Masonry contractor in Dana Point, CA - brick and stone work that fits your house
Elite Laguna Niguel Concrete & Masonry is a masonry contractor working in Dana Point, CA. We fix cracked mortar joints and tired chimneys and build new brick, stone and block walls, walkways and outdoor kitchens.
How we handle masonry jobs in Dana Point
I learned brick and stone at my dad's side, and I started this business in Laguna Niguel in 2017. We work in Dana Point the same way we do in San Juan Capistrano and San Clemente, with careful mortar work and walls that look like they've always belonged to the house.
The price mostly depends on how much wall, chimney or paving there is, the brick or stone you pick, how much old work has to come out first and how easy it is to get material to the spot. The schedule depends on any paperwork that has to come first and on giving mortar time to set. I'll put all of it in a written estimate once I've seen the job.
When a job here needs a permit, it comes from the city's Community Development office, and we handle the paperwork and line up the inspections. If something has to happen before that, like an HOA letter or an engineer's plans, I'll tell you early so you can plan around it.
Masonry services we offer in Dana Point
Every project we take on in Dana Point starts with one of these services, so follow the links to see how we handle each one.
Foundation repair
When a crack runs through a block or brick foundation, or a corner has settled, we find out why before we patch anything, so the fix holds.
Learn more about Foundation repairChimney repair
If bricks are loose, the crown on top has cracked or mortar is washing out of the joints, we rebuild what's failing and repoint what's still sound.
Learn more about Chimney repairTuckpointing
We rake out crumbling mortar and fill the joints with new mortar and a fine contrasting line. It's a good choice when sound brick just looks tired and patchy.
Learn more about TuckpointingBrick repair
A few cracked or flaking bricks don't usually mean a rebuild. We cut them out and set matching ones in mortar that suits the wall around them.
Learn more about Brick repairDriveway pavers
If a concrete driveway has cracked or sunk, pavers on a packed base let us lift and replace one broken piece later instead of the whole slab.
Learn more about Driveway paversRetaining wall construction
Where a slope needs holding back, we build the wall on a solid footing with drainage behind it, because trapped water is usually what pushes a wall over.
Learn more about Retaining wall constructionMasonry restoration
For worn brick or stone worth keeping, we clean, repair and repoint it with mortar softer than the masonry, so the joints wear instead of the brick.
Learn more about Masonry restorationFireplace installation
We build new brick and stone fireplaces and reface tired ones, indoors or out on the patio, sized around the firebox or insert you've picked.
Learn more about Fireplace installationStone veneer installation
Stone veneer, a thin face of stone set over a wall, can dress up a plain front or column when it goes on over proper backing and drainage.
Learn more about Stone veneer installationConcrete block walls
Block walls make sturdy garden and property-line walls. We set them on a footing, fill the cells and add steel where needed, then cap or plaster them.
Learn more about Concrete block wallsFoundation block wall installation
When an addition or a garage needs new block foundation walls, we lay them straight and level on the footing so everything built above sits square.
Learn more about Foundation block wall installationOutdoor kitchen masonry
If you've been putting off a backyard kitchen, we build the block base for the grill and counters, then face it in stone, brick or stucco to match.
Learn more about Outdoor kitchen masonryWalkway construction
A walkway in brick, stone or pavers lasts when it's on a dug-out, packed base with a slight slope, so it stays flat and sheds water.
Learn more about Walkway constructionBrick wall installation
We lay new brick garden walls, columns and planters in a pattern and mortar color chosen so they look like they've always belonged to your house.
Learn more about Brick wall installationStone masonry
Natural stone walls, steps and facings take time because each stone is fitted by hand, so the joints stay tight and the weight sits right.
Learn more about Stone masonryBrick pointing
If you can scratch mortar out of the joints with a key, they need pointing. We cut them back and refill them before water gets into the brick.
Learn more about Brick pointing
When an old wall needs more than a patch
If there are only a few cracks, the bricks are sound and the mortar only crumbles in spots, brick repair or repointing the joints usually does it. I'll often press a key into the joints with you watching, because how deep the soft mortar goes tells us a lot.
When the bricks themselves are flaking, a wall leans or a crack keeps opening after it's been patched, the problem is usually underneath, in the footing or the drainage. At that point we talk about masonry restoration or rebuilding part of a retaining wall, and I'll tell you plainly which parts are worth saving.
The kinds of jobs we're asked about in Dana Point
The calls we get range from a garden wall with a cracked cap or a chimney shedding mortar to the backyard kitchen someone has meant to build for years. Where a house has older brick, I lean toward repair first, because soft old brick needs a mortar that gives way before the brick does.
Where your lot sits can change the paperwork. The city's permit handout says work it would normally exempt, like a low garden wall, still needs a permit on a coastal bluff, in the Flood Plain Overlay District, in an environmentally sensitive area or when the Planning Division has to approve it. If your lot might be one of those, tell me up front.
What to have ready before your Dana Point estimate
Photos of what you like
Snap a few pictures of the wall, chimney or spot you have in mind, and save any photos of brick or stone you like. That helps me price the right material and shows me the look you're after before I arrive.
Where the water goes
Notice where rainwater runs and puddles near the area, and where sprinkler lines or drains sit. Drainage is the part of masonry most people never see, and it usually decides how long a wall lasts.
What you know about it
If you know roughly when the wall or chimney went up, or whether it's been patched before, tell me. I look for old repairs done in hard mortar, because they can crack the brick around them, and knowing the history saves guessing.
Questions Dana Point homeowners ask about masonry
Does a garden wall or retaining wall need a permit in Dana Point?
The city's handout for the 2022 codes lists masonry or concrete fences up to 36 inches and retaining walls within size limits as exempt. Walls under six feet still need a permit when they're a condition of project approval, a guard or a pool barrier. The 2025 code took effect January 1, 2026, so we check your wall with the city first.
When does a masonry contractor need a state license in California?
Under the Contractors State License Board's rules, a contractor needs a license when a job needs a building permit, uses employees or totals $1,000 or more in labor and materials. Splitting a bigger job into pieces under $1,000 doesn't change that, and the contractor has to be licensed before bidding. We're fully licensed and insured.
Can I check on a building permit online in Dana Point?
Yes. Homeowners can set up their own account on the city's online services portal. Contractors get access through the city's Building Department, and since we handle the permit side for you, your account lets you keep an eye on things if you'd like.
Will the owner come out to look at my masonry job in Dana Point?
Yes. I come out myself to look at the job and write up the estimate, and then my crew and I do the work together. I'd rather you hear the plan from the person who'll be standing at the wall with a trowel.
How can I tell if my retaining wall is failing?
Look for a lean or a bulge, cracks that get wider over a season, and soil or water seeping through the joints. Those usually mean water is building up behind the wall, and if you catch it early, fixing the drainage and one section often saves the rest.
Tell us about your Dana Point masonry project
Describe the job and where your Dana Point house is. We reply within one business day, and I come out for a free written estimate with no obligation.
(949) 312-6076Mon–Fri: 7 AM–9 PM, Sat–Sun: 6 AM–9 PM