Masonry Contractor in Gardena, CA - Repairs That Suit the Wall They Go Into
CJ Redondo Beach Concrete & Masonry is a masonry contractor based in Redondo Beach that repoints brick, repairs walls and chimneys, and builds block walls, walkways and fireplaces for homeowners in Gardena, CA.
- Licensed and fully insured.
- Free quotes on site.
- Replies within 1 business day.
Gardena homes and the masonry work they ask for
Gardena is a short drive inland from us in Redondo Beach, and the calls we get there sound a lot like the ones from Torrance. Most come from homeowners on residential streets of single-story houses, where a block wall runs along the back and side of the yard, a brick planter or porch step sits out front, and a walkway or driveway has started to lift or crack. We also see older brick chimneys and fireplaces that have gone years without anyone looking closely at the joints.
On lots like these, the wall at the back of the yard is often the oldest masonry on the property, so a job usually starts with how that wall was built, its footing and whether it has steel in it, before we talk about what to repair or rebuild.
Masonry services we offer Gardena homeowners
- Foundation repair
When a crack runs up a wall or a door starts sticking, we check the footing first, since that's usually where the trouble starts.
- Chimney repair
Older brick chimneys here often have a cracked cap and open joints near the roofline, and we rebuild or repoint the damaged part so water stops getting in.
- Tuckpointing
When the joints on a brick wall or planter turn sandy, we cut out worn mortar and pack in new, matched to the brick in color and hardness.
- Brick repair
On Gardena porches and planters, cracked or flaking bricks can usually be cut out one at a time and replaced with brick that matches the rest.
- Driveway pavers
Pavers suit a Gardena driveway that keeps cracking, because single pavers can be lifted and reset when roots or settling push them, instead of tearing out a slab.
- Retaining wall construction
Where a raised bed or grade change holds back soil, we build retaining walls on a real footing with drainage so water doesn't build up behind them.
- Masonry restoration
For older Gardena brick and block that's worn in several places at once, we repair joints, bricks and caps in one job so the wall ages evenly.
- Fireplace installation
We build brick and stone fireplaces, inside or on a backyard patio, sized to the space and set on a footing that can carry the weight.
- Stone veneer installation
Veneer gives a stucco wall, planter or fireplace front the look of stone without the weight, if the wall behind it is prepped to shed water.
- Concrete block walls
Block walls along Gardena property lines give privacy and keep their line when they're built with steel and concrete inside the block and a footing to match.
- Foundation block wall installation
When a garage or addition needs a block foundation wall, we lay it on a footing to the plans, with steel where the drawings call for it.
- Outdoor kitchen masonry
We build the block base and brick or stone facing for a Gardena backyard grill or outdoor kitchen, leaving room for gas, water and power lines.
- Walkway construction
When a front walk has lifted from roots or sunk, we rebuild it in brick, pavers or stone on a packed base so it sits flat.
- Brick wall installation
We build new brick garden and front-yard walls on a footing set below loose topsoil, with joints and caps that suit the house.
- Stone masonry
Natural stone suits planters, steps and low walls in a Gardena yard, and we fit each piece so the weight rests on stone, not just mortar.
- Brick pointing
On a chimney or wall with a few open joints, we rake them out and fill them with fresh mortar before water gets behind the brick.
A free on-site estimate for your Gardena project
Send the form and we'll get back to you within one business day to set a time. I come out myself to look at the job and give you the estimate, with no obligation.
Call (424) 265-1368Working in Gardena: permits, licenses and what moves the price
Most masonry work in Gardena runs through the city's Building Services, which issues permits for new construction, repairs and alterations, so the permit is often what decides how soon we can start. The city also requires a Gardena business license from any contractor doing work in the city, including ones based outside it the way we are in Redondo Beach, and it's fair to ask about that along with a contractor's state license before you hire. We check the permit steps with the city before work starts and take care of the permit when the job needs one.
