Masonry contractor in San Lorenzo, CA - brick, block and stone on solid footings
Liberty San Leandro Concrete & Masonry builds and repairs brick steps, block walls, chimneys and foundations for San Lorenzo homeowners, from a cracked planter to a new retaining wall out back.
Masonry contractor for San Lorenzo homes
San Lorenzo is next door to San Leandro, where we're based, and we work here the same way we do in Cherryland and Hayward. It isn't part of any city, so Alameda County issues building permits here through its permit portal, where owners apply, schedule inspections and check where a permit stands. If your job needs one, we take care of it with the county and don't start until it's issued. We're licensed and insured, which matters because the state licensing board requires a contractor's license on any job that needs a permit, uses hired workers or comes to $1,000 or more in labor and materials. The county also wants its own business license from anyone doing business here, even a contractor based in another city, so it's a fair thing to ask whoever you hire. The price mostly comes down to the size of the job, what has to come out first and the materials you pick. The schedule depends on the permit and on what we find once things are open, so the estimate is where you get your own figure.
Most of our jobs here are on single-story houses with flat lots, brick steps and planters out front and a block wall or two out back. The ground is creek flatland running out to the bay, with layers of sand, gravel, silt and clay that change from one lot to the next. The Hayward Fault also crosses that same creek upstream in downtown Hayward. That's why wall and step work here starts below the surface, with a footing built for the soil that's actually there.
What we build and fix in San Lorenzo
Foundation repair
Cracks in a foundation wall or a dropped corner usually trace back to water or the soil under the house, so I find the cause before we patch.
Chimney repair
Plenty of houses here still have their first brick chimney. Loose bricks or a cracked cap on top are what usually brings the call.
Tuckpointing
On a brick front or planter, we rake out the worn joints, refill them and finish them with a fine line, so the wall looks crisp again without new brick.
Brick repair
Brick steps and porches crack where water collects on a flat lot, so we swap out the broken bricks and sort out why the water stays.
Driveway pavers
Pavers suit a flat driveway here as long as the packed base under them is deep enough that they don't sink where you park every night.
Retaining wall construction
Most yards here are flat, so our retaining walls are usually low ones around raised beds or a step in the grade, built with drainage behind them.
Masonry restoration
When three different owners have patched a brick front, we sort out what's original, take off the bad repairs and bring the wall back to one look.
Fireplace installation
Adding a masonry fireplace to a single-story house is mostly about the chimney and the footing under it, so we plan both before anything gets built.
Stone veneer installation
Stone veneer, thin stone set over an existing wall, dresses up a plain stucco front or a fireplace here. We also give water a way out behind it.
Concrete block walls
Block walls along property lines are common here, and the ones that lean usually have a short footing or no steel inside. Ours get both.
Foundation block wall installation
When an addition or garage conversion needs a new foundation wall, we lay block on a footing sized for the ground we find when we dig.
Outdoor kitchen masonry
Backyards here have room for an outdoor kitchen. We build the counters and the grill surround in block, brick or stone on a slab made to carry them.
Walkway construction
A heaved or broken front walk is easy to trip on, so we tear it out and build a new one in concrete, brick or pavers.
Brick wall installation
We build new brick garden walls and planters to match the brick on your house, set on a real footing rather than on the lawn.
Stone masonry
Stone works well for steps, low walls and planters in a front yard here. We fit each stone so the stones carry the load, not the mortar.
Brick pointing
Brick pointing means filling worn joints with fresh mortar. On older houses here, we match the color and hardness of the mortar already in the wall.
What signs mean your San Lorenzo masonry needs work?
On flat lots over mixed creek ground, small cracks and standing water tell you a lot, and catching them early usually keeps a repair small.
- Stair-step cracks in brick or block
- Mortar that crumbles when you scratch it
- Loose bricks on steps or chimney
- A garden or block wall that leans
- White crust or dark stains on brick
- Water pooling against the foundation
If you're looking at one of these, call (510) 264-7154 or send the form. I'll come take a look and tell you whether it can wait.
Should you repair your masonry or replace it?
In San Lorenzo, it usually comes down to what's under the brick or block. A sound footing makes a repair worth doing, and a failed one doesn't.
When a repair is enough
If the wall or steps still stand straight and the footing hasn't moved, we fix what's failing, like loose brick, worn joints or one cracked section. Most of the work is matching the old brick and mortar, and that keeps the house looking like itself.
When it's time to rebuild
A repair won't hold for long if a wall is leaning, the footing has cracked through, or it's been patched so often there's more patch than wall. In that case we take it down, fix what caused the failure and build it back on solid footing.
What San Lorenzo homes ask of masonry
I come out to look at the job myself, and I'm on site with our crew while the work gets done. That way the person who wrote your estimate is the one checking the work.
The cause found first
I look for the water or movement behind the damage first, because new mortar over an old problem is only a nicer patch.
A straight answer on cracks
If a crack is old and isn't moving, I'll tell you it can wait rather than sell you a job.
Water sent away from walls
On flat lots water doesn't run off by itself, so we slope steps, walks and wall caps away from the house.
An estimate you can read
I measure, take photos and write it up, so you can see what each part of the job covers.
Cleaned up and walked through
Satisfaction guaranteed on every job. Before we leave, we clean up and walk the finished work with you.
Call about your San Lorenzo masonry job
Our phone hours run seven days a week, until 11 PM on weekdays, so you can call (510) 264-7154 after work and ask about your project and its permit steps.
Nearby cities, or just call us
If your city has its own page, you'll find it here. If it doesn't, call (510) 264-7154, because we work plenty of places without a page of their own.