Masonry that keeps your home solid and looking right in Laguna Niguel, CA
Elite Laguna Niguel Concrete & Masonry repairs and builds brick, stone and block for homes around Orange County, and we pay close attention to footings and drainage, since that's where a lot of wall trouble starts.
Ask for your free on-site estimate
Tell us what you're seeing and where it is. We reply within one business day, set a time, and I come out to give you a written estimate with no obligation.
- Fully licensed and insured.
- Free on-site estimates.
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Masonry services for homes in Laguna Niguel
From mortar touch-ups to new walls, start with the card closest to what you're seeing. Size, access, materials and permits drive price and timing, and you get a written estimate.
Foundation repair
We repair cracked and settling block and masonry foundations after working out what's moving them, whether it's water, soil or a weak footing under the wall.
Learn more about Foundation repair
Chimney repair
A chimney with loose bricks, cracked mortar or a leaking crown at the top needs attention before water gets inside. We rebuild what's failing and match what stays.
Learn more about Chimney repair
Tuckpointing
Tuckpointing means grinding out worn mortar joints and packing in fresh mortar, finished to match the old lines. It's the fix when joints are sandy, recessed or cracked.
Learn more about Tuckpointing
Brick repair
For chipped, cracked or crumbling bricks, we cut out the bad ones and set in replacements matched for size, color and texture so the patch doesn't stand out.
Learn more about Brick repair
Driveway pavers
Paver driveways sit on a packed gravel base, and a damaged paver can be lifted and reset. We build new ones and redo sunken or uneven paver drives.
Learn more about Driveway pavers
Retaining wall construction
A retaining wall holds back a slope that's creeping into your yard. We set ours on a solid footing with drainage behind, since trapped water pushes walls over.
Learn more about Retaining wall construction
Masonry restoration
Older brick and stone that's weathered, stained or patched badly gets cleaned, repaired and re-mortared gently, with mortar soft enough to protect the original material.
Learn more about Masonry restoration
Fireplace installation
We build masonry fireplaces indoors and out, from the firebox to the finished face in brick or stone, laid out to suit the room or patio around it.
Learn more about Fireplace installation
Stone veneer installation
Stone veneer is a thin layer of stone set over an existing wall for the look without the weight. It suits house fronts, columns and fireplace surrounds.
Learn more about Stone veneer installation
Concrete block walls
Concrete block is the usual choice for property-line and privacy walls. We build on proper footings, reinforced with steel and grout, then finish with stucco, a cap or veneer.
Learn more about Concrete block walls
Foundation block wall installation
For an addition, a raised floor or a garage, we lay the block foundation walls the building sits on, built to the approved plans and ready for each inspection.
Learn more about Foundation block wall installation
Outdoor kitchen masonry
We build the masonry for outdoor kitchens: the block base, brick or stone facing and bar walls, sized around the grill and appliances you've picked.
Learn more about Outdoor kitchen masonry
Walkway construction
We build walkways in pavers, brick, flagstone or concrete on a packed base. It's time for one when an old path has heaved, sunk or started catching toes.
Learn more about Walkway construction
Brick wall installation
A new brick wall should look like it came with the house, so we match the brick and joints and set it on a footing sized for its height.
Learn more about Brick wall installation
Stone masonry
We lay natural stone walls, steps, columns and planters by hand, fitting each stone for yards and entries. It's slow work, the way my dad taught me.
Learn more about Stone masonry
Brick pointing
Brick pointing is touching up just the mortar joints that have worn or cracked, before water gets behind the brick. It's often enough when the bricks are still sound.
Learn more about Brick pointing
Laguna Niguel masons for your walls and yards
I grew up handing bricks to my dad on job sites, and after years on his crews I started this business here in Laguna Niguel. We work on walls, chimneys, entries and backyards across many of the cities around it in Orange County. You can read more about us.
A job starts with a call or a note through our contact page. I come out myself to look, ask a lot of questions and give you a written estimate, and then my crew and I do the work together, so the person who quoted your job is the one on site.
Find the cause first
A crack is usually telling you something. Before we patch it, I work out why it happened, whether that's water, a settling footing or how the wall was built, so you're fixing the cause and not just the line you can see.
Match what's already there
We match new mortar, brick and stone to what you already have, so a repair blends in instead of looking like a patch. My dad used to say a mason's work outlives the mason, so I'd rather take the slower way that protects your house than a quick fix that looks good for a year.
