Stone masonry in Lakewood CA - walls and veneer built to hold up for years
Loose stones, crumbling joints or a plain wall you've stared at for years? We build and repair stone walls and veneer that stay put.
- Upkeep explained up front You'll know whether it needs stones reset or joints redone.
- Planned around your sprinklers We place stone where sprinklers and downspouts won't keep it wet.
- Work that isn't rushed Careful stone, brick and block work meant to hold for years.
- Straight answers on your wall If your wall is fine, I'll tell you so.
- Licensed and fully insured.
- Free quotes on site.
- Replies within 1 business day.
How do you know your stone wall needs work?
Stone gives you warnings before it gives up. Catching them early usually means fixing one section instead of rebuilding the whole wall.
Stones rocking or out of line
On a dry-stacked wall, a stone that rocks or sticks out past its neighbors usually means that section needs resetting. Wait, and the stones around it start to follow.
Mortar crumbling out of joints
If you can scrape sand from the joints with a key, the mortar's worn out. Leave it, and water works in behind the stone and loosens more of it.
Veneer sounding hollow or loose
Veneer that sounds hollow when tapped or shows gaps at the edges usually has a failing bond to the wall behind. Wait and pieces end up on the ground.
Dark patches that stay wet
Stone that stays dark long after the sprinklers shut off is soaking up water every day. That wears on the mortar and the veneer faster than age alone does.
White crust on the face
A chalky white crust usually means water is moving through the wall and leaving salts behind. It brushes off, but it keeps coming back until the water's dealt with.
A section leaning or bulging
A lean or a bulge usually points to something underneath, like the base or the drainage. Better to catch it now than let the wall make the decision for you.
Our stone masonry work, start to finish
Stone masonry in Lakewood mostly means walls, fences and paving built from natural or manufactured stone, and the first job is picking which kind you want. A dry-stacked wall, laid without mortar, may need stones reset now and then, while a mortared wall eventually needs its joints redone, so I tell you up front what upkeep comes with each before you choose. Manufactured stone veneer is made from cement, lightweight aggregate and pigment to look like natural stone, and it's set in mortar over a backing wall. The industry installation guidance says to keep it away from steady water like sprinkler spray, pools and downspouts, so we work out where your sprinkler heads and drain pipes go before any stone goes up. Then we lay the stone, finish the joints and clean up after ourselves. Price mostly moves with the stone you pick, the size of the wall and how much prep the base needs. The schedule mostly waits on dry weather. The estimate I give you on site puts your own numbers to both.
Stone rarely sits on its own. If the brick next to it has worn joints, we do brick pointing, raking out the tired mortar and packing in fresh, so the whole wall sheds water the same way. If the house wall behind your veneer is cracking because it's settling, foundation repair comes first, since new stone on a moving wall just cracks right along with it.
What happens when you call us about stone work in Lakewood?
Here's how a stone job runs with us, from your first call to the walk-through once the last stone is set.
Call and book a visit
Call or send the form, and we'll set a time to come out. We look at the wall and ask what you're after.
Talk through the estimate
I give you the estimate right there and walk you through the stone, the wall type and the upkeep each one brings.
We build the wall
If you go ahead, we pick a start date around the weather, and the small crew I work alongside builds what we planned on site.
Walk it together
When the work's done, we clean up and walk the wall with you. That's a good time to ask anything about looking after it.
Why Lakewood homeowners call Caliber Lakewood Concrete and Masonry
The same small crew throughout
I look at the job myself, and the small crew I work alongside does the work, so nobody's guessing what you were promised.
In business since 2017
I learned the trade under older masons before starting this business in 2017, and the habits stuck.
Licensed in California, fully insured
California's license board has a masonry class covering stone walls and paving. We're licensed and fully insured.
Close by, and guaranteed
We work out of Lakewood, so your job is close to home for us, and it's backed by our satisfaction guarantee.
Get a free on-site estimate for your stone wall
Send a few photos of the wall, its rough size and where your sprinklers and downspouts sit, and we'll reply within one business day. I'll come out for a free estimate on site, with no obligation.
Stone walls, veneer and paving
Look through these examples of stone walls, veneer and paving to get a feel for the finishes you might want in your own yard.
Stone masonry questions we hear
These are the questions we hear most about stone walls and veneer. If yours isn't here, call or send the form and I'll answer it for your wall.
What does stone veneer cost around Los Angeles?
Installing stone veneer in the Los Angeles-Long Beach area usually costs about $3,000 to $11,000 per job. That's the going rate around here, not our quote. The estimate on site gives you your own number.
How do I clean a stone veneer wall without damaging it?
Clean manufactured stone the way its maker directs, with gentle methods instead of acid, wire brushes or a power washer. Past cleaning, the upkeep is the resetting or joint work that comes with your type of wall, which I go over before we start.
Can stone veneer go over my current wall?
Only if the wall is sound. Installation guidance says manufactured stone shouldn't go over a wall that's deteriorating or unsound, or over EIFS, the foam-backed insulated stucco some houses have. I check the wall closely at the estimate, and if it needs fixing first, I'll tell you.
Is my Lakewood lot in an earthquake hazard zone?
You can find out by entering your address on the state's EQ Zapp map, which works on a computer, tablet or phone. The California Geological Survey maps zones where the ground is more likely to fail in an earthquake, and those zones call for geologic and engineering investigations before construction, which can add a step for some properties. It's worth looking up before you plan a new wall.
How long does new stone veneer need to stay dry?
The industry specification calls for protecting finished stone veneer from rain while it goes up and for 48 hours afterward. That's why a dry stretch of weather helps set the start date. We'd rather wait on the weather than rush it.
What causes cracks along the mortar joints in a stone wall?
Mortar is usually made weaker than the masonry it holds, so when a wall cracks, the crack runs through the joints instead of the stone. That's why the mortar's strength has to suit the masonry. One mortar maker says Type S or Type M can suit walls in earthquake zones, and many engineers prefer Type M, so ask which mortar your wall will get and why.
Cities we work in around Lakewood
We take stone jobs across the cities around Lakewood, from Long Beach up to Fullerton and out to Costa Mesa. Pick yours below or call us.
Ready to talk about your stone wall?
We take calls until 9 PM every day, weekends included, so call (562) 249-2437 whenever it suits you.