What moves the price here is the same as in Hawthorne and the other cities around Gardena: how long and tall the wall is, how deep the footing goes, whether old brick or block has to come out first, how easily we can get material to the back of the lot, and whether a permit is part of the job. The schedule turns mostly on that permit and on what we find once the old work is opened up, and I'll go through both with you when I give you the estimate.
Why Gardena walls and chimneys need attention
An older city general plan shows a known active fault zone, mapped by the state, in the northeast part of Gardena near El Segundo Boulevard and Vermont Avenue. Shaking finds the weak spots in masonry first, like a block wall with no steel in it, a chimney with loose joints or a footing that was too shallow to begin with, so when I look at a wall I check how it was built before I talk about patching it.
The rest is ordinary wear on older masonry. Mortar joints slowly turn to sand and let water in behind the brick, and a repair done years ago with mortar harder than the brick can make the brick around it crack and flake, so when we repoint, we match the new mortar to the wall it's going into.
What happens when you call us about a Gardena job
Here's how a Gardena job runs from your first call to the final walk-through, so you know who you'll be talking to at each step.
Call or send the form
Tell us what you're seeing and where it is on the property, and we'll call you back to set a time that suits you.
I look at the job myself
I walk the wall or chimney with you, answer whatever you want to ask and explain what I think is causing the problem. You'll have the estimate before you decide anything, so there's no guessing about cost.
We sort out the permit steps
If you go ahead, we check the permit steps with the city and take care of the permit when the job needs one. The city says simple over-the-counter permits, such as fences, usually take three business days, so that's often the wait before we start.
Our crew does the work
Our crew does the work with me on site checking it as it goes, and we walk the finished job with you before we clean up and leave. Your job is backed by our satisfaction guarantee.
Questions about masonry work in Gardena
How do I know if my masonry project needs a permit in Gardena?
Ask the city's Building Services, or let us check it for you, because the city issues permits for most repairs, alterations and new construction and lists fences among its examples, though its code exempts some fences by height. The city's most common exceptions include open walkways and driveways, and its code exempts some short retaining walls, measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall, but not a wall that holds back an added load like a driveway or slope above it. If you're unsure, ask me when I come out and we'll confirm it with the city.
Does a masonry contractor need a California license to work in Gardena?
Yes, in most cases a contractor needs a current California license for masonry work in Gardena. The state contractor board requires one from anyone who contracts for work that needs a building permit, uses employees, or takes on work worth $1,000 or more in labor and materials combined, and only a job with no permit, no employees and less than $1,000 in total costs may be exempt. We're licensed and fully insured.
What happens if masonry work starts before the permit in Gardena?
The city quadruples the permit fees when work that needs a permit starts before the permit is obtained. Waiting for the permit is nearly always cheaper than starting early, which is why the permit step comes before any digging or demolition on our jobs.
Do I need a separate permit to work on the sidewalk or driveway apron in Gardena?
Yes, work that builds or changes the sidewalk, alley or street needs a permit from the city's Public Works engineering office, apart from the building permit. It usually comes up when a new driveway or walkway meets the public sidewalk, so we sort out which offices are involved before the old concrete comes out.
How much does masonry work cost in Gardena?
The price comes down mostly to what the job is made of and how it has to be built, and I give you the number for your job when I come out to look. On repairs, matching old brick and a softer mortar takes more time than a quick patch, but a patch that doesn't match usually has to be redone. On new walls, the steel, the footing and the facing you pick, whether block, brick or stone, make the biggest difference.
What causes block walls to crack and lean in Gardena?
Usually the footing has moved, from water soaking the soil under one side or a tree root lifting it, and the wall follows. Sprinklers aimed at the base of a wall are a common cause we see, and so is a wall that was built without enough steel for its height. We dig at the base to find out which it is, because fixing a bad footing is a different job from filling open joints.
Redondo Beach, CA
Tell us about your Gardena masonry project
Call (424) 265-1368 or send the form, and mention whether the wall sits on a property line or meets the sidewalk so I can bring the right permit questions when I come out.