Masonry Contractor in Lomita, CA - Walls Built for Wet Winters and Dry Summers
Blockworks Long Beach Concrete & Masonry is a masonry contractor based in Long Beach that builds and repairs brick, block and stone in Lomita, from worn mortar joints and tired chimneys to new garden and retaining walls.
Masonry in Lomita, from the ground up
Lomita is a small, mostly residential city right next to Torrance, a short drive west of our base in Long Beach. Most of our calls here come from single-family houses that have been standing a good while. We see brick chimneys that have lost their top joints, block walls along the back line that have started to lean, and planters and front walks pushed up by roots. It's the kind of work I like, because there's usually a reason hiding behind the crack.
On older houses, what decides the job is usually the part you can't see: the footing under a wall, the mortar holding it together, and where the water goes after a rain. That's also what moves the price and the schedule here, mostly how much old work has to come out, how deep we have to dig and whether a permit is needed first, and the estimate is where you get your own figure.
What we do for Lomita homes
Foundation repair
When a stair-step crack climbs the brick from a corner, I check the footing and drainage first, since a patch alone usually opens back up.
Chimney repair
Older chimneys here usually lose mortar first at the crown, the concrete cap on top. We rebuild the loose brick and reseal the crown so water stays out.
Tuckpointing
Sun-baked walls on older Lomita houses tend to show sandy, recessed joints. We grind out the worn mortar and pack in a mix matched to the old brick.
Brick repair
Spalled bricks, the ones flaking at the face, usually mean water is getting trapped. I find the source, then we swap the damaged bricks for close matches.
Driveway pavers
Pavers suit the short driveways on many Lomita lots, and because each one lifts out, a settled patch can be reset instead of torn out.
Retaining wall construction
On a sloped yard, a retaining wall is only as good as its drain. We add gravel and a drain line so rainwater doesn't build up behind it.
Masonry restoration
For brick that's decades old, we clean, refill joints and repair with softer mortar that lets the wall breathe, not hard patches that crack the old brick.
Fireplace installation
Plenty of older houses here still have their original fireplace. If you're replacing or adding one, I check the chimney and framing first so the new firebox fits.
Stone veneer installation
Stone veneer, thin stone set over an existing wall, freshens a plain stucco front or a block wall. The water barrier behind it matters most.
Concrete block walls
Block walls along property lines are common here. We set them on a real footing with steel and grout in the cells so they stay put.
Foundation block wall installation
For a room addition or garage rebuild on a Lomita lot, we dig, pour the footing and lay reinforced block to your approved plans.
Outdoor kitchen masonry
Mild evenings here mean a lot of cooking outside. We build the block base and a brick or stone face, with room for the grill you choose.
Walkway construction
Front walks on older houses here tend to crack and lift where roots get under them. We rebuild in brick, pavers or stone over a packed base.
Brick wall installation
A brick garden wall gives a smaller lot some privacy. We lay it on a footing sized for its height and cap it so rain runs off.
Stone masonry
Natural stone suits planters, steps and low walls in Lomita front yards. We fit each piece by hand, and I'll walk you through stone choices first.
Brick pointing
When only a few joints on a garden wall or chimney have cracked, pointing fills just those spots. It's smaller than full tuckpointing and keeps water out.
Tell me about your masonry job
Call (562) 257-3026 or use the form, because a crack usually makes more sense once I'm standing in front of it.
Why Lomita homeowners call us
I come out to look at your job myself and work on site beside our crew, so the person who figured out why it failed is right there when it gets fixed.
Cause found before the fix
I'd rather spend an extra hour looking than guess, because a patch over the wrong cause usually cracks again.
Mortar suited to older brick
On older houses we mix mortar a little softer than the brick, so the joints take the movement and the brick doesn't.
Drainage behind retaining walls
Retaining walls get gravel and a drain line behind them, because trapped water is what usually pushes a wall out of line.
Licensed and fully insured
We're licensed and fully insured, so you aren't the one carrying the risk while our crew works on your property.
Backed by our satisfaction guarantee
I walk the finished job with you before we pack up, so anything that isn't right comes up while we're still there.
Lomita masonry questions, answered
Who handles building permits and inspections for masonry work in Lomita?
Los Angeles County staff do, since an earlier city report says Lomita contracts with the county for building and safety, so county staff handle plan review and inspection for building permits on the city's behalf. Whether your job needs a permit isn't something I'd guess at, so we check with the City of Lomita before work starts and pull the permit when one is needed.
Which building codes does Lomita follow for walls and foundations?
Lomita follows Los Angeles County's building codes, taking the county's updated codes as its own every three years, so the rules for your project track the county's. An earlier city report also describes a proposed update that would bring in the newest county codes with a few changes for local conditions. Since that was a proposal, we confirm what applies to your job when we check with the city.
What causes block walls and brick to crack in Lomita?
Water and ground movement are behind most of the cracking we see, and the city's own findings describe hot, dry summers, heavy winter rains that often leave expansive soil, and an area marked by geological instability. Expansive soil swells when it's wet and shrinks as it dries, and that back-and-forth works footings and mortar joints loose. Those findings speak for the whole city, so I'd want to see your lot and the crack pattern before saying what's going on with yours.
How much does masonry work cost in Lomita?
Your price comes from the size of the job, the material you pick and how hard the site is to work, and I'd want to see it before naming a figure. Matching old brick or stone takes more time than laying new, a back yard we can only reach through a side gate means more carrying, and drainage or a permit adds to it. The on-site estimate puts your own number on all of that.
How long does a masonry project take in Lomita?
The build itself is usually the shorter part, and the wait is more often on whether a permit is needed and the county's plan review. On site, the time turns on the wall's length and height, how much old brick or block comes out, and the weather, since we hold off on mortar and concrete in heavy rain. I'll walk you through the schedule for your job once I've seen it.
Where can I see drought tolerant landscaping in Lomita before redoing my yard?
The city's Demonstration Garden, just southeast of Lomita City Hall next to the parking lot, shows a yard redone with efficient irrigation and drought tolerant plants, with signs naming each one. The city says it has cut water use by over 70%. It's worth a walk before you plan new walks, planters or a paver driveway, because where the hardscape sits decides where your water runs.
Don't see your city? Call us
We work across the cities around Long Beach, so pick yours below if it's listed, or call (562) 257-3026 and we'll talk about your job.
Ask Blockworks about your Lomita job
Our hours run 7 AM to 11 PM on weekdays and 6 AM to 10 PM on weekends, so call (562) 257-3026 or send the form.