Masonry contractor in Downey, CA - Block walls, brick repair and chimneys done right
Blockworks Long Beach Concrete & Masonry is a masonry contractor based in Long Beach. We build and repair block walls, brick, chimneys, fireplaces and paver driveways on homes across Downey, CA.
Masonry work on Downey homes
Much of Downey is single-family houses on their own lots, with apartments and condos mixed in. The calls I get here run from a block wall leaning along a side yard to a brick chimney losing its mortar. It's a short drive from our base in Long Beach, and it's the same kind of work we do next door in Bellflower and Paramount and over in Carson.
The price of a job here moves with its size, the material you choose, how much old work has to come out and how easy it is to get a wheelbarrow to the spot. The schedule mostly turns on what the city needs before we start, and I sort that out early. The on-site estimate is where you get the number for your own job. On these lots, the part you can see is rarely the whole story, because a wall or a walk lives or dies on the footing under it and on whether water has a way out from behind it.
What we do on Downey properties
Foundation repair
Cracks in the low wall your house sits on, or a door that started sticking, have a reason, and I'd want to find it before we patch anything.
Chimney repair
Brick chimneys on older houses here usually wear first at the top, so we rebuild the loose brick and the concrete cap before water gets inside.
Tuckpointing
When the joints on a brick house or garden wall turn sandy, we grind out the worn mortar and pack in fresh mortar that suits the old brick.
Brick repair
A brick with a cracked or flaking face usually points to water or movement behind it. We replace the bad bricks and deal with the cause.
Driveway pavers
Many driveways we see here are old concrete, cracked by roots and years of cars. Pavers on a packed base can be lifted and reset instead of torn out.
Retaining wall construction
Where a yard steps up to a raised bed or higher ground, we put gravel and a drain behind the wall so water can't push it over.
Masonry restoration
On a brick or stone front that's been patched for decades, we sort out what's original, what's failing and what should go back the way it was.
Fireplace installation
For a new fireplace in the family room or a rebuild of a worn brick one, we lay out the firebox, hearth and flue to suit the room.
Stone veneer installation
Thin stone over a plain stucco front or a block wall changes the look fast, and it holds up when the layers behind it let water drain out.
Concrete block walls
Block walls line a lot of Downey yards. When one leans or cracks, I check the footing and the steel inside before we talk about repair or rebuild.
Foundation block wall installation
When an addition or a new room out back needs a block foundation, we pour the footing and lay the block so the framing sits level.
Outdoor kitchen masonry
Downey backyards often have room for a grill island with a counter. We build the base in block and face it in brick, stone or stucco.
Walkway construction
A front walk lifted by tree roots or a side path that puddles gets a new packed base, then brick, pavers or stone on top.
Brick wall installation
A low brick wall out front suits many of the older houses here, and we set it on a proper footing with mortar suited to the brick.
Stone masonry
Natural stone for a planter, a low wall or porch steps gets fitted piece by piece, with joints shaped to shed water instead of holding it.
Brick pointing
A new face of mortar on a wall or chimney whose joints have worn back closes the gaps where rain gets in, before the brick starts to go.
Tell me about your masonry job
Call (562) 257-3026 or send the form with a few lines about the job, and I'll set a time to come look in person.
Why Downey homeowners call us
I come out to look at every job myself and work on site with our crew, so the person who worked out the problem is there fixing it.
The cause before the fix
I'd rather spend an extra hour working out why a wall cracked than patch it and watch the crack come back.
Permits checked before we start
We check with the city on each Downey job and pull the permit when one's needed, before anyone digs.
Mortar matched to your brick
Older brick usually needs a softer mortar than new block, and that choice decides a lot about how it ages.
A drain behind the wall
Retaining walls fail from trapped water more than you'd think, so we put gravel and drain openings behind the ones we build.
Licensed, insured, guaranteed
We're licensed and fully insured on every job, and the work is backed by our satisfaction guarantee.
Downey masonry questions
Do I need a permit for a block wall in Downey?
A block wall or fence 42 inches tall or less needs no building permit in Downey, but it still needs approval from the city's Planning staff and possibly Engineering. Anything taller needs a permit from the Building Division on top of that approval. I check the height and the approvals before we set a single block, so you're not looking at a wall that has to come down later.
How do I get a permit for a fireplace or paver patio in Downey?
You apply to the city's Building and Safety Division, which issues permits for new work, alterations and remodels and handles plan checks and inspections. The city says that generally any new construction, addition, alteration or repair to an existing building needs a permit, and its list includes fireplaces and hardscapes, the patios, walks and paver work around a house. Permits are issued at the Building counter in Downey City Hall, and applications and plans can now go in online through the city's portal.
Can I pull my own permit for masonry work on my Downey house?
Yes, if you live in the single-family house the work is on, because Downey issues building permits to an owner-builder in that case as well as to California licensed contractors. On a duplex, townhome, condo or apartment building, the permit only goes to a licensed contractor. If you'd rather not deal with it, we pull the permit as part of the job.
Does a masonry contractor need a Downey business license?
Yes. Downey requires a business license for any kind of business in the city, and that includes contractors whose offices are outside Downey, like ours in Long Beach. A contractor pulling a permit there needs a current city business license, which can be paid for when the permit is issued, so it's a fair question to ask anyone you're thinking of hiring.
How much does masonry work cost in Downey?
Masonry in Downey is priced on the size of the job, the material, how much old work comes out and what we find underneath, so I'd want to see it before giving you a number. Brick and natural stone take longer to lay than block, a wall that needs a new footing or steel costs more than one we can repair in place, and a taller block wall brings extra city steps. Access counts too, since a backyard we can only reach through a side gate means more carrying by hand.
How long does a Downey building permit last before work has to start?
A Downey permit becomes invalid unless work starts within 12 months of being issued, and it also lapses if work that has started is abandoned for 180 days. That gives you room to plan, but there's no point pulling a permit a year before the crew can get to it. We time the permit to our start date rather than letting it sit.
Not in Downey? Give us a call
If your city is listed, pick it to see how we work there. If it isn't, call (562) 257-3026, because the list isn't every city we cover.
Ask Blockworks about your Downey project
Call (562) 257-3026 or use the form, and tell me when you first spotted the crack or the damp, since that's often the first clue.