Masonry Contractor in Del Aire, CA - Repairs That Suit Your Home's Brick and Block
CJ Redondo Beach Concrete & Masonry is a masonry contractor working in Del Aire, CA. We repoint and repair brick, fix and build block walls, lay walkways and pavers, and rebuild chimneys and fireplaces on the homes here.
- Licensed and fully insured.
- Free quotes on site.
- Replies within 1 business day.
Del Aire homes and what their walls need
Del Aire is a small, settled neighborhood of single-family streets that sits right against Hawthorne, not far from Lawndale. Most of the homes are lived in by the people who own them, so the calls we get tend to be about things people plan to keep for a long time, like a front planter, a chimney or the block wall along the back fence.
The houses are mostly modest postwar homes on level lots, with brick or block planters out front, a driveway down one side and block walls between neighbors. The brick and mortar on these houses have had decades to weather, and a lot of what's there is still sound. Because we're working right next to original brick and block, most jobs here are about fitting new work to old rather than starting fresh, and that shapes every choice from the mortar mix to the brick we order.
Masonry services we do for Del Aire homes
- Foundation repair
When a crack runs through the foundation wall or a corner has settled on an older Del Aire house, we find out what's moving before we patch anything.
- Chimney repair
Brick chimneys here wear first at the top, where weather hits hardest. We rebuild loose rows of brick and recast the cap so water stays out.
- Tuckpointing
When the joints on a brick front or planter have gone sandy, we rake out the old mortar and pack in fresh mortar matched in color to the rest.
- Brick repair
Cracked or flaking bricks show up often on older planters and front steps here. We cut them out and set brick that matches in size and color.
- Driveway pavers
Plenty of driveways here are the original concrete, cracked and lifting. Pavers on a packed base let us lift out and replace one broken piece later on.
- Retaining wall construction
Lots here are mostly level, but where a raised bed or a change in grade holds soil against a fence, we build the wall with drainage behind it.
- Masonry restoration
For brick fronts, chimneys and garden walls that have worn unevenly over the decades, we repair what's failing and leave the sound old work alone.
- Fireplace installation
If you want a new fireplace or a rebuilt firebox in an older living room, we lay it in firebrick and set the hearth to fit the room.
- Stone veneer installation
Thin stone over a plain stucco or block surface can dress up a front wall or a column. We set it over a proper backing so moisture drains behind it.
- Concrete block walls
Block walls between yards are everywhere in Del Aire. We build new ones on a real footing with steel and grout, and repair older walls that have started leaning.
- Foundation block wall installation
When an addition, a garage or a raised floor needs a block foundation wall, we lay and fill it so the structure above sits on solid, even support.
- Outdoor kitchen masonry
Backyards here have room for a grill counter or a small outdoor kitchen. We build the base in block and finish it in brick, stone or stucco.
- Walkway construction
A short walk from the driveway to the front door is common on these lots. We lay it in brick, pavers or stone with a slight fall so water runs off.
- Brick wall installation
For a low front wall, a planter border or a garden wall along the property line, we build in brick laid to match the house where we can.
- Stone masonry
Stone steps, planters and wall caps on older homes here often just need resetting. When new work is called for, we lay natural stone with mortar suited to it.
- Brick pointing
When only a few patches of joints have cracked or dropped out, we point just those areas with a mortar soft enough to suit the older brick around them.
Free on-site masonry estimate for your Del Aire home
Send the form and we'll get back to you within one business day to set a time. I come out myself, look at the job and give you a free estimate on site, with no obligation to go ahead.
Call (424) 265-1368Working in Del Aire under county rules
Del Aire isn't its own city. It's an unincorporated part of Los Angeles County, so the county acts as the local government here, and LA County Public Works is the office that issues building permits. Public Works issues them for new building, alterations and repairs, and whether your wall or chimney job falls under that is something we ask the county before we start, because a permit adds time up front and I'd rather you knew that now. Before you hire anyone, you can check that their contractor license is current with the Contractors State License Board, which licenses contractors across California, and the county's Treasurer and Tax Collector issues the County Business License that some businesses located in the unincorporated area need. We're licensed and fully insured, and when your job needs a permit, we take care of it.
