Stone veneer installation in Lakewood CA - every piece set in a full bed of mortar
Tired of a plain stucco wall or a dated fireplace front? We check what's behind it first, then set stone that's built to hold.
- Wall checked first We look at the wall behind before any stone goes on.
- Extra prep on framing Framed houses get added prep so the wall is rigid enough.
- Full mortar bed Every stone fully bedded, because small gaps hold water.
- Owner on site I come out myself to look at your job.
- Licensed and fully insured.
- Free quotes on site.
- Replies within 1 business day.
When is it time to put stone on a wall?
Some of these are reasons to add stone, and some are signs old veneer was put on wrong. Catching them early keeps a cosmetic job from turning into a wall repair.
Stones coming loose or falling
If stones on old veneer rock when you push them or drop off, the mortar never fully gripped them. Left alone, water gets behind the rest and more follow.
Damp streaks under the stone
Dark stains or white crust below the stones usually mean water is getting in and sitting behind them. The longer it sits, the more of the wall it soaks.
Stone running into the dirt
Veneer that starts right at the soil line pulls ground moisture up into the stone. Waiting lets that damp creep upward and stain or loosen the bottom rows.
Cracked joints between stones
Open or crumbling joints let rain straight in behind the face. They're a small fix early and a lot more trouble once stones start to shift.
A plain wall you're tired of
A bare stucco front, a block wall or a fireplace that looks dated is a good candidate for stone, as long as the wall behind it is sound.
Stucco that's cracked or soft
If the wall you want to cover is cracked, soft or crumbling, stone won't fix it. That wall gets sorted first, or the new stone pays for it later.
How we install stone veneer
Stone veneer is a thin, light facing cast from cement and aggregate to look like natural stone, and it carries no load, so the wall behind it does all the real work. That's why I check that wall before anything else, and on a framed house we do the extra prep to stiffen and seal it before any stone goes on. Then we set each stone in a full bed of mortar, pressed tight to both the stone and the wall, because small gaps hold water and water is what pushes veneer off a house. We clean the joints as we go and clean up the site when the last stone is set. What moves the price is the size of the wall, the stone you pick and how much prep the wall needs, and the schedule mostly turns on that prep and on whether your address needs a permit. Your own number comes from the estimate once I've seen the wall.
Stone looks good on more than a house wall. If you want a new yard or property wall with a stone face, we build the concrete block walls first and then veneer them. If the stone is going on a foundation that's in poor shape, our foundation block wall installation gives it solid backing, because good stone on a bad wall is still a bad wall.
What happens when you call about stone veneer in Lakewood?
From your first call to the last look at the finished wall, here's how a stone veneer job runs with us.
Get in touch
Call (562) 249-2437 or send the form, and we'll get back to you. Wall photos, and whether it's wood framed or concrete, help a lot.
I come out and look
I check the wall behind where the stone will go and ask what look you want. Then I give you an estimate for your wall.
Permit, prep and stone
If you go ahead, we sort out any permit with the office for your address first. Then our crew preps the wall and sets the stone.
Walk it together
When we're done, we clean up and walk the finished wall with you. You can look at every joint and ask anything before we pack up.
Why Lakewood homeowners call Caliber Lakewood Concrete and Masonry
I see your wall myself
I look at every job myself, and the small crew I work alongside sets the stone, so nothing gets lost in between.
In business since 2017
We've been doing this since 2017, and I learned the trade under older masons, so the habits are careful ones.
Covered while we're working
We're licensed and fully insured, so you're not the one exposed while our crew works on your property.
We know the houses here
A lot of the houses we see around Lakewood are wood framed under stucco, so we plan the extra prep from the start.
Get a stone veneer estimate for your wall
Tell us where the wall is, whether it's wood framed or concrete, and the look you want. We reply within one business day, and I come out for a free estimate on site, no obligation.
Stone veneer ideas to browse
Look through these examples of stone veneer work to get a feel for colors, shapes and joint styles before we talk about your wall.
Stone veneer questions we hear
Here are straight answers to what homeowners usually ask before putting stone on a wall. If your wall doesn't fit any of these, call and ask about it.
How much does stone veneer installation cost in Lakewood, CA?
Stone veneer installation in the Los Angeles area usually costs about $3,000 to $11,000 per job. That's for the whole job, not a per-foot price, and the size of your wall and how much prep it needs decide where you land. I'll give you your own figure once I've seen the wall.
Can stone veneer go over my existing wall?
Usually yes, if the wall is sound. The manufacturers' association guide rules out a wall that's deteriorating or one finished in EIFS, a foam-backed synthetic stucco, so those need dealing with first. On a wood or steel framed wall, one maker's guide says the framing flexes more than concrete and may need a weather resistive barrier and a waterproofing membrane before stone goes on.
Do I need a permit for stone veneer in Lakewood?
That's decided by the office that serves your address, so finding that office is the first step. LA County Public Works issues permits for unincorporated LA County and says a property outside its area may get its permit from another office. We find out which office handles your address, and if your job needs a permit, we get it before work starts.
Which contractor license covers stone veneer work in California?
The masonry contractor license. California's contractor board, the CSLB, describes a masonry contractor as one who installs natural and manufactured stone. Ask any installer which license they hold before you hire them.
How do I clean stone veneer without damaging it?
Check with the makers before you put any chemical cleaner on it. One maker's guide says chemical cleaning should start with checking with both the veneer maker and the cleaner maker, so the product doesn't damage the stone. Plain water and a soft brush are where most people should start.
What is the best way to choose a stone veneer installer?
Pick for workmanship first, because the manufacturers' association guide says field work tends to be the main source of problems when stone veneer performs poorly. The person setting the stone matters as much as the stone. Ask each installer how they bed every stone and what they do to a framed wall first. Our answers are above, and our work is backed by our satisfaction guarantee.
Cities we work around Lakewood
We're based in Lakewood and work across the cities around it, from Long Beach up to Fullerton and out to Costa Mesa. Pick yours below or give us a call.
Thinking about stone veneer? Let's look at your wall.
We're open seven days a week, evenings included, so call (562) 249-2437 or send the form whenever it suits you.