Masonry Contractor in Lakewood, CA - Brick and Block Repairs Traced to the Cause
Blockworks Long Beach Concrete & Masonry is a masonry contractor working in Lakewood, CA. We repair and repoint brick, fix chimneys and build block walls, walkways and paver driveways for homes there.
A masonry contractor for Lakewood homes
As a masonry contractor based in Long Beach, CA, Lakewood is an easy drive for us, and most calls here are about the house you live in. It might be a chimney losing mortar at the top, a block wall between yards that's started to lean, or a front walk that's cracked and lifting. The price moves with the size of the job, the brick, block or stone you pick and how much old work has to come out first. The schedule mostly turns on whether the city wants a permit before we start. I come out, look at it with you and give you your own number on site.
Most streets here are single-story houses on flat lots, many with a brick fireplace, a planter out front and block walls along the back, much like the houses we work on in Bellflower and Lynwood. Flat ground keeps most walls low, but water tends to sit where it lands, so the drain behind a wall and the base under a walk matter more than they look.
Masonry work we do in Lakewood
Foundation repair
When a crack shows up in the foundation of a single-story house, I look for why it moved before we patch, so we fix the cause instead of hiding it.
Chimney repair
Older brick chimneys lose mortar near the top first. We reset loose brick and redo the cracked concrete cap to keep rain out of the flue.
Tuckpointing
Sandy, sunken joints on a brick planter or porch wall mean the mortar's spent. We grind them out and pack in fresh mortar matched to the brick.
Brick repair
A cracked or flaking brick in a front step or garden wall can be cut out and replaced on its own, so you don't rebuild the whole thing.
Driveway pavers
Older poured driveways crack across the slab. Pavers on a packed base can replace one, and a single paver lifts out if it ever needs fixing.
Retaining wall construction
Lots here are mostly flat, so retaining walls tend to be low, holding a raised bed or a step at the fence line, with a drain behind.
Masonry restoration
For a brick front or fireplace wall that's stained or patched in the wrong color, we clean, repair and repoint so it reads as one wall again.
Fireplace installation
Adding a masonry fireplace to a family room, or rebuilding a worn-out one, means planning around the chimney and the floor, and we work that out on site.
Stone veneer installation
Thin stone set over a plain stucco front or a fireplace surround needs a drainage layer behind it, so water that gets in can get back out.
Concrete block walls
Block walls between back yards are common here. When one leans, the concrete strip it sits on is usually too shallow or tree roots got under it.
Foundation block wall installation
For a room addition or a new garage, we lay the block foundation walls on the concrete footing, with steel and grout where the plans call for them.
Outdoor kitchen masonry
A back yard here often has room for a block grill counter, and we finish it in brick, stone or stucco to match the house.
Walkway construction
Front walks lifted by tree roots or sunk by the porch trip people up. We dig out, pack a firm base and lay brick, pavers or concrete.
Brick wall installation
A low brick wall along the front yard or a brick planter suits a lot of single-story houses here, and we pick brick and mortar color with you.
Stone masonry
Natural stone for a planter, fire pit or garden wall is set piece by piece, so we sort and dry-fit it before any mortar goes down.
Brick pointing
When only a few joints are starting to wear, pointing fills them before water gets behind the brick, which usually costs less than a full repoint later.
Talk to us about your masonry
Call (562) 257-3026 or send the form, and I'll come out and look at the job before giving you an estimate.
Why Lakewood homeowners call us
You get a straight answer about what's wrong, what it takes to fix it and who'll do the work, from the person who looked at it.
The cause before the fix
I come out myself and work out why a wall cracked or keeps getting wet before I say what to do.
The owner on your job
I work on site alongside our crew, and the finished job is backed by our satisfaction guarantee.
Licensed and insured in California
We're licensed and fully insured, and the Contractors State License Board licenses and regulates contractors across California.
Mortar matched to your brick
We match mortar strength and color to the brick you have, because mortar that's too hard can crack old brick.
Drainage built in
Walls we build get a way for water to get out from behind them, since trapped water is what usually ruins masonry.
Lakewood masonry questions
Who issues building permits for masonry work in Lakewood, CA?
The city's Building and Safety Division issues building permits in Lakewood, for new construction, remodels and repairs alike. It also inspects the work against the Los Angeles County codes the city has adopted, which are the California codes with county changes. We check with the city before work starts and pull the permit when one's needed.
Does a block wall or chimney repair need a permit in Lakewood?
The city decides that by the type and scope of the work, and its list of common permit projects doesn't name masonry, so the answer comes from Building and Safety. The projects Lakewood says often start with a permit are kitchen and bath upgrades, even non-structural ones, plus electrical, mechanical, plumbing, re-roofing and sewer work. The city asks owners who aren't sure to check with Building and Safety before starting, and I'd rather ask than guess.
How much does masonry work cost in Lakewood, CA?
Your price is set by the job itself, and the biggest swings come from how much has to be torn out and hauled away and how far back the work sits from the street. Matching older brick, digging a deeper footing and any permit the city requires add to it too. I give you your own number at the estimate, once I've seen what's going on.
How long does a masonry project take in Lakewood?
Most of the wait usually comes before we start, while the city reviews the job if it needs a permit. Planning approval, a plan check or both may be required before Lakewood issues a construction permit, and anyone planning a construction or demolition project, like tearing out and rebuilding a wall, has to get a Debris Recovery Plan approved first. After that, time on site depends on the size of the job, and I'll walk you through it at the estimate.
How much can a contractor ask for as a down payment in California?
No more than $1,000, and the cap is lower on smaller jobs because it's also tied to the contract price, under the state licensing board's rules for home improvement work. Every other payment has to be listed in the contract and match work already done or materials already delivered to your house.
How do I look up past permits on my house in Lakewood?
Permits the city has issued since 2008 are in the L.A. County Building Permit Viewer, which Lakewood points to from its permits and reference page. It's worth a look before work on an old wall, chimney or fireplace, since it can show what was permitted on your house before, though anything older than 2008 won't be there.
Don't see your city? Call us
If another city here is yours, open its page, and if your city isn't listed, call (562) 257-3026, because we work across the cities around Long Beach.
Ask Blockworks for a Lakewood estimate
Our phones are open seven days a week, so call (562) 257-3026 or use the form and tell us what you're seeing.