We're based in Redondo Beach, a short drive away, and the Del Aire calls we get look a lot like the ones at home: a block wall between yards that's started to lean, a planter or chimney with joints gone soft, an old concrete walk that's cracked through. What moves the price is how much wall is involved, whether the footing under it is sound, how hard the old brick is to match and how easy it is to get material to the back of the lot past a narrow side driveway. The schedule mostly turns on the permit, if there is one, and on finding matching brick, and you get your own figure from the estimate I give you on site.
Why Del Aire walls and chimneys wear out
Most houses here went up in the postwar decades, and after that many years the mortar between the bricks and blocks has simply worn out. Rain and sprinkler spray soak into tired joints, the joints go sandy and loose, and then bricks start to shift on chimneys, planters and front steps. Block walls along property lines often sat on shallow footings to begin with, so a lean that starts small usually keeps going. We fix the cause first, whether that's a footing, a drainage problem or a sprinkler aimed at the wall, before we touch the face.
The other thing we see is older patch work done with mortar that's too hard for the brick around it. Hard mortar doesn't give, so the brick takes the stress and its face flakes off, which is why I match the mortar to the wall instead of reaching for the strongest mix.
What happens when you call us about a Del Aire job
Here's how a job goes from your side, from the first call to the final walk-through, so you know who you'll talk to and when.
Call or send us the form
Phone (424) 265-1368 or fill in the form, tell us what you've noticed, and we'll call back to set a day for me to come out. A photo of the wall or chimney helps me come prepared.
I come look at the job
I walk the wall or chimney with you, answer whatever you want to ask and explain what the price turns on before you decide anything. It helps if you're home for this part, so we can look at it together.
We handle the permit steps
If your job needs a county permit, we take care of it with Public Works before work starts. Once it's issued, county guidance is to request the first inspection within 12 months and keep follow-up inspections coming every 6 months so the permit stays active.
Our crew works, I check
Our crew does the work and I check it on site as it goes, so anything that's off gets caught while the mortar is still workable. When we're done, we clean up and walk the finished job with you.
Questions about masonry work in Del Aire
Who issues building permits for a home in Del Aire, CA?
Public Works issues building permits in Del Aire, because Del Aire is unincorporated and Los Angeles County serves as its local government. The county's Department of Regional Planning handles land use and zoning for the community, so a zoning question on your project goes to that office. We check the permit steps with the county before any work starts.
How do I find out if my address is in unincorporated LA County?
The county's Z-Net tool, linked from its unincorporated area services page, shows whether an address is in an unincorporated area or inside a city, along with its zoning. Don't go by zip code alone, because more than 60 zip codes in the county cross county and city lines. If your property turns out to be outside county jurisdiction, a different office may handle the permit.
Does brick or block wall work in Del Aire need a county permit?
Ask Public Works before you start, because the county issues permits for new building, alterations and repairs, and its list of exempt work doesn't settle masonry either way. That page lists finish work like painting, tiling, cabinets and countertops as exempt only where disabled access isn't involved, and even exempt work still has to meet the code. The local office's phone and email are in the county's Service Locator, and we make that check for you before work begins.
How much does masonry repair cost in Del Aire?
The cost of a masonry repair here comes down to how much wall or brick is involved, whether the footing underneath needs work and how hard the old material is to match. A wall that only needs repointing costs far less than one that has to come down and be rebuilt, and a permit or tight access to the back yard adds to the total. I give you a figure for your own job when I come out to look.
How much can a contractor ask for as a down payment in California?
The state licensing board caps a down payment at $1,000 or 10 percent of the total contract price, whichever is less. Every other payment has to be listed in the contract and tied to work completed or materials delivered, and the board says these rules apply to all home improvement projects.
What is the best way to match new brick to an older Del Aire house?
The best way is to match the brick's size and color and the mortar's color and hardness, not just how it looks on the day it's laid. On older houses here we hold samples up against the wall and mix test batches of mortar, because mortar dries lighter than it looks wet. Where an exact brick isn't made anymore, I'll show you the closest options before we order.
Redondo Beach, CA
Call about your Del Aire masonry job
Call (424) 265-1368 or send the form any day of the week until 11 PM, so you can reach us before or after your own workday.