, or call (562) 249-2437 about yours, since we work across the cities around Lakewood.
Tell us about your Lakewood masonry project
Cracks in a wall rarely get smaller on their own, so call (562) 249-2437 or send the form while it's still a repair.