Signs your brick, stone or block needs a look
Sandy or cracked mortar joints
If you can scrape sand out of a joint with a key, or the joints sit back from the brick face, water is getting in. Small areas usually just need brick pointing.
Stair-step cracks in a wall
A crack that zigzags up through the mortar often means the footing below is settling. Check whether it's wider at the top or growing, then read about foundation repair.
A retaining wall leaning out
A wall tipping toward the yard, or staying wet at the base, usually has water trapped behind it. Leaning rarely stops on its own, so look into retaining wall construction.
Loose bricks on the chimney
Bricks you can wiggle, bits of mortar on the roof or a stain near the fireplace mean the chimney is taking water. It's worth getting chimney repair before it spreads.
Pavers sinking or rocking
Low spots, pavers that rock underfoot or weeds pushing through the joints usually point to a soft or washed-out base. Our driveway pavers page explains lifting and resetting them.
What to think about before your estimate
You don't need to know which service you need before you call. Tell me what you're seeing, where it is and how long it's been that way, and I'll sort out on site whether it's pointing, a rebuild or something going on underneath.
A few photos help, and so does anything you know about the house, like past repairs or when a wall went in. If your job needs a permit, an HOA letter or an engineer's plans, we tell you early, handle the paperwork with the city and line up the inspections.
When you first noticed it
A crack that's looked the same for years tells a different story than one that showed up last winter. If you can, mark the ends with a pencil so we can see whether it's growing.
Where the water goes
Watch where the sprinklers spray and where rain runs during a storm. Wet walls, puddles at the base and downspouts aimed at brick explain a lot of the damage we get called about.
How it should look
Decide whether you want the repair to disappear into the old work or you're open to a fresh look. Matching takes more care and sometimes a hunt for the right brick or stone.
Your HOA's rules
If you have an HOA, find its rules on walls, pavers and colors before we design anything. Some want a letter or a review first, and it's easier to plan around that from the start.
How we'll reach the spot
Think about the path in, whether that's a side gate, a slope or a planted bed. Tight access means more carrying by hand, and that moves both the schedule and the price.
What matters most to you
It helps to know whether you care most about the look, how long it lasts or keeping to a budget. Then I can lay out a couple of options instead of one take-it-or-leave-it answer.
Photo gallery
Examples of brick and stone work
Swipe or use the arrows to see more, and press a photograph to see it larger.
Working in Laguna Niguel and the cities nearby
In Laguna Niguel, people use their yards for much of the year, on patios, around outdoor kitchens and along garden walls, and the long dry, hot stretches mean that masonry sees a lot of sun. We see plenty of block walls, paver drives and backyard projects here.
We also work across many of the cities around it, including Aliso Viejo and Mission Viejo, with more listed beside this. If your city isn't on the list, call (949) 312-6076 and ask, because there's a good chance we work there too.
Questions homeowners ask about masonry work
When does a masonry contractor need a state license in California?
A contractor needs a state license when the project requires a building permit, uses any additional workers or totals $1,000 or more in labor and materials. The California Contractors State License Board sets that rule and lists some exemptions. We're fully licensed and insured.
Does a low garden wall need a permit in Laguna Niguel?
The city lists walls, fences and gates under 42 inches tall as work exempt from permit. For anything taller or tied to the house, the question goes to the city's Building & Safety Division, which issues building permits, and when a permit is needed we handle the paperwork and inspections.
How long does plan check take in Laguna Niguel?
The city says plan check takes 10 business days for a first submittal and 5 business days for a resubmittal. Outside agencies, like your HOA or the water district, may need to review plans before the city can issue a permit, which is why we bring up HOA letters and engineer's plans early.
Does a contractor need a city business license in Laguna Niguel?
No, the city says no business license is needed in Laguna Niguel. For masonry work, the licensing that matters is the state contractor license, along with a building permit when the job calls for one.
Why does the mortar matter when repairing older brick?
Mortar that's harder than the brick around it can crack the brick's edges instead of giving way itself. We match the color and use a mix suited to the brick you have, so the repair blends in and the old brick isn't damaged.
What affects the cost of masonry work in Laguna Niguel?
Size, height, materials and how hard the spot is to reach drive most of the cost, along with anything underneath that needs fixing, like a footing or drainage. I put your price in a written estimate after seeing the job in person, since two walls that look alike can need very different work.
Tell us about your masonry project
Call (949) 312-6076 or use the form, tell us what you're seeing and where, and we'll set a time for me to come take